Reggie Bush plans to file lawsuit against NCAA for defamation

Former USC operating again Reggie Bush is getting ready to file a lawsuit towards the NCAA on Wednesday for defamation. 

The go well with stems from an announcement the faculty sports activities governing physique made in 2021 concerning the chance that Bush might have his data and participation restored as a result of modifications to call, picture and likeness guidelines, his attorneys stated in an announcement.

Bush is planning a press convention on Wednesday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to debate his go well with. 

“The lawsuit is predicated on the NCAA maliciously attacking his character via a very false and extremely offensive assertion that was extensively reported within the media and considerably and irreparably broken his popularity,” the regulation agency McCathern, PLLC stated in an announcement Tuesday evening.

“Particularly, on July 28, 2021, the NCAA … falsely issued an announcement to reporters that due to Mr. Bush’s prior involvement in a ‘pay-for-play association,’ the NCAA wouldn’t contemplate restoring his collegiate data that it vacated in 2010, which subsequently resulted in Mr. Bush having to return his Heisman Trophy [the first player in history to do so].

“Inside lower than a day, this false assertion was republished by a minimum of 20 completely different media organizations and circulated to readers world wide.”

Bush has made a prolonged push to have his 2005 Heisman Trophy reinstated after it was discovered, following a prolonged investigation, that the operating again and his household accepted money, journey bills and a house in San Diego the place his dad and mom lived with out having to pay hire. 

After a number of retailers requested two years in the past — within the wake of NIL — if Bush would get his trophy again, the group talked about the “pay-for-play sort preparations” that the previous operating again’s attorneys talked about of their assertion.

“Though school athletes can now obtain advantages from their names, photos and likenesses via actions like endorsements and appearances, NCAA guidelines nonetheless don’t allow pay-for-play sort preparations,” the NCAA stated in an announcement on June 28, 2021.

“The NCAA infractions course of exists to advertise equity in school sports activities. The principles that govern truthful play are voted on, agreed to and anticipated to be upheld by all NCAA member faculties.”

Bush’s go well with contends that saying he was concerned within the “pay-for-play” was mistaken and offensive. 

“The NCAA’s assertion is totally false and extremely offensive,” the McCathern assertion continued. “The NCAA knew Mr. Bush was by no means even accused of, concerned in, a lot much less sanctioned for any ‘pay-for-play association,’ which by no means occurred.”

The previous USC operating again was positioned on a 10-year disassociation penalty from the NCAA, which had come to an finish in June.

A two-time American throughout his three seasons at USC, Bush rushed for 1,740 yards and snagged 37 receptions as he compiled 18 whole touchdowns throughout his standout 2005 marketing campaign.