Hello Heisman! The famous words of announcer Keith Jackson as Michigan receiver Desmond Howard returned a punt against Ohio State for a touchdown. That was 1991. This is now. Can you say goodbye Heisman?

Former USC phenom and current New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush announced Sept. 14 that he would be forfeiting his 2005 Heisman trophy.

A dismal time for college football as of late, got even more disgraceful as Bush became the first player to ever relinquish the Downtown Athletic Club’s storied trophy in its 75-year history.

Bush received major pressure from the media and the NCAA to relinquish his trophy after USC was recently hit with major sanctions by the NCAA after it determined Bush received improper benefits during his tenure at USC.

A two-year bowl ban, the disassociation of Bush to any involvement with the university, lost scholarships; it was inevitable that the burning Bush would keep on burning. To the school he does not exist. Asterisks are presented by wins on USC media pamphlets that note there was an ineligible player during the Trojans 2004 and 2005 seasons.

USC did their part, and now it was time for Reggie Bush to do his. As someone who took advantage of thousands of dollars in benefits during his tenure at USC, he is in the least bit worried about the turmoil, controversy and above all, embarassment USC has received over the five-year investiagtion.

His only intention was to go to play football there knowing he would one day be in the NFL, which makes the incident even more depressing.

The Heisman trophy is only eligible for, you guessed it, eligible players. Bush was not an eligible player. Another storied program, an athlete that sparked so much intensity, excitement and passion for the game to be discredited.

Seems to be the new trend in the college sports world. Recruiting violation after recuiting violation permeates the NCAA like an incurable virus.

Sure you can give it antibiotics (an infraction committee), use your defense mechanisms (NCAA Rules Committee), but when its a virus, these techniques in this medical analogy are ineffective. Like viruses, the scandal and controversy swirling around college sports like a giant F5 tornado, is constantly evolving; it is finding new and improved ways to decimate athletic programs across the country.

It starts with the coaching staff, attacking their moral and ethical character, causing them to bend the rule book until it eventually snaps. The virus, made up of boosters, agents, marketers and sketchy recruiting schemes then move on to the Athletic Director, causing a severe side effect: complete negligence and a state of blissful ignorance.

An epidemic has struck major college sports, one that has grown exponentially. Ask former Heisman winners. I bet you could put millions on them ever believing one day a Heisman ballot would be left vacant, an entire season and athlete excommunicated from the institution he represented.

It is a sad day for the sports world. Reggie Bush did not do the “right” thing. He did the necessary thing. If he didn’t do it, someone else, most likely the Heisman committee, would take back what is rightfully not his and do it for him.

So say goodbye to the 2005 Heisman. Get Will Smith and Tommy Lee to wip out the Neuralyzer and erase the Heisman winner, the trophy and the ballet from your memory bank. As far as we are concerned, the 2005 winner never existed.