DoubleDee
All American
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2013
- Messages
- 4,446
- Like
- 9,375
We could debate forever regarding WHOSE jerseys deserve to be up there. Whether it be football, basketball, whatever. We could argue til we're blue in the face about whether or not 44 should be retired. But we can all agree that big 44 jersey is horrible. We have multiple 44s on the basketball court as of this season. It needs to happen in football.
Let's pretend for a moment that the big three did not wear 44 at all. Let's just pretend that Brown wore 32, Davis wore 45, and Little wore 25.
Brown - First team All-American as a senior, 5th in a Heisman race he should have won, and widely known as the "greatest" to play the game.
Davis - Two-time First team All-American, National Championship, First African-American, and only Orangeman to win the Heisman Trophy.
Little - Three-time All-American, and finished 5th in Heisman voting in '65 and '66.
(if any of that is false, my apologies. But doesn't change my point)
Add all the incredible stats of their careers to the above accolades. Does that not constitute a 32, 45, and 25 jersey to be hung up next to the likes of Mackey, Csonka, McNabb, McPherson, Morris? It certainly does. And that's how it should be. They should be recognized for their achievements the same way the others have been. Those three should have had individual jersey retirements, and then continue the tradition of 44 they same way you still offer 88, 39,5, etc.
That ugly gigantic 44 jersey does nothing to spotlight the big three. All that represents is the legend of 44, and hopefully that will continue. But I personally will not be satisfied about the whole thing until I see a Brown 44, Davis 44, and Little 44 hung up in the rafters and celebrated the way they each should be.
Am I wrong?
Side notes:
Why is there not a Gait?
Brent Axe has been making a point on the radio that there needs to finally be a woman's jersey retired. I agree, but lets use our head. Basketball and lacrosse is fine. But if we start talking volleyball , soccer, etc, then they need to be retired in the appropriate field or court. The effect of it would be lost if there was a volleyball jersey in the Dome, and not one in the Women's Building.
Let's pretend for a moment that the big three did not wear 44 at all. Let's just pretend that Brown wore 32, Davis wore 45, and Little wore 25.
Brown - First team All-American as a senior, 5th in a Heisman race he should have won, and widely known as the "greatest" to play the game.
Davis - Two-time First team All-American, National Championship, First African-American, and only Orangeman to win the Heisman Trophy.
Little - Three-time All-American, and finished 5th in Heisman voting in '65 and '66.
(if any of that is false, my apologies. But doesn't change my point)
Add all the incredible stats of their careers to the above accolades. Does that not constitute a 32, 45, and 25 jersey to be hung up next to the likes of Mackey, Csonka, McNabb, McPherson, Morris? It certainly does. And that's how it should be. They should be recognized for their achievements the same way the others have been. Those three should have had individual jersey retirements, and then continue the tradition of 44 they same way you still offer 88, 39,5, etc.
That ugly gigantic 44 jersey does nothing to spotlight the big three. All that represents is the legend of 44, and hopefully that will continue. But I personally will not be satisfied about the whole thing until I see a Brown 44, Davis 44, and Little 44 hung up in the rafters and celebrated the way they each should be.
Am I wrong?
Side notes:
Why is there not a Gait?
Brent Axe has been making a point on the radio that there needs to finally be a woman's jersey retired. I agree, but lets use our head. Basketball and lacrosse is fine. But if we start talking volleyball , soccer, etc, then they need to be retired in the appropriate field or court. The effect of it would be lost if there was a volleyball jersey in the Dome, and not one in the Women's Building.
