Bush Push
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bush Push is a common term used to discuss a critical play during the October 15, 2005 college football game between USC and Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where Reggie Bush pushed quarterback Matt Leinart over the goal line for the winning score.
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[edit] Background
USC had come into the game having won 27 consecutive games, including three games in a row over Notre Dame by 31 points each.
In the game, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis dressed the Irish in green jerseys, a well-known ploy used by past Irish coaches (and originally used in 1977 against the Trojans when Weis himself was a senior at Notre Dame), but one that Weis had previously implied that he was not considering enacting.
Despite the fact that the Irish had lost the last three times they had come out in green jerseys, Irish partisans at Notre Dame Stadium roared with approval when they noticed the jerseys.
[edit] The game
The game went back and forth between the two teams, with neither team holding a lead larger than seven points for the entire game. Finally with just over two minutes left to play in the game, Irish quarterback Brady Quinn ran in a five-yard touchdown to give his team a 31-28 lead.
The game appeared to be over when the Irish defense held deep in USC territory, leaving USC with a fourth-and-nine situation. Despite close coverage by Irish defenders, USC quarterback Matt Leinart lobbed a pass along the left sideline in the direction of his teammate Dwayne Jarrett. Jarrett was still suffering double-vision from a hard hit earlier in the game[1], but pulled in the pass and streaked for a 67-yard gain that put the ball inside the Irish 10 yard line.
USC failed to score on first down. On second down, Leinart, flushed from the pocket, scrambled to the corner, attempting to dive into the end zone for a winning touchdown. A hit by Notre Dame linebacker Corey Mays jarred the ball loose and out of bounds, but was not seen by most in attendance, including the Notre Dame timekeeper who failed to stop the clock. After the clock ticked down to zero, Notre Dame fans streamed onto the field in celebration of their apparent defeat of the #1 ranked Trojans.
The officials ruled, however, that the fumble out of bounds should have stopped the clock with seven seconds to play, and that the ball would be spotted at the 1. The stadium announcer declared that the game was not over, and told Notre Dame fans to return to the stands or else the team could be penalized. The fans then retreated back into the student section corner of the stands.
[edit] The "BUSH PUSH" play
On the following play, second down and goal from the 1 yard line, as the ball was placed and the clock re-started, USC coach Pete Carroll seemed to be signaling for the ball to be spiked, thus stopping the clock and allowing USC to kick a field goal to tie the game.
However, Matt Leinart and teammate Reggie Bush had already agreed that they would rather go for the win (and risk a loss if USC did not get into the end zone, as time would likely run out) rather than play for a short field goal that would send the game into overtime.
Leinart called for a quick snap, and surged into the Notre Dame defensive line. Leinart's initial surge on the quarterback sneak was denied by Notre Dame's defensive line, but spinning to his left, Leinart surged toward the end zone.
Just as Leinart's second surge was met by the Notre Dame defenders, future Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush pushed Leinart across the goal line to bring the score in favor of the Trojans. USC had won the game.
The Bush Push was criticized by many who noted that, according to the NCAA rule book (Section 3, Article 2b.: "The runner shall not grasp a teammate; and no other player of his team shall grasp, push, lift or charge into him to assist him in forward progress."), the push should have resulted in a five-yard penalty. The penalty would have brought up third and goal on the six yard line with no time remaining, allowing for one last USC play (since a game may not end on a penalty).
[edit] The call of the play
Lines are set. Leinart sneaks towards the goal line...HE'S IN THE END ZONE! TOUCHDOWN USC!! WITH THREE SECONDS TO GO! The Trojans have scored! With three seconds left, he did not spike it! He went into the end zone! Matt Leinart has scored, and the Trojans will win the ball game! -- Pete Arbogast on the Trojans Radio Network [citation needed]
[edit] The aftermath
The Trojans barely won the game 34-31. The USC streaks were alive, and USC kept its number 1 ranking.[2]
Many fans believed that Bush should have been penalized for his shove. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis stated: ""Being perfectly honest with you, I would hope that my running back, with the game on the line, would take the same risk too. Because what's the worst thing that can happen? There's a penalty and you get to kick the field goal?"[3]
USC won the rest of its regular season games, finished undefeated and ranked number 1. They played in the BCS National Championship Game, losing to Texas.
Notre Dame won their remaining regular season games, accepted a position in the BCS Fiesta Bowl, where they were beaten by Ohio State.
[edit] References
SI.com - College Football Greatest Plays
