#44

[Dick_in_MI]

Really hoping that #44 rolls out tonight. I am on record as having wished they had done it last week as opposed to the night when they are honoring Floyd, but tonight is the last, best chance to do it this year.

In the links from yesterday, ottodaorange mentioned that Jim Brown had been against unretiring #44 in the past. I hope he has reconsidered. For far too many fans, #44 only applies to Jim, Ernie, and Floyd but Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, Rob Konrad, etc did pretty darn well repping the number.

Once Jim leaves us and once those of us who saw the great #44’s leave, then it will no longer mean as much. It will be like the heirloom that has been in a box in the basement for 30 years. You know it is meaningful, you have a vague recollection of the story behind it, but most of the time you forget that it is even there. Over time, future generations of fans won't even know that much.

If #44 is to remain meaningful to SU fans going forward, then it must live on. Take it out of the box in the basement and put it on Sean Tucker tonight.

 

[storange]

Really hoping that #44 rolls out tonight. I am on record as having wished they had done it last week as opposed to the night when they are honoring Floyd, but tonight is the last, best chance to do it this year.

In the links from yesterday, ottodaorange mentioned that Jim Brown had been against unretiring #44 in the past. I hope he has reconsidered. For far too many fans, #44 only applies to Jim, Ernie, and Floyd but Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, Rob Konrad, etc did pretty darn well repping the number.

Once Jim leaves us and once those of us who saw the great #44’s leave, then it will no longer mean as much. It will be like the heirloom that has been in a box in the basement for 30 years. You know it is meaningful, you have a vague recollection of the story behind it, but most of the time you forget that it is even there. Over time, future generations of fans won't even know that much.

If #44 is to remain meaningful to SU fans going forward, then it must live on. Take it out of the box in the basement and put it on Sean Tucker tonight.

I agree , with the caveat that the Little family agrees which I suspect they would.

 

[elimunelson]

Really hoping that #44 rolls out tonight. I am on record as having wished they had done it last week as opposed to the night when they are honoring Floyd, but tonight is the last, best chance to do it this year.

In the links from yesterday, ottodaorange mentioned that Jim Brown had been against unretiring #44 in the past. I hope he has reconsidered. For far too many fans, #44 only applies to Jim, Ernie, and Floyd but Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, Rob Konrad, etc did pretty darn well repping the number.

Once Jim leaves us and once those of us who saw the great #44’s leave, then it will no longer mean as much. It will be like the heirloom that has been in a box in the basement for 30 years. You know it is meaningful, you have a vague recollection of the story behind it, but most of the time you forget that it is even there. Over time, future generations of fans won't even know that much.

If #44 is to remain meaningful to SU fans going forward, then it must live on. Take it out of the box in the basement and put it on Sean Tucker tonight.

Very well said. I think it's now or never for 44 because there is an individual who wants it. He also represents the school very well and would be an incredible steward.

I would think we would have seen something at this point if it's going to be unleashed tonite. I would assume one (or all) of the living 44s would show up.

Any sightings of Rob Konrad at Hancock yet?

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I agree , with the caveat that the Little family agrees which I suspect they would.

That's why they should have done it last week so as not to take any attention from Floyd tonight. If they don't do it tonight, the next home game is Game #8 vs BC...at that point they might as well wait until next year. I can certainly see them NOT doing it on Floyd's night but I also think that whenever they do it, it should be a bit understated. Last thing Sean needs is the opposition giving him a few extracurricular hits to celebrate the occasion.

 

[sutomcat]

Really hoping that #44 rolls out tonight. I am on record as having wished they had done it last week as opposed to the night when they are honoring Floyd, but tonight is the last, best chance to do it this year.

In the links from yesterday, ottodaorange mentioned that Jim Brown had been against unretiring #44 in the past. I hope he has reconsidered. For far too many fans, #44 only applies to Jim, Ernie, and Floyd but Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, Rob Konrad, etc did pretty darn well repping the number.

Once Jim leaves us and once those of us who saw the great #44’s leave, then it will no longer mean as much. It will be like the heirloom that has been in a box in the basement for 30 years. You know it is meaningful, you have a vague recollection of the story behind it, but most of the time you forget that it is even there. Over time, future generations of fans won't even know that much.

If #44 is to remain meaningful to SU fans going forward, then it must live on. Take it out of the box in the basement and put it on Sean Tucker tonight.

Great post.

While I think it is good to consult with the head coach and former players, I don’t think this decision should be made by either.

Jim is an all time great but he last played for Syracuse 65 years ago. He isn’t close to the program, and I am not sure any decision he makes on the issue will be made based on what is best for the football program. I hope if it is decided to allow players to wear 44 again, he will support the decision. It would be great to have him in the stadium that day in person, giving interviews and giving his blessing to the move. He isn’t going to be around forever. Giving back to his alma mater and to the newest generation, helping to address his bad public image, is not the worst idea in the world.

Same applies to Dino. Much respect to him, glad he wants to have former players who wore 44 consulted on this. That said, even though Dino has been here for 5 years or so, he is an outsider who struggles to make good decisions and he should probably focus on coaching his team instead of delving into long term strategic policy decisions.

This is a big picture issue that could play a role in getting the football program back to winning ways, hopefully led by an AA RB who wears 44. We had an outsider who never understood the culture and history at Syracuse retire the uniform. I have had enough of clueless people making bad decisions on this.

We have a great player who understands the significance of the 44 jersey and actually wants to wear it. He is, from all accounts, a really good kid, as well as a great football player. Why in the world would we throw away a chance to get all the positive PR and press that this move would generate? What is the downside?

