Heisman vote redux

Mack Brown, if other voters like me would not have let two late-season games sway us, your point on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday would have never come up.

Brown, head football coach at the University of Texas, told the nationally syndicated sports radio talk show host that his quarterback, Vince Young, deserves the 2005 Heisman Trophy won by the now-disgraced Reggie Bush.

Bush was the center point on NCAA sanctions against USC in June. It was announced he received many "improper benefits" including hotel stays and rent-free home for his family, and a free use of a limo and a new suit at, of all things, the 2005 Heisman Trophy presentation weekend in New York.

It was also revealed the NCAA found Bush ineligible by December 2004, seven months prior to the start of his Heisman-winning season.

"I think you have to go back and really give that choice to the Heisman Trust," Brown told Patrick. "If they take it away, I think Vince should be awarded the trophy . . . Vince was second in the voting, so even if they re-voted I would like to see Vince get it. At this point it's irrelevant because the Heisman Trust has not decided to take it away."

Young should have won it anyway. I blew it that year and others did too. At the end of the season, Bush had one of those remarkable games that sway voters with a five-touchdown game against mediocre Fresno State. It didn't help that Young had a so-so game against Texas A&M in the last game before the voting deadline.

Bush, the object of a love-fest from ESPN, was already in a slight lead. Those two games only cemented it. I wrote that I voted for Bush over Young, but didn't feel good about it.

I really didn't in the Rose Bowl when Young staged one of the most phenomenal games ever by a college player in the national spotlight, running and passing for more than 200 yards each in leading the Longhorns to the national crown over USC. Bush was a non-factor.

What is the right thing to do? Take the Heisman back from a known cheater. And give it to Young, or just vacate it entirely.