USC Trojans: Reggie Bush is finally welcomed back

After 10 long years, Reggie Bush has finally been welcomed back as part of the USC Trojans football family.

Rejoice USC Trojans Football fans your long national nightmare is over! No sorry Clay Helton is still your coach, but for those who remember the Pete Carroll era of the early 2000’s good news has arrived.

Wednesday morning, USC Athletics confirmed that former Heisman winning running back Reggie Bush would no longer be disassociated from the Trojans football program. In a statement by Athletic Director, Mike Bohn Bush was welcomed back to the Trojans family.

"“When I was hired to represent the Trojan Family as the Director of Athletics, I committed to listening and learning before leading. Throughout this process, one of the consistent themes that emerged from my discussions was how much Reggie Bush means to our former players, USC alumni, and fans everywhere,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement Wednesday."

USC had been forced by the NCAA to disassociate Bush from their program stemming from an investigation where it was revealed Bush and his family accepted cash payments while Bush was a student at USC.

USC was sanctioned after a four-year investigation that decimated the program, the Trojans were forced to vacate all wins (14) and their BCS championship from the 2004 season, lost 30 scholarships, and were banned from post-season play for two years.

Bush was forced to return his Heisman Trophy and his playing statistics were stricken from Trojans records to later be restored but carry an asterisk. In 2017 the NCAA Committee on Infractions ruled that mandated disassociation be limited to 10 years.

Since the sanctions were handed down in 2010 the Trojans could now welcome back Bush. Trojan’s basketball player O.J. Mayo can also return to the Trojans family after being disassociated around the same time.

During his time with the Trojans Bush was the most electrifying player on the football field. In his three years with the Trojans, the team went 37-2 winning three Pac-10 titles and two AP National Championships. Bush was a two-time consensus All-American and finished his career with 6,890 all-purpose yards good for 10th all-time in NCAA history and second in USC history.

Bush produced a brief statement on his reinstatement:

"“I’ve dreamed of this day for 10-plus years, and I’m excited to come home!”"

How Bush is welcomed back remains to be seen, there is no certainty the college football season will start on time due to the COVID-19 virus disrupting normal society. Trojans fans can probably expect to see Bush’s number five uniform among the other Trojan Heisman winners in the Coliseum the next time the Trojans run out on the field.