Heisman Flash Reggie Bush Revives Tailback U

USC star brings back memories of the Juice, & others

By JOSEPH DUARTE

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

LOS ANGELES - Walk into Heritage Hall on the Southern California campus, and you're greeted by a scene that resembles a Smithsonian exhibit.

On display are six Heisman Trophies won by USC Trojans stars, from Mike Garrett and O.J. Simpson in the 1960s to Charles White in the late 1970s to Marcus Allen in the early '80s and recently by quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Missing is the trophy of the latest member of the exclusive fraternity - 2005 winner Reggie Bush.

It's not that Reggie Bush hasn't earned his place in USC history - the Heisman hasn't been delivered.

"It's hard for me to think I'm in the same class as those guys," Reggie Bush said Wednesday. "For me, it's weird. Those are guys you looked up to and have done some great things for the game of football."

At USC, the Trojans have their own chapter of the Heisman fraternity with seven winners, tied with Notre Dame for the most by one school.

At a school made famous as Tailback U, USC has produced five Heisman Trophy winners and two runner-ups (Anthony Davis in 1974 and Ricky Bell in 1976) at the position.

So where does Reggie Bush, the projected No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, rank among the great USC Trojans tailbacks?

"I've never seen a better college football player," said former USC and NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury, who works as an analyst for ESPN. "Nobody goes from zero to 60 better than him in America ."

But not since Allen, now a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, left campus after the 1981 season, has a tailback been so prominently featured in the Trojans backfield.

Under former USC coaches John McKay and John Robinson, it was not uncommon for the Trojans to churn out tailbacks like an assembly line. Pete Carroll has re-established that tradition Reggie Bush and LenDale White, who both rushed for more than 1,100 yards this season.

But recently, a better nickname might be Quarterback U, with Palmer and Leinart winning Heismans in 2002 and 2004, respectively.

"I wanted to bring Tailback U back to USC," Reggie Bush said. "That was important to me."

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