USC Welcoming Reggie Bush Back Happened Way Too Late

On Tuesday evening, reports began to emerge that the University of Southern California was going to end its separation with former star running back Reggie Bush.

Hours later on Wednesday morning, the university announced the news.

While playing for the Trojans in the early 2000s, Bush was a college football superstar who had absolutely electric playmaking ability and never failed to excite viewers. In his last season at USC in 2005, Bush rushed for 1740 yards and had 478 receiving yards. He won the Heisman Trophy for his performance that season, but shortly after there was a major scandal that rocked Bush, USC, and all of college football.

In 2006, rumors began to surface that Bush had illegally accepted gifts from sports agent Lloyd Lake while playing for the Trojans. In 2010, the NCAA confirmed these rumors to be true and placed major sanctions on USC and Bush forfeited his Heisman after succumbing to pressure.

Bush and USC then severed ties, which lasted until Wednesday. Although it's a pleasant sight for Bush now welcomed back to USC, it should have occurred much sooner.

The illegal benefits Bush received were from a source outside of the Trojan program and had no direct effect on the relationship on the team while he was at USC. Waiting such a long time to welcome back Bush was a punishment that did not fit the crime, especially now that the NCAA approved of players receiving compensation from third-party endorsements back in October.

While many college football traditionalists will never forgive Bush for what he did, many USC fans are happy to have their legend back, especially as the current team continues to fail to live up to its past stature.