We have long thought that it would take an admission of guilt and a public apology to, among others, the USC football program before Reggie Bush is truly able to put his collegiate mess behind him.
While Bush thought voluntarily stripping himself of the ’05 Heisman was a step in that direction, his bizarre and self-serving statements from Thursday -- the forfeited Heisman was “definitely not an admission of guilt” being chief among them -- did nothing but open himself up to further scrutiny and criticism from both fans and media alike. And, as it turns out, from one of his former coaches as well.
Speaking to ESPN‘s Shelly Smith, Steve Sarkisian, current Washington head coach and former USC assistant during Bush’s time with the program, blasted the ex-USC back for not including an apology with the “Return to Sender” sticker he slapped on the Heisman.
“He had a chance to apologize, look like the good guy,” Sarkisian said. “But in giving it back and not apologizing, he just looks like an idiot again.”
We get the feeling that Coach Sarkisian just got off his chest what many, many people with current or past ties to the football program have been thinking about and biting their tongues on for many, many months, if not years.
As evidenced by Sarkisian’s words, an apology would go a long, long way for Bush in the eyes of many. Apparently, however, that’s simply too much to ask of Bush, even as it was his actions -- and the actions of those around him -- that put his former football program into a hole that could take years to climb out of.
Then again, based on Bush’s own words a couple a months ago, it really might be too much to ask for something as simple as an apology.
“None, just whatever happens, happens,” Bush said back in June when asked if he had any thoughts on USC possibly facing sanctions from the NCAA for things he did.
Whatever happens, happens. Kinda like with your crumbling-by-the-day legacy, eh Reggie?