Athletic scandal at the University of Southern California
Encyclopedia
The athletic scandal at the University of Southern California athletic scandal was an incident in which the University of Southern California
was investigated and punished for serious NCAA rules violations in the Trojan
football and men's basketball programs. Probes by both USC and the NCAA found that football star Reggie Bush
, the 2005 Heisman Trophy
winner, and basketball star O. J. Mayo
had effectively forfeited their amateur status (in Mayo's case, before he ever played a game for USC) by accepting gifts from agents
. As a result of the ongoing sanction, which progressed well into the 2010-11 seasons for both USC and Reggie Bush's New Orleans Saints
, Bush voluntarily gave up his 2005 Heisman Trophy
, which the Heisman Trust decided to leave vancant .
As a result of sanctions issued by both USC and the NCAA, the Trojan athletic program received some of the harshest penalties ever meted out to a Division 1 program. The football team was stripped of the final two wins of its 2004 national championship season
, making it a near-certainty that it will be the first team in modern college football history to be stripped of a national championship. University of Southern California
was also stripped of the Grantland Rice Trophy in which they were awarded in 2004 for being involved in the Reggie Bush scandal. The Trojans also lost all of their wins in 2005
, as well as what would have been their fourth straight Pacific-10 Conference title. It was also banned from bowl games in both 2010 and 2011 and was docked 30 scholarships over three years. The basketball team gave up all of its wins from the 2007-08 season. Bush is the first person in the Heisman Trophy's history to give his trophy back to the Heisman Trust, as the 2005 Trophy is the first to be left vacated as well.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
was investigated and punished for serious NCAA rules violations in the Trojan
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
football and men's basketball programs. Probes by both USC and the NCAA found that football star Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, the 2005 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner, and basketball star O. J. Mayo
O. J. Mayo
Ovinton J'Anthony "O. J." Mayo , is an American basketball player currently playing with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He signed with the team on July 8, 2008. He played college basketball for the University of Southern California...
had effectively forfeited their amateur status (in Mayo's case, before he ever played a game for USC) by accepting gifts from agents
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
. As a result of the ongoing sanction, which progressed well into the 2010-11 seasons for both USC and Reggie Bush's New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Bush voluntarily gave up his 2005 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, which the Heisman Trust decided to leave vancant .
As a result of sanctions issued by both USC and the NCAA, the Trojan athletic program received some of the harshest penalties ever meted out to a Division 1 program. The football team was stripped of the final two wins of its 2004 national championship season
2004 USC Trojans football team
The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004-2005 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Although now vacated for breaking NCAA rules, the team won the 2004 BCS National Championship by winning the 2005 Orange Bowl, that year's BCS National...
, making it a near-certainty that it will be the first team in modern college football history to be stripped of a national championship. University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
was also stripped of the Grantland Rice Trophy in which they were awarded in 2004 for being involved in the Reggie Bush scandal. The Trojans also lost all of their wins in 2005
2005 USC Trojans football team
The 2005 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the college football season of 2005–2006, winning the Pacific-10 Conference , and playing for the NCAA Division I-A national championship...
, as well as what would have been their fourth straight Pacific-10 Conference title. It was also banned from bowl games in both 2010 and 2011 and was docked 30 scholarships over three years. The basketball team gave up all of its wins from the 2007-08 season. Bush is the first person in the Heisman Trophy's history to give his trophy back to the Heisman Trust, as the 2005 Trophy is the first to be left vacated as well.