 

[javadoc]

Really hoping that #44 rolls out tonight. I am on record as having wished they had done it last week as opposed to the night when they are honoring Floyd, but tonight is the last, best chance to do it this year.

In the links from yesterday, ottodaorange mentioned that Jim Brown had been against unretiring #44 in the past. I hope he has reconsidered. For far too many fans, #44 only applies to Jim, Ernie, and Floyd but Michael Owens, Terry Richardson, Rob Konrad, etc did pretty darn well repping the number.

Once Jim leaves us and once those of us who saw the great #44’s leave, then it will no longer mean as much. It will be like the heirloom that has been in a box in the basement for 30 years. You know it is meaningful, you have a vague recollection of the story behind it, but most of the time you forget that it is even there. Over time, future generations of fans won't even know that much.

If #44 is to remain meaningful to SU fans going forward, then it must live on. Take it out of the box in the basement and put it on Sean Tucker tonight.

I would love to see it tonight. It's too bad that attendance won't be what it could, given COVID and last season's results. As a Friday night game, though, you'd have eyeballs across the country on it.

He's the national leader in total yards this week, as well.

 

[Chip]

Sean Tucker said this week that no one on the staff has talked to him about it.

Maybe that's what he was told to say, but I'm guessing we don't see it tonight.

 

[Moontan]

Just give him 44. No big announcement. Just let him play.
People will notice. ESPN will notice. LGO!

 

[BomberOrange]

Just give him 44. No big announcement. Just let him play.
People will notice. ESPN will notice. LGO!

Exactly. They don't have to make a big deal about it, give him the jersey and let him play and celebrate Floyd at halftime.

 

[dollarbill44]

I actually don't think it would take away from Floyd's night if Sean came out in 44. In fact, I think it would bring more attention to Floyd.
As for Mr. Brown- it would bring more attention to him too.

 

[rrlbees]

No #44 tonight or this year according to John Wildhack on the radio this morning.

 

[RandomGuy]

Just give him 44. No big announcement. Just let him play.
People will notice. ESPN will notice. LGO!

I'm on record wanting it tonight. However. IF there is significant injury to the oline? Maybe tonight isn't the best night. Healthy oline? Bring it on.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

If there is one tradition at SU that goes beyond the legend of 44, it is the awkwardness with which the Athletic Dept recognizes achievement. If they were actually to give Sean the number tonight, I could see them accidently giving him #43, misspelling his name on the back, driving him out in a golf cart that breaks down at the 30 yard line, and then after it gets restarted, it accidently plows into Floyd's family. All on prime time TV.

 

[XC Cuse]

No #44 tonight or this year according to John Wildhack in the radio this morning.

Possible misdirection? I'd assume probably not, but could it be a fake to get the crowd that much more hyped when Tucker runs out wearing 44.

 

[Franz69]

44 never should have been retired and if we unretire it, it should be used for recruiting like it used to be. We need all the help we can get with recruiting and we shouldn't just throw away our traditions. Love Sean though.

 

[FloridaFan]

Possible misdirection? I'd assume probably not, but could it be a fake to get the crowd that much more hyped when Tucker runs out wearing 44.

Sadly I don’t think so. This program likes squandering opportunities like this

 

[721Comstock]

Possible misdirection? I'd assume probably not, but could it be a fake to get the crowd that much more hyped when Tucker runs out wearing 44.

I also thought this, for a moment.

And then I remembered - we're talking SUAD here.
They FFF everything like this up.

They are 'consistently mediocre and occasionally TURRIBLE' at these sorts of things.

(i will HAPILY eat crow if they prove me wrong. I don't have any crow around, and am not overly concerned.)

 

[UpstateSM]

I’ve never seen this much of the football board on here agree on something and the AD is just like, “No, we’re actually good on doing the thing everybody wants.”

It’s almost funny how unsurprising it is

 

[Chip]

No #44 tonight or this year according to John Wildhack in the radio this morning.

I'm sure there's a logical answer as to why, but let's go with some conspiracy theories because they're fun:

Either

1. Jim Brown said if you do it, you lose all my support.
2. Rob Konrad said he'd agree only if we hire Addazio.
3. Sean Tucker indicated that he'll be entering his name in the transfer portal after this season (we'll call this one the kcsu special).
4. It costs too much to get 3 new jerseys made.
5. Daryl Gross is the most powerful person in the history of SU athletics, and he does not give approval.

 

[310Pigpen]

No #44 tonight or this year according to John Wildhack on the radio this morning.

So typical of Syracuse. Really shouldn’t be surprised

 

[storange]

I'm sure there's a logical answer as to why, but let's go with some conspiracy theories because they're fun:

Either

1. Jim Brown said if you do it, you lose all my support.
2. Rob Konrad said he'd agree only if we hire Addazio.
3. Sean Tucker indicated that he'll be entering his name in the transfer portal after this season (we'll call this one the kcsu special).
4. It costs too much to get 3 new jerseys made.
5. Daryl Gross is the most powerful person in the history of SU athletics, and he does not give approval.

Or they had the jersey ready to go but it said tuker on the back so they scraped it.

 

[TheCusian]

Silliness. It's a great move and the kid absolutely deserves it.

 

[Chip]

Or they had the jersey ready to go but it said tuker on the back so they scraped it.

No one would have noticed that until the 2nd quarter.

 

[OburgOrange]

Or they had the jersey ready to go but it said tuker on the back so they scraped it.

Beat me to it

 

[IthacaBarrel]

He comes out in 44 but it's the Shafer era uniforms