Thanks, but No Thanks: Why Vince Young Doesn't Want Reggie Bush's Heisman

On December 16, 2005, Reggie Bush was named college football’s best player and awarded the Heisman Trophy.  Texas quarterback Vince Young came in second in the voting. Amid heated debates by sports columnist, reporters, and anyone with a blog made their points that Young was better than Bush and deserved the Heisman Trophy.  Well, karma has a funny way of working sometimes as it seems that Young is about to receive that Heisman.

Recently, Bush has come under scrutiny as a main player with former USC basketball player O.J. Mayo in the NCAA investigating of the USC Athletic Department. Allegations first arose back in 2006 with questions about whether Bush’s family received gifts in violations of NCAA policies. 

The case went silent for the better part of four years until this June.  On June 10 the NCAA made official sanctions against the USC football program. The NCAA found that Bush had received lavish gifts from sports agent Lloyd Lake and his partner, Michael Michaels, from at least December 2004 onward. These gifts include a limousine ride to the 2005 Heisman Trophy presentation.

As Homer Simpson would say, “DOH!”

Since then USC has made it seem that Bush never went to the school. All his jerseys have been taken down from the stadium and around campus. His individual awards have all been given back to the NCAA. This including his Heisman Trophy. Although, because USC has given back his trophies, it does not mean that the NCAA or the Heisman Trophy Trust have stripped Bush of his Heisman.

But before we can look into if Young does or does not want that Heisman Trophy, let’s go back and view that fateful season. 

The voting that year was not close. Bush received 784-first place votes, Young received 79. Bush’s votes totaled 2,541; Young’s, 1,608. Bush had the second-most first-place votes of all time.  Fellow USC running back O.J. Simpson leads that list. 

Their stats that year don't clarify who had the better year. Bush amassed 2,611 total purpose yards with 18 total touchdowns. Young amassed 4,086 total purpose yards with 38 total touchdowns. Bush led his USC team to a perfect 12-0 record into the BCS Championship game. Young led his Texas team to a perfect 12-0 record into the BCS Championship game.

These two titans of the college football scene faced off at the Rose Bowl in the BCS Championship game. That game saw Bush run wild on Texas, going for 279 all-purpose yards with 82 rushing yards, 95 receiving yards, and 102 kickoff yards while scoring one touchdown. 

However, Bush was outshined by a determined Young looking to show those Heisman voters that he should have been the winner. That game, Young put the Longhorns on his back and carried them to the national title. Young accounted for 467 all-purpose yards with 267 yards passing and 200 yards rushing. Young did not have any throwing touchdowns but rushed for three scores—including one of the best runs in college football history when Young broke out of the pocket and ran nine yards into the end zone, clinching the national title for Texas.   

Would Young want Bush’s Heisman Trophy?  I am sure he would smile for the cameras if presented with the trophy. However, would it mean the same thing now? Probably not. What trophy or accomplishment means the same if you win it by default? There is nothing that has been earned. It would be like getting that promotion at work after you find out that the person who initially received it had lied on their resume. 

Are you happy you got it? Yes. Do you feel the same as you would have if they had given it to you in the first place? No.

So thanks but no thanks, Bush, the NCAA, or the Heisman Trophy Trust, Young and Texas does not want your Heisman Trophy. Plus Young already has Bush's trophy from the 2005 season: It’s called the BCS Title.

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