Reggie Bush should keep Heisman, voters say

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Reggie Bush should keep his Heisman Trophy, even if the NCAA finds that he accepted extra benefits and declares him ineligible for the 2005 season in which he won the award.

At least that’s the way seven of the 10 voters polled by the website Heisman Pundit see it.

‘Any benefit he received was off the field’ one voter said. ‘Thus, it had no impact on how he performed on the field. If he was found to have used a performance-enhancing drug, then I would take away the Heisman.’

Another voter said he wouldn’t penalize Bush ‘unless they kick O.J. [Simpson] out first.’

A voter who went against Bush complained, ‘On the Heisman ballot, it says you are voting for the most outstanding college football player, not the most outstanding professional football player masquerading as a collegian.’

The NCAA investigated Bush and his family’s relationship with two would-be sports marketers as part of a four-year-long examination of USC’s football and basketball programs. There was a hearing on the findings in February, but the NCAA has not announced its decision in the case.

Bush now plays for the New Orleans Saints.

-- Mike Hiserman