Reggie Bush cried the last time he was in New York.
He broke down and sobbed like a child when he won the Heisman Trophy in December. There could be more tears of joy Saturday when the USC running back almost surely will be the first pick in the NFL Draft.
But there is the possibility that tears of sorrow and shame could be in Bush’s future. At issue is whether he received an extra benefit when it was arranged for his family to rent a $750,000 house while the running back played his junior season at Southern Cal.
The Pac-10 Conference, at the request of USC, has launched an investigation into the matter. If the league determines there was wrongdoing and the NCAA follows suit, Bush could be ruled ineligible, then could be the first player to be stripped of his Heisman Trophy.
It’s a highly unlikely scenario, but as is written on the Heisman Trophy ballot, “the recipient must be in compliance with the bylaws of the NCAA student athlete.”
“I think what we have is a case of a situation being blown out of proportion maybe due to my public image growing,” Bush said yesterday at the adidas Super Store. “As far as the situation, there’s nothing to be worried about from my perspective. I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m looking forward to playing some football in the next couple of months.”
The Downtown Athletic Club’s associate director, Tim Henning, said the organization was monitoring the situation. Henning said never before had a scenario occurred in which a winner might be declared ineligible.
If it happens, the DAC’s board of trustees would decide whether to strip Bush of his Heisman. Vince Young of Texas, who’s expected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the draft, finished a distant second in the Heisman voting, but it’s unclear if Young would get the trophy or if it would remain vacated.
“The board of trustees is aware of the situation and feels it’s premature to comment until the Pac-10 completes its investigation,” Henning said. “The board will continue to monitor the events.”
One thing is certain: Bush is the most exciting offensive player in this draft, which is why adidas chose him as the player for it to break into the NFL. Bush signed a multiyear endorsement deal with the shoe/apparel company reportedly worth $1 million annually.
All one has to do is watch Bush’s 36-yard touchdown run against Notre Dame, in which he hurdled a player and didn’t lose speed, to know he is a special talent.
“Since I’ve been 8, 9 years old, I’ve been making moves similar in those types of situations,” Bush told The Post. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s something I’ve been doing all my life. For me, it’s expected. I expect to make great plays and make great things happen.”