College football

Heisman: It's Bush with a landslide

USC running back beats out Texas QB Vince Young, teammate Matt Leinart for honor.

By wire services
Published December 11, 2005

NEW YORK - Reggie Bush left the competition far, far behind - as usual.

Southern California's incomparable junior tailback won the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player in a landslide Saturday night over Texas quarterback Vince Young and USC quarterback Matt Leinart, last year's winner.

Flashing uncanny acceleration and ability to change direction, Bush has conjured up memories of Gale Sayers, drawn comparisons to Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders and Tony Dorsett, and is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft.

"Oh man, this is amazing," Bush said, a row of former winners lining the stage. "It's truly an honor to be elected to this fraternity. I've been in college for three years and it's the first time I've been invited into a fraternity."

Bush received 2,541 points to finish 933 points ahead of Young, with Leinart a distant third.

The 784 first-place votes received by Bush was the second-most in Heisman history, topped only by another famous USC player - O.J. Simpson, who had 855 in 1968. Bush was first in all six regions and appeared on 99 percent of the ballots, also a Heisman record.

Bush and Leinart will be the first Heisman winners to play in a college game together when USC goes for a third straight national title against Texas in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

"It's a special opportunity," Bush said. "It'd be even more special if we win this game."

When Bush's name was announced, he bent over in his chair and clasped his hands. After hugging his mother, stepfather and brother, he headed for the podium to give his acceptance speech, starting out with a huge sigh of relief.

"I was in shock because Vince Young and Matt are such great players," Bush said.

This year's Heisman race appeared tight for much of the season, until Nov. 19, when Bush left Fresno State repeatedly grasping at air and onlookers grasping for superlatives to describe a performance that had to be seen to be truly appreciated.

He ran for 295 yards, racked up 513 all-purpose yards - the second-highest total in NCAA history - and USC escaped with a 50-42 victory.

If there was still any doubt Bush was best, he dispelled it against UCLA, running for 260 yards and two touchdowns in a 66-19 victory.

As the Trojans completed another perfect regular season, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Bush would become the fifth USC tailback to win the Heisman.

The 200-pounder from Spring Valley, Calif., just outside San Diego, ran for 1,658 yards this season, an average of 8.9 yards a carry and topped the nation in all-purpose yards with 217.9 per game.

USC now has produced seven Heisman winners, matching the record held by Notre Dame, and an unprecedented three in four years, starting with quarterback Carson Palmer in 2002.

Now Bush will have to make the kind of decision Leinart did last season: Stay in school or go.

Leinart surprised many by returning to USC for his senior year when he could have entered the NFL draft and become a millionaire.

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]