Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after reclaiming the Heisman Trophy news

LOS ANGELES (AP) Reggie Bush is overjoyed to win the Heisman Trophy once more.

Now he also wants to regain his popularity.

The former Southern California quarterback says the Heisman return is the biggest step yet in his fight with the NCAA to restore his good name and records from an incredible college football profession. Bush bluntly stated that he “never cheated” during his three seasons at USC.

“I never had any doubt that this would happen,” Bush said. “Because I know the truth is on my side.”

Bush and his family celebrated his restoration of Heisman honors Thursday during a news conference atop the venerable Coliseum, where Bush played for the Trojans before an 11-year NFL profession. Bush and his three children held the trophy together as his wife, mother and plenty of supporters cheered.

Bush praised the Heisman Trust for reinstating him, but the former linebacker and his lawyers made clear their fight against the NCAA was not over. Bush has indicated he has no plans to drop a defamation lawsuit filed last 12 months against the NCAA over the governing body’s characterization of the circumstances that led to Bush’s 2021 troubles.

“It pretty much meant I was considered a fraud,” Bush said. “The trophy… to be taken away from me (was painful), but being labeled a cheater was much worse because I never cheated and there is no proof that I cheated.”

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Bush won the Heisman Award in 2005 but gave it up in 2010 after massive sanctions were imposed on USC, partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers. The Heisman Trust restored the honor and returned the trophy to Bush in Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, citing fundamental changes in the structure of faculty athletics over the past 14 years.

The NCAA also voided 14 of the Trojans’ victories under its sanctions and erased lots of Bush’s accomplishments from the record books. The decision continues to infuriate Bush, who clearly hopes that his lawsuit and public pressure will force the governing body to change its position.

“This is a clear call for the NCAA to do the right thing and be on the right side of history,” attorney Ben Crump said.

Bush, whose NCAA-mandated separation from USC resulted in 2020, hopes to see his retired No. 5 on the peristyle of the Coliseum this fall. He also hopes to lead coach Lincoln Riley’s team out of the Coliseum tunnel by accepting an honor bestowed upon the Trojans’ top former team.

But Bush says he won’t be satisfied until his name can also be cleared.

“You can’t achieve this goal or a national championship by cheating,” Bush said. “I promise you that.”