"It’s about truth...and holding the NCAA accountable."
August 28, 2023 9:28 AM Subscribe
In response to the NCAA saying he was punished for "pay to play" benefits, former USC running back Reggie Bush has sued the organization for defamation, as part of a push to have his Heisman Trophy reinstated.
Bush has been pushing to have his award and records reinstated after the NCAA repealed their regulations on the exploitation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in the wake of the Alston ruling removing any claim to antitrust protection for the NCAA, illustrating that Bush's punishment rested on rules of a questionable legality. In addition, Bush's RB coach at USC, Todd McNair, settled with the NCAA after a jury ruling for the NCAA was thrown out when it was discovered that the foreman worked for a law firm that had worked for the NCAA.
Secret Base has a good overview of the whole matter.
Bush has been pushing to have his award and records reinstated after the NCAA repealed their regulations on the exploitation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in the wake of the Alston ruling removing any claim to antitrust protection for the NCAA, illustrating that Bush's punishment rested on rules of a questionable legality. In addition, Bush's RB coach at USC, Todd McNair, settled with the NCAA after a jury ruling for the NCAA was thrown out when it was discovered that the foreman worked for a law firm that had worked for the NCAA.
Secret Base has a good overview of the whole matter.
If this is successful, I wonder how far back these sorts of lawsuits will go. Will the Fab Five sue to get their Final Four appearances reinstated?
posted by thecjm at 9:58 AM on August 28, 2023
posted by thecjm at 9:58 AM on August 28, 2023
Big fan of Reggie. I'm a USC alum, and them getting good was a high point during some long deployments and a divorce and... well, for a few hours in the middle of the night, a few Sundays, I could just be unreservedly happy. I always thought yanking the Heisman was bullshit, because he was clearly the best player on the field that season and his infractions had nothing to do with that.
And while I believe that everyone knows he won it, and that everyone already either thinks it was bullshit that it got taken away or never will, if the only thing that this push (heh) achieves is to ruin as many hours of someone at the NCAA as he provided solace and happiness to me over those three years, well... that'll be good enough. Fuck the NCAA, and fuck the Heisman Trust for not standing up to them.
posted by Etrigan at 10:02 AM on August 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
And while I believe that everyone knows he won it, and that everyone already either thinks it was bullshit that it got taken away or never will, if the only thing that this push (heh) achieves is to ruin as many hours of someone at the NCAA as he provided solace and happiness to me over those three years, well... that'll be good enough. Fuck the NCAA, and fuck the Heisman Trust for not standing up to them.
posted by Etrigan at 10:02 AM on August 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
If this is successful, I wonder how far back these sorts of lawsuits will go.
That's the big thing that's up in the air - I don't think anyone is sure what would happen. The big fuckup the NCAA made was the "pay to play" remark, most likely said because they knew that the already flimsy basis for Bush's sanctions had been further weakened by a) the McNair settlement after getting caught out with a runaway jury in their favor, and b) the tearing out of NIL regulations in response to Alston, illustrating that the NCAA knew of the legal issues around the rules. But by saying that they gave Bush something concrete to hold against them in a court of law.
I have the feeling that Baker's tenure at the NCAA helm is going to be marked by his cleaning up after Emmert's many and myriad fuckups.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:07 AM on August 28, 2023
That's the big thing that's up in the air - I don't think anyone is sure what would happen. The big fuckup the NCAA made was the "pay to play" remark, most likely said because they knew that the already flimsy basis for Bush's sanctions had been further weakened by a) the McNair settlement after getting caught out with a runaway jury in their favor, and b) the tearing out of NIL regulations in response to Alston, illustrating that the NCAA knew of the legal issues around the rules. But by saying that they gave Bush something concrete to hold against them in a court of law.
I have the feeling that Baker's tenure at the NCAA helm is going to be marked by his cleaning up after Emmert's many and myriad fuckups.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:07 AM on August 28, 2023
Also, good on Vince Young to tell the Heisman Trust to go fuck themselves when they offered the trophy to him.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:08 AM on August 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:08 AM on August 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
He's also one of the better announcer analysts, having a friendly personality without needing to pose as a toxic man-child. I'm looking at you, McAfee.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:23 AM on August 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:23 AM on August 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
The big fuckup the NCAA made was the "pay to play" remark....
