College Football: Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy Should Be Given to Vince Young

With the recent word that former USC star RB Reggie Bush might have to give back his Heisman Trophy, this may be the final punishment that has resulted from the investigations into Bush receiving improper benefits.

But the bigger crime of the story may be the fact that the trophy will be vacated and will have no winner.

The choice, much like vacating USC's 2004 national championship, will result in no one being named the winner for the award.

But unlike the 2004 national championship where the next most worthy recipient would be an Oklahoma team that lost 55-19 or an Auburn team that USC blew out the year before, the Heisman has a legitimate candidate that the trophy should be given to: Texas' Vince Young.

Before the trophy was awarded, Young and Bush were neck and neck in the running for the Heisman, and some felt the former should have won it to begin with.

Young accounted for over 4,000 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns for a Texas team that ran the gamut and beat the Trojans in Pasadena for the 2006 National Championship.

Bush, on the other hand, had very good stats as well, gaining over 2,000 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns.

In hindsight, Young probably should have won because he was the focal point of the Texas offense while Bush had another Heisman winner in QB Matt Leinart to take pressure off him, and another good back in LenDale White.

But all things considered, Bush impressed the voters much more than Young did, winning the Heisman by just under 1,000 votes.

Now with word surfacing that Bush may have to vacate his Heisman Trophy, it could be a crime to not award Young the trophy.

This wasn't just because he was a worthy recipient on paper, but also because of the big games he won, such as the game at Ohio State and of course beating the Trojans in Pasadena for the title.

What made the win so special was that he was going up against a USC team that some thought was the greatest team ever (just ask ESPN), and people outside of Texas would have been hard-pressed to say that the Longhorns had a chance.

And his performance, especially in the fourth quarter, is probably one of the greatest in sports history.

Vince Young has been the rare type of player that has changed the way the QB position is played.

To not award that with college football's highest individual prize, the Heisman, is a shame and a travesty.

And even though he likely won't have it given to him, it would be a great honor to give a player of the caliber that Young was the Heisman, as he was a very deserving candidate.

It would be unfitting to college football to have an asterisk in the history books where it says that no Heisman was awarded for the 2005 season.

Young deserves the award should it be vacated even though the Heisman Trust probably will not give it to him.

This article is featured on Storm the Field.