Bush says USC sanctions ‘closest thing to death without dying,’ pledges to support appeal

Bush pledges to help USC fight NCAA sanctions

METAIRIE, La. — Reggie Bush says the NCAA’s punishment of Southern California feels like “the closest thing to death without dying” and that he will fully support USC’s appeal of the sanctions.

Bush spoke publicly about the punishment for the first time Wednesday at the New Orleans Saints’ training headquarters. The NCAA sanctions include a two-year bowl ban and a loss of 30 scholarships over a three-year period.

It is not yet clear whether Bush will lose his 2005 Heisman Trophy, but USC has also been stripped of victories from late 2004 through the 2005 season — a period that included a national championship victory over Oklahoma.

Bush would not address specific allegations of his wrongdoings, but says he has no fear of losing his Heisman and that he will make the best out of whatever happens.