Josh Pate applauds Johnny Manziel for Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy return: "In a room full of jellyfish, someone finally had a spine" 

Former quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2012, was one of the few players to stand with 2005 winner Reggie Bush as he fought to have his Heisman Trophy reinstated. Bush had to forfeit his award in 2010 after investigations revealed he had accepted improper benefits during his time at USC.

The divisive issue persisted for 14 years before the Heisman Trust announced on Wednesday that it would reinstate the trophy to the former USC Trojans running back.

CBS Sports analyst Josh Pate applauded the former Texas A&M Aggies quarterback for his efforts to get Bush's Heisman reinstated, which included promising to boycott Heisman ceremonies until it was accomplished.

Pate appeared on the CBS Sports show "Pate State Pulse" and said:

"Then Johnny Manziel spoke up. Johnny Manziel I think was the catalyst of making this happen. Johnny Manziel was the first front-facing Heisman winner that said 'I'm out' and behind the scenes, it kicked over an ant bed. Not many people were ever standing in the way of this, it's just, in a room full of jellyfish, someone finally had a spine."

How did Reggie Bush get back his Heisman?

The era of the NIL (name, image and likeness) saw a sustained campaign by Reggie Bush to get his Heisman back as student-athletes were finally getting benefits the way he did all those years ago.

ESPN analyst Pete Thamel said on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the controversial Johnny Manziel's lobbying had a significant impact on Reggie Bush getting his Heisman Trophy reinstated.

“I do think Johnny Manziel’s public plea made a difference,” Pete Thamel said. “The Heisman is an age-old institution that’s sensitive to criticism, and when one of their own came out that strongly I think that mattered.”

Manziel was not the only former Heisman winner who lobbied for the former USC Trojans running back to get his trophy back. Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow was also part of the effort.

"Coley Harvey reported today that there was a bunch of Heisman members who were together, Tim Tebow was among them, there were a couple of familiar names there,” Thamel said. “And they got together as part of this decision to bring Reggie back. So Reggie walked into a room today, to about 15 Heisman members, and they all greeted him down in Florida at an event.”

Thamel said that the process of reinstating the Heisman to Bush was gradual and started years ago. The push from Manziel was just what it needed to come to fruition.