Reggie Bush Isn’t Ready to Come Back to USC Yet

Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Reggie Bush (23) runs the ball during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Reggie Bush (23) runs the ball during the first half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Reggie Bush talked about a potential return to USC, his college experience and his NFL future in an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd Tuesday morning.

Reggie Bush’s return to USC will have to wait.

“I don’t think I’m ready yet,” Bush said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd Tuesday, reminiscing about his time at as a Trojan and the prospects of being welcomed back.

Earlier this year, Bush appeared on the Rich Eisen show and indicated that wheels were in motion on a potential return. In 2015 outgoing athletic director Pat Haden stated a desire to see Bush back in the fold as well.

As it turns out, the Trojans have gone so far as to extend an invitation for Bush to follow in the footsteps of other USC greats who have led the team out of the tunnel at the Coliseum.

“We still have a relationship. They’ve asked me back a few times to come out and run the team out of the stadium and a few other things,” said Bush.

However, the closest the prodigal Trojan son has come to reuniting with USC was making an appearance at the Pac-12 Championship game as one of the members of the conference’s All-Century team.

“There’s still some things that have to get fixed,” said Bush.

“I will always, always have love for USC and that will always be home for me.

Bush didn’t indicate exactly what those things are and whether they relate to the NCAA’s imposed disassociation or a more personal disconnect between USC and the player. Bush affirmed Cowherd’s contention that he was not pleased with his treatment in the end, but did not go into further detail.

“I think it slowly may get there,” Bush said. “I will always, always have love for USC and that will always be home for me.”

While he didn’t address the specifics of his USC future, Bush did open up on the way he views his college experience looking back on it after a decade.

“It was amazing,” Bush said. “I had a great time and I wouldn’t take anything back. I think I had one of the greatest college experiences ever.”

As for the Hollywood-level fame that surrounded USC players of that era, Bush maintained that his focus and the pressures of that time were always more related to football than anything.

“I don’t think it was ever too much to handle,” Bush said. “I just tried to be genuine all the time. I never tried to fake anything or put on a front. I was never selling anything. I was just me.

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“There were times where I felt pressure. I’m human. I felt the pressure sometimes especially when we played big games or if I had some bad games because my life revolved around football..”

On his NFL future, Bush indicated that he wants to continue his NFL career. Though his contract ended with the 49ers this offseason, he is still pursuing options to return.

Notably, he admitted that he has only suffered one concussion in his career — against the Rams, not on the highlight-reel hit he took against the Eagles in the NFC Championshop game — but returned to the game despite seeing stars.

Bush also addressed the problems of perception that surround players like Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick.