Bush is warmly greeted

Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, who was encouraged by USC to stay away from the 2007 Rose Bowl game because of an ongoing NCAA investigation, visited practice on Tuesday and was warmly welcomed by coaches and players.

“I’m not a stranger,” Bush said. “I can come all the time. It’s just like home.”

The NCAA and the Pacific 10 Conference are investigating whether Bush and his family received improper benefits while he was playing for USC. Bush has said neither he nor his family did anything wrong.

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett recently acknowledged that before the Rose Bowl against Michigan the NCAA told USC it would be appropriate, “if we kept our distance,” from Bush during the investigation because the NCAA did not want the appearance that USC “was condoning anything.”

On Tuesday, Bush said he was not angry that he was denied a sideline pass.

“I wasn’t told to stay away,” he said. “Both sides thought it would be better. I thought it would be better if I, at the time, not cause any media attention. The game was about USC, it’s not about me. People would have turned it into that.”

Asked if the NCAA had tried to contact him or his attorney, Bush said: “They haven’t tried to contact me. If they did I wouldn’t answer the phone.”

Coach Pete Carroll said he did not know Bush would attend practice until he saw him on the field. Carroll, assistant coaches and players shook hands, hugged and chatted with Bush, who is preparing for his second season with the New Orleans Saints.

“We love all of our players to come back,” Carroll said. “It’s great to see any of our guys show up. It was great to see Reggie.”

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gary.klein@latimes.com