Documentary in the works on Reggie Bush, USC Trojans recruiting scandal
The newly rung-in name, image, and likeness era has opened all sorts of avenues for college athletes, ranging from sponsorships to fundraising opportunities and the freedom to sing and play the guitar for a few hours. And for former players like USC Trojans icon Reggie Bush, it’s an opportunity to clear the air.
Bush was forcibly divorced from the University of Southern California not long after the New Orleans Saints picked him second overall in the 2006 NFL draft, making him the very first selection of the Sean Payton era. An NCAA investigation found that Bush’s family accepted improper recruiting benefits — leading to the forfeiture of his Heisman Trophy and ostracization from the college football world.
Things are changing, though. Bush was eventually allowed to return to USC’s campus. There’s a public outcry to return the trophy he won and recognize his accomplishments with the Trojans. And now a documentary is in the works to share his perspective on those events.
Directed by Kirk Fraser (“ESPN’s 30 for 30: Without Bias”) in partnership with Bush and Believe Entertainment Group, the upcoming film is a deep dive into Bush’s tumultuous experience as a college athlete and sports pariah. The production company won an Academy Award in 2018 for “Dear Basketball,” written and narrated by the late Kobe Bryant on the eve of his retirement from the NBA.
They’re taking a similarly thoughtful approach to telling Bush’s story. He’s credited as an executive producer, with conversations on the project going on for nearly a year already.
“After all these years I’m finally ready to tell my story, I hope this can help drive change with the next generation of student athletes,” Bush said in a press release. “We’re making some progress, but there’s still a long way to go.”
It’ll be fascinating to have this depth of access to such a complicated situation and individual, especially if any episodes from Bush’s time in New Orleans come to light — like Sean Payton dropping an F-bomb on Bush’s marketing agent when they tried to talk him out of not drafting the star prospect. Stay tuned for updates on a release date.
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