"Where's Reggie? I need another Bush-Push"

The college football events of June 10, 2010 brought back some memories.  In every odd-numbered year, USC comes to South Bend in mid-October to play at Notre Dame Stadium.  Since we schedule our road trip vacation to Indiana in mid-October, we see this game every two years.  In 2005, we drove to South Bend to see the ND vs. USC game.  This would turn out to be another “Game of the Century”, like so many Notre Dame football games are labeled.  When we arrived in town the day before, we could feel the electricity and excitement in the air.  On that Friday night, the pep rally was moved from the usual basketball arena to the football stadium to accommodate the increased numbers of fans.

ESPN was there to cover both the pep rally and the football game the next day.  On Saturday, as we walked through campus, we saw celebrities who had come to town for this extraordinary game.  Justice Clarence Thomas was there, and Jack Nicholson came up to Joyce underneath the stands to ask how to get to his seat.

The weather was perfect for football.  Like many afternoon football games, it starts in mid-afternoon and continues into the dark.  ND was leading at the end of the game, and the victory celebration had begun on the field as time ran out.  USC had driven down to the goal line at our end of the field, and for some reason, the (PAC-10) officials gave them one more play.  The field was cleared of the fans, and the last play was run.  This was the famous “Bush-Push” play where the quarterback would run the ball, aided by Reggie Bush pushing him from behind.  USC scored, and they won the game.

Of course, pushing your own player from behind is illegal according to the rules, but USC didn’t get called for it.  The victory was theirs.

Back to 2010.  Check any online sports page today to read about the sanctions that were laid upon USC because of gross “lack of institutional control” and other violations.  USC victories are being taken from the previous 2004 season, as well as the 2005 season, in which the above game was played.  Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy in 2005, and who knows – that may be taken away because of violations.

Sorry, but that’s too bad.  The rules are made for everybody, and whether they are broken on or off the field, the consequences will catch up.  USC was getting a little too big for their britches, and now they are reaping what they have sowed.