Run, Reggie, Run

Bush (above) pictured with the Heisman Trophy in 2005.

Well, it's official. The 2005 Heisman Trophy no longer belongs to one of the most electrifying players in college football history, Reggie Bush. The NCAA and Heisman Trust made quite clear to the national media, USC, and Bush himself, that he hopped a clearly marked boundary in the world of prep and collegiate athletes: accepting extra benefits from agents and "handlers".

An eight month official NCAA investigation concluded this past week, with the final statement that Bush's award for being the best player in the country will be nullified in the record books. Though he will be able to keep his own trophy, USC will give back their's and also remove all mementos and images pertaining to Bush on campus. Over his tenure in Southern California, Bush and his family allegedly accepted up to $100,000 dollars worth of limousine rides, high price vacations, and paid rent from handlers; all under the table and all violations as well. These efforts were in attempt to woo the San Diego product to sign with their agencies before he left for the NFL. Once Bush took the money, he gave up his status as an amateur, and became a paid professional.

In the end, though, Reggie has "outrun" the NCAA, just as he did to hapless defenders back in college. He and his family still did not have to pay a cent for most expenses throughout his collegiate career, and now he is making millions in the NFL. The folks who will really take the hit from the situation's fallout are the USC athletic program, and all others across the country who might have, at one time or another, paid an athlete. USC had to vacate all wins from their 2004 and 2005 (Years Bush was playing), including their 04 BCS Championship. All of a sudden now, the issue with professional agents from the NFL in the college football landscape has been thrust to the forefront of the sports world. It seems like every day we hear of a new player or school under official investigation for rule infractions, almost always concerning agents and handlers.

This past Monday, former Florida standout offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey was accused that he accepted around $100,000 from an agent before the Gators' appearance in the Sugar Bowl. Though Pouncey ferverently denied ever being in contact with an agent, photo evidence from a nightclub proved otherwise. Maurkice and his brother Mike, another Florida lineman and NFL talent, were shot hanging with an agent's alleged "runner" (a person who gets close to an athlete while in high school/college and tries to coax them to their employer's company through gifts and other expendables). Florida is now in danger of losing their Sugar Bowl victory from last year. Does that sound familiar USC? It is illegal if a college athlete performs in a sporting event after being paid or given extravagant gifts from an agent. Whether or not the school knows this happened, it must suffer the consequences the ineligible athlete created.

Continuing the recent string of NCAA probes, a group of players was questioned about their attendance of a lavish South Beach party earlier in the summer hosted by a NFL player agent. North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little both were in attendance, as well as South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders and Alabama defensive end Marcel Dareus. The NCAA was eager to know about who paid for the players' transportation to Miami, as well as who picked up the check for their hotel and food. Unless something unprecedented happens, we could see all four of these players begin next year suspended.

Agents and runners in the college game are an infection. Plain and simple. Alabama coach Nick Saban put it best when questioned about the situation his own player, Dareus, is in, saying how these handlers bring about an "entrapment of young people at a very difficult time in their lives." It will be almost impossible for the NCAA by themselves to stop agents in the college ranks. As long as there is money, and players willing to take it, this corruption will continue. If the NFL got involved with controlling their own envoys more rigorously we might not hear as many stories related to illegal player benefits anymore. Former NFL executive Joe Mendes is a counselor employed by SEC schools who works with players and their families on how to avoid falling into trouble with agents and runners. Even if more programs like Mendes's were held throughout the country, you couldn't ensure that players will make the right decision. Its tough to do that when money is offered to you after you've seen so little for so long.

-John Stoller