So, so stupid. And completely true to form. They're so used to being above judgement; they still haven't learned that they are no longer The Law.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:37 AM on August 28, 2023
So, so stupid. And completely true to form. They're so used to being above judgement; they still haven't learned that they are no longer The Law.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:37 AM on August 28, 2023
There are so many things about American university life that are quasi-governmental and I have no idea how it got that way. Not only to we have the NCAA acting unilaterally, but why do campus police exist and not just security guards? Why do so many on campus issues that should be crimes end up before some honor committee instead?
(I know why, power and control, but how did it get that way?)
posted by thecjm at 1:03 PM on August 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
(I know why, power and control, but how did it get that way?)
posted by thecjm at 1:03 PM on August 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Why do so many on campus issues that should be crimes end up before some honor committee instead?
(I know why, power and control, but how did it get that way?)
Inherited the systems from the old country?
posted by Thorzdad at 1:40 PM on August 28, 2023
(I know why, power and control, but how did it get that way?)
Inherited the systems from the old country?
posted by Thorzdad at 1:40 PM on August 28, 2023
Fuck the NCAA. Forever and always.
posted by dry white toast at 1:44 PM on August 28, 2023
posted by dry white toast at 1:44 PM on August 28, 2023
I attended USC when Reggie Bush was playing and he is a phenomenal athlete. I'm not even a big football fan but watching him play was incredible. The fact that they took his awards away is ridiculous. Even if he did break a rule that doesn't take away from the fact that he earned them fairly.
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:45 PM on August 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by downtohisturtles at 1:45 PM on August 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Why do so many on campus issues that should be crimes end up before some honor committee instead?
The idea in theory is to allow students to fuck up in the relative safety of the school, without it affecting them in a more permanent basis. The problem (as you noted) is that some of these things shouldn't be treated lightly.
As for the NCAA, the thing there is that historically, the organization and the schools have used tradition and the fact that the path to the pros to constrain players - nobody wants to rock the boat when doing so can cost you money. USC under Carroll became a target because they treated college football as the professional endeavor it is, which pissed off the traditionalists, and thus they decided to make an example of the school, and of Bush. Which wound up being a massive mistake as the NCAA's enforcement arm would be revealed to be utterly out of control, the traditionalists would massively lose clout as people switched to supporting players keeping their labor, and the NCAA going after a player no longer under their control means they went after a player who no longer needed to care about them. The capstone was, of course, Alston, which was the Supreme Court smacking some sense into the NCAA and pointing out that they were a lot more legally exposed than they thought.
Also, all the "he broke the rules" commentary annoys the shit out of me, because yes, Bush broke NCAA rules...that were clearly illegal.
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:05 PM on August 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
The idea in theory is to allow students to fuck up in the relative safety of the school, without it affecting them in a more permanent basis. The problem (as you noted) is that some of these things shouldn't be treated lightly.
As for the NCAA, the thing there is that historically, the organization and the schools have used tradition and the fact that the path to the pros to constrain players - nobody wants to rock the boat when doing so can cost you money. USC under Carroll became a target because they treated college football as the professional endeavor it is, which pissed off the traditionalists, and thus they decided to make an example of the school, and of Bush. Which wound up being a massive mistake as the NCAA's enforcement arm would be revealed to be utterly out of control, the traditionalists would massively lose clout as people switched to supporting players keeping their labor, and the NCAA going after a player no longer under their control means they went after a player who no longer needed to care about them. The capstone was, of course, Alston, which was the Supreme Court smacking some sense into the NCAA and pointing out that they were a lot more legally exposed than they thought.
Also, all the "he broke the rules" commentary annoys the shit out of me, because yes, Bush broke NCAA rules...that were clearly illegal.
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:05 PM on August 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
campus police exist and not just security guards?
I have heard that the large student populations in some small college towns would overwhelm the local police budget. I'm not claiming it is always true, just offering one explanation I've been given.
posted by soelo at 7:02 PM on August 28, 2023
I have heard that the large student populations in some small college towns would overwhelm the local police budget. I'm not claiming it is always true, just offering one explanation I've been given.
posted by soelo at 7:02 PM on August 28, 2023
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I see what you did there.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:33 AM on August 28, 2023 [8 favorites]