Former USC star running back Reggie Bush filed a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA on Wednesday, stemming from a 2021 comment by an NCAA spokesperson stating Bush was involved in a “pay-for-play” arrangement, his attorneys announced in a news conference at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Here’s what you need to know:
- The NCAA’s statement, in July 2021, came in response to a question of whether Bush would have his records restored alongside a changed name, image and likeness policy for college athletes.
- “NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements,” an NCAA spokesperson said at the time. “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.”
- Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005 but forfeited it in 2010 after an NCAA investigation concluded that Bush and his family took extra benefits while he was a student at USC.
- Bush’s lawyers have also begun a petition urging the NCAA to apologize to him and reinstate his collegiate record “so he can reclaim his Heisman Trophy.”
What they’re saying
A 30-page lawsuit filed in Marion County, Ind. — where the NCAA has its principal office — calls the NCAA’s statement “completely false and highly offensive” and contends Bush’s reputation has been “substantially and irreparably damaged” because of it. The filing also calls the NCAA’s investigation into USC “fatally flawed” and says that its findings do not support the NCAA’s “false statement that Mr. Bush accepted payment in return for agreeing to play football at USC.”
“It’s unfortunate that the hard work that was put in, that was built not only by me but by coaches, teammates … that it was all torn down so easily with no factual evidence behind any of these claims,” Bush said at Wednesday’s news conference.
He went on to call the NCAA’s “pay-for-play” statement “100 percent not true.”
“Not only is it not true, but there’s no evidence to even support that claim. … It wasn’t even part of the initial NCAA investigation, so this is a new accusation as far as I’m concerned.
“All the media outlets picked it up as if this were the reason why I’m not getting my Heisman Trophy back and why I’m not being reinstated, and that’s not true. And that’s what this lawsuit is about. It’s about truth, getting the facts out and holding the NCAA accountable.”
The NCAA has no additional comment at this time.
Backstory
USC was hit with massive sanctions that included a two-year bowl ban and a reduction of 30 scholarships as a result of the NCAA investigation, while Bush had to return his Heisman and be dissociated from the school for 10 years beginning in 2010.
In 2021, Bush sought to have his Heisman returned and records restored given changes to name, image and likeness laws that year. However, the NCAA dismissed the request. The Heisman Trust had said it would reinstate Bush’s 2005 trophy only if the NCAA restored Bush’s vacated records.
During his three seasons with the Trojans, Bush amassed 3,169 rushing yards, 25 rushing touchdowns, 1,301 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. He was also a two-time All-American and the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. He went on to play 11 NFL seasons, winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.
Required reading
(Photo: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)
