*Former NFL star Reggie Bush is suing the NCAA, USC, and the Pac-12 to reclaim NIL earnings that his name, image, and likeness generated during his time with the football program from 2003 to 2005.
Fox News reports that Bush’s attorneys issued a statement asserting that he deserves compensation “to address and rectify ongoing injustices stemming from the exploitation” of his name.
“This case is not just about seeking justice for Reggie Bush,” Evan Selik, one of Bush’s attorneys, said in a statement. “It’s about setting a precedent for the fair treatment of all college athletes. Our goal is to rectify this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated and treated fairly for their contributions.”
Bush is also pursuing a defamation lawsuit against the NCAA, filed in 2023, related to his forfeiture of the Heisman Trophy in 2010. We reported earlier, citing CNN, that Bush is accusing the NCAA of defamation in a lawsuit filed in an Indiana Superior Court, asking the collegiate sports governing body to reinstate his football records so he can get his 2005 Heisman Trophy back.
“We appreciate that the new administration at USC is trying to pick up the pieces of the former administration’s unjust and improper handling of Reggie Bush,” Levi McCarthern, Bush’s attorney who is handling the case against the NCAA, said. “However, the delay in fixing this speaks volumes.”
Per CNN, after “the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that college athletes can receive education-related payments for use of their name, image, and likeness, Bush petitioned to get his award reinstated to no avail,” the outlet writes.
“The NCAA’s claim that Mr. Bush engaged in “pay–for–play” (the “Statement”) is reasonably and widely understood to mean that Mr. Bush received payment in return for playing football at the University of Southern California (“USC”),” the lawsuit claims.
Meanwhile, we reported in August that Bush is finally reclaiming his Heisman Trophy almost 14 years after relinquishing the coveted prize.
“Personally, I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I’m honored to return to the Heisman family,” Bush said. “I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.”
Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments. We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.”
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Yaay! Reggie Bush Getting Heisman Trophy BACK 14 Years After Forfeiting it | VIDEO
