Heisman Trophy Case Study

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Pages: 2

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners represent great ability combined with perseverance and hard work. In 2005, Bush earned the Heisman Trophy by putting in one of the best individual seasons in college football history. He had amassed 2,611 all – purpose yards with 18 touchdowns and an 8.7-yard average. Shortly after, one of the greatest college football players of all time would have to surrender his Heisman due to the allegations that Bush and his family received large sums of money from California – based marketing agents. USC would also face heavy sanctions from the NCAA and were forced to disassociate itself from Bush thus erasing him from their history. Bush’s decision to forfeit the trophy is honorable and should be respected for taking the high road. This could have gone in a different direction with Bush refusing to hand in the trophy. He could have dragged out the process and fought against the Heisman Trust. Would he have been criticized for doing so? It was Bush’s hard work and talent that earned him that trophy. The award was given to him based on representing USC by putting in one of the best single – season performances in college football history. There were no performance enhancing drug scandals attached to his …show more content…
OJ Simpson is the perfect example of where the Heisman Trust failed to show their own integrity that they hold Heisman winners. Simpson, who won the Heisman in 1968, was acquitted in the famous criminal trial where he was accused of murdering his ex – wife and her friend. He is now serving time in jail for armed robbery and kidnapping. The 1968 Heisman Trophy winner is still OJ Simpson. Why is it that Bush and Simpson were treated