Forfeits

Former USC star running back Reggie Bush turned in his Heisman Trophy for receiving improper benefits.Either to go to USC or while he was there is beyond me, since I never really bothered to look at any in depth stories that were out about this particular situation. I personally don't like the fact that he gave up his Heisman that he won on the field. If it wasn't at USC, it might've been any other school in the nation. I don't like the idea of forfeiture. If you knowingly used a player that shouldn't have been there, like for being academically ineligible and that player still played, sure take whatever they won away. Or using someone like a ringer. A player that is just a body in school and doesn't go to class. That I could also understand. I know it's wrong for anyone in college to receive improper benefits, but if you're good enough, that is gonna come your way, regardless. Those benefits didn't enable Reggie Bush to juke countless Fresno State defenders on that breathtaking run.





Benefits didn't enable him to be the best college running back in the nation, or the best player for that matter. That was all done on the field.

Although it wasn't right, Ed Martin didn't get Michigan and the Fab Five to two Final Fours. Why should they take the banners down and expunge the records. In the end there was just too much talent for them not to get that far. Should that make Temple feel better about that loss in the Regional final. I don't think so.

I know it's wrong and I don't agree with steroids, but should Jose Canseco be ordered to return any extras he received for winning the AL MVP. I'm sure Mike Greenwell didn't feel good about it then and he damn sure doesn't feel good about it now.

I'm sure there have been plenty of schools that have used a player that received extra benefits, or had a term paper written for them, or had money paid to a family member to steer a kid to a particular school. Some of them just haven't been caught.That's like if the recruits Bruce Pearl  and his staff made extra phone calls to came to Tennessee and won a national title. Does that mean Tennessee should forfeit the national championship. I don't think so.