Heisman Trophy - Controversy and Politics - Nullification of 2005 Award

Nullification of 2005 Award

A historic movement first occurred in 2010 when University of Southern California athletic director Pat Haden announced the university would return its replica of the 2005 Heisman Trophy due to NCAA sanctions requiring the university to dissociate itself from Reggie Bush. On September 14, 2010, Bush voluntarily forfeited his title as a Heisman winner. The next day, the Heisman Trust announced the 2005 award would remain vacated and removed all mention of the 2005 award from its official website. Bush eventually returned his trophy to the Heisman Trust in 2012.

Critical responses from the national media were strident and variable. CBSSports.com producer J. Darin Darst opined that, "He (Bush) should never have been pressured to return the award." Kalani Simpson of Fox Sports wrote, "Nice try Heisman Trust...It's a slick move to try to wipe the slate clean." Football Writers Association of America Past-President Dennis Dodd, on the other hand, decided to fictitiously award Bush's vacated 2005 award to Vince Young. He wrote, "Since the Heisman folks won't re-vote, we did. Vince Young is the new winner of the 2005 Heisman." (Young had finished second, and when the ineligible player was removed, would be first.) A Los Angeles Times piece argued that Bush's Heisman was "tainted" but lamented the decision coming five years ex post facto.