On Wednesday, Reggie Bush and his lawyers announced a lawsuit against the NCAA for defamation.
This comes in response to the NCAA’s past statement implying his connection to a “pay-for-play” arrangement.
“Most recently, the NCAA has made a statement about me, accusing me of engaging in a pay-for-play arrangement, which is 100% not true. Not only is it not true, but there’s no evidence even to support that claim,” Bush said during the press conference.
In 2021, the NCAA declined to reinstate Bush’s 2005 season record or return his Heisman Trophy despite rule changes that allowed college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
“Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images, and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements,” an NCAA spokesperson told ESPN. “The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to, and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools.”
However, Ben Crump, a civil rights lawyer on Bush’s legal team, stated that Bush didn’t have a “pay-for-play” deal with the University of Southern California. Instead, his dedication to the team was the driving force.
Crump said, “Devotion that earned him many collegiate records and awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor bestowed on a college football player.”
According to the lawsuit, the NCAA’s statement “substantially and irreparably damaged” Bush’s professional reputation.
“This action seeks to hold the NCAA accountable for its unlawful conduct, and for the damages, mental anguish, humiliation, and embarrassment it has caused Mr. Bush by the NCAA’s false and defamatory statement,” the lawsuit reads.
According to ESPN, in 2010, the NCAA punished USC with a two-year postseason ban, loss of 30 scholarships, and forfeiture of 14 wins, including the 2004 BCS national championship. This was due to gifts accepted by Bush from sports marketers aiming to recruit him for USC.
The sports marketers allegedly covered costs for Bush, such as hotels, a rent-free home, a limousine, and a new suit he wore for his 2005 Heisman acceptance.
As part of the penalty, Bush had to separate from the school for ten years, which concluded in June 2020.
After the NCAA’s 2021 decision allowing athletes to earn from their likeness, the Heisman Trust stated that if Bush’s 2005 season record were reinstated, he could reclaim his Heisman Trophy.
Bush’s name is not found among the previous Heisman Trophy winners on the Heisman Trust’s website.
“Give back the Heisman to Reggie,” said Levi McCathern, another of Bush’s attorneys. “Give back USC’s 14 wins, but more importantly, we’re asking the public here today … give Reggie Bush his good name back.”
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