Reggie Bush sues USC, Pac-12, NCAA for NIL compensation

Former USC working again and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush introduced that he has filed a lawsuit towards the college, the Pac-12 and the NCAA, searching for compensation for his identify, picture and likeness throughout his time with this system.

Bush’s authorized staff says that the three organizations earned important compensation due to Bush’s “important recognition” and “prominence” by means of TV contracts, merchandise gross sales and media rights.

Bush’s attorneys additionally mentioned in a launch that even after he left USC to play within the NFL, the three entities continued to profit financially from his status “with none acknowledgment of his contribution.”

“This case isn’t just about searching for justice for Reggie Bush,” Evan Selik, one of many attorneys representing Bush, mentioned. “It is about setting a precedent for the truthful remedy of all faculty athletes. Our aim is to rectify this injustice and pave the best way for a system the place athletes are rightfully acknowledged, compensated and handled pretty for his or her contributions.”

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“Reggie will at all times be a revered member of the Trojan Household, and we had been very happy to help his profitable efforts to recuperate his Heisman Trophy,” the college mentioned in a press release. “We now have not acquired a replica of the lawsuit so we’re unable to handle its allegations.”

The Pac-12 declined to touch upon Bush’s lawsuit.

In three seasons at USC, Bush turned one of the crucial prolific faculty gamers of his period. His 1,740 dashing yards and 18 complete touchdowns throughout his junior season resulted in him profitable the Heisman Trophy that 12 months. That Heisman, nevertheless, was forfeited in 2010 by each USC and Bush as a result of NCAA violations surrounding impermissible advantages.

USC additionally needed to vacate the 2004 nationwide title — the primary time a significant faculty soccer program was stripped of a nationwide championship. The NCAA additionally stripped USC of victories in 14 video games that Bush performed, together with that BCS title blowout victory over Oklahoma.

Consequently, Bush was not related to the varsity in any method till lately.

The adoption of identify, picture and likeness compensation for present faculty athletes in 2021 prompted motion from Bush and his authorized staff. He started lobbying for his trophy to be returned, and Bush filed a separate, ongoing lawsuit towards the NCAA for defamation after a spokesman claimed that Bush was concerned in “pay-for-play preparations.”

Earlier this 12 months, the Heisman Belief reinstated Bush’s award, citing “monumental adjustments within the faculty soccer panorama,” which led to Bush and USC changing into reacquainted. His retired No. 5 jersey — which had been faraway from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum peristyle after the NCAA sanctions had been handed down — was introduced again and displayed at USC’s dwelling opener this season.

“We admire that the brand new administration at USC is attempting to choose up the items of the previous administrations’ unjust and improper dealing with of Reggie Bush,” Levi G. McCathern, II, one other one in all Bush’s attorneys, mentioned. “Nonetheless, the delay in fixing this speaks volumes.”

Bush and USC had additionally been in reported talks to have him lead the staff out of the tunnel for a recreation this season.