Grassroots effort to renew 44?

[DoubleDee]

Call me crazy.

Bring 44 back to Syracuse Football

If we cannot change the decisions made some years ago with this retirement, the legacy of 44 will slowly become a distant memory when those that know it die off. It’s time to make sure we change the history of the program, and give it back its only real tradition.

sign.moveon.org

 

[DoubleDee]

Sign it. Share it. Worth a shot.

 

[David321]

Now that’s what I’m talking about, constructive pressure.

 

[Doc5120]

Signed it. Why not!

 

[grepal]

I believe it should only be used with the consent of the living greats and/or their immediate family. Retiring a number is very significant. It should only be utilized when a player does things of enough significance to warrant a singular honor. I do not think it should be recycled without the ok of the living members. I can agree with an exception for Floyd Little's Grandson or a similar proginy

 

[FloridaFan]

I believe it should only be used with the consent of the living greats and/or their immediate family. Retiring a number is very significant. It should only be utilized when a player does things of enough significance to warrant a singular honor. I do not think it should be recycled without the ok of the living members. I can agree with an exception for Floyd Little's Grandson or a similar proginy

An exception for his Grandson to wear it? Why? Just because he is related to him? It was never the players to give to anyone, it was given to them. If some wearers get to decide on its use then they all should even though the only person who should decide is the coach and AD, un retire the number, retire jerseys for the outstanding players and let RB’s earn it

 

[qdawgg]

I believe it should only be used with the consent of the living greats and/or their immediate family. Retiring a number is very significant. It should only be utilized when a player does things of enough significance to warrant a singular honor. I do not think it should be recycled without the ok of the living members. I can agree with an exception for Floyd Little's Grandson or a similar proginy

I think I disagree with most of this. It’s the universities number. It’s not the living family members # to decide how, when, and if it gets used. It’s a number retired by someone with zero ties to the university or it’s history. The university should bring the number back as an established part of its football history and tradition.

 

[rrlbees]

LOL

 

[GoSU96]

I believe it should only be used with the consent of the living greats and/or their immediate family. Retiring a number is very significant. It should only be utilized when a player does things of enough significance to warrant a singular honor. I do not think it should be recycled without the ok of the living members. I can agree with an exception for Floyd Little's Grandson or a similar proginy

Enough with this committee of the concerned. Inform them, “this is happening and get on board”.

 

[dollarbill44]

I believe it should only be used with the consent of the living greats and/or their immediate family. Retiring a number is very significant. It should only be utilized when a player does things of enough significance to warrant a singular honor. I do not think it should be recycled without the ok of the living members. I can agree with an exception for Floyd Little's Grandson or a similar proginy

Why? What claim do they have over it? Someone wore it before them, and in all but one case, someone wore it after them. They didn't get asked about all the others.

 

[GreekFreak]

I guess that I look at this totally different than the rest of you. Floyd Little was not just a great football player but a great man and ambassador for the university. He did a lot for the school. If his family wants us to sit on 44 and not give it out until his grandson could potentially wear it then I say fine. Let's respect the wishes of Floyd's family and give back to someone who has done so much for SU. It has been mothballed for so long that a couple more years won't make a difference. To me this is giving back to someone who gave so much to you. If it makes his family happy to not give it out for a couple of years then okay. My one caveat is that in respecting their wishes we also publicly announce that 44 will be eligible to be used again by say 2023 or thereabouts so the plan is clear.

 

[grepal]

Why? What claim do they have over it? Someone wore it before them, and in all but one case, someone wore it after them. They didn't get asked about all the others.

It is my opinion, that once the decision is made by the university to retire the number it should stay retired. i understand the other point of view. I just don't agree with that point of view. Yes, it is true that all the SU numbers belong to the university.. My point is if they retire the number they should stick with that decision. If they just want a Ring of Honor and keep the number in play that is fine too. Just don't dilute the honor by unretiring a number and using it as a marketing ploy. As for Mr. Tucker, if he keeps doing what he is doing SU mat want to retire his 34 as well. No matter what number is on his back he is a very talented young man. We are lucky to be able to cheer for such a talent.

 

[FasterCuse]

I guess that I look at this totally different than the rest of you. Floyd Little was not just a great football player but a great man and ambassador for the university. He did a lot for the school. If his family wants us to sit on 44 and not give it out until his grandson could potentially wear it then I say fine. Let's respect the wishes of Floyd's family and give back to someone who has done so much for SU. It has been mothballed for so long that a couple more years won't make a difference. To me this is giving back to someone who gave so much to you. If it makes his family happy to not give it out for a couple of years then okay. My one caveat is that in respecting their wishes we also publicly announce that 44 will be eligible to be used again by say 2023 or thereabouts so the plan is clear.

With all due respect to Floyd and his family, his grandson better improve dramatically if he wants the honor of wearing 44.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

It has to happen now that we have a no questions asked worthy candidate.

Floyd Little isn’t really part of the discussion though he would carry an extremely loud voice were he alive along with the other living greats (but likely the loudest due to his involvement over the years.)

Floyds family isn’t Floyd. His grandkid can wear it as a PWO his senior year or if he were to earn it sooner with dominant play but you cheapen the number giving away via nepotism.

If Tucker doesn’t wear it and has a good NFL career it will be a huge embarrassment.

 

[tptcuse]

It has probably been asked and answered, but does Tucker have more NIL possibilities with #34? In other words, would the university giving him 44 limit his abilities to make exclusive NIL money?

 

[David321]

It’s an odd take that someone has to be either essentially a Nobel peace prize award recipient or… related to Little.

 

[dollarbill44]

It has to happen now that we have a no questions asked worthy candidate.

Floyd Little isn’t really part of the discussion though he would carry an extremely loud voice were he alive along with the other living greats (but likely the loudest due to his involvement over the years.)

Floyds family isn’t Floyd. His grandkid can wear it as a PWO his senior year or if he were to earn it sooner with dominant play but you cheapen the number giving away via nepotism.

If Tucker doesn’t wear it and has a good NFL career it will be a huge embarrassment.

I don't think it will be an embarrassment, just a missed opportunity to revive the tradition so it can be used in the future for other worthy players.

 

[Chip]

I know one person I’d like to sign this.

I wonder if anyone asked the grandson if he wants to wear it? If he’s not a top prospect, they might be setting him up for something difficult.

Regardless, there’s no reason a kid like Tucker, who seems to embody the skills and character that should come with that number, couldn’t wear it now.

 

[Cootface]

Just don't dilute the honor by unretiring a number and using it as a marketing ploy.

The problem with this statement is that a dip with no ties or true understanding of the importance of the number to the university retired the number as a marketing ploy.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Call me crazy.

Bring 44 back to Syracuse Football

If we cannot change the decisions made some years ago with this retirement, the legacy of 44 will slowly become a distant memory when those that know it die off. It’s time to make sure we change the history of the program, and give it back its only real tradition.

sign.moveon.org

I sent an email to AD Wildhack last week and received a reply. In essence, they are going to consult with families, etc and nothing will be done mid-season. Nothing new but I appreciated the response.

It is kind of odd that a a number that we thought was made to be representative of our university as a whole...is actually not. Even more confusing were the comments made by Floyd's widow.

Now let me emphasize that, as a kid, Floyd was my second favorite sports hero behind Ernie Davis. I can still recall standing next to him for about 5 minutes when he visited my high school. Once I got to SU and came to view athletes as simply kids similar to everybody else, my days of having sports heroes ended.

That being said, Floyd's widow stating that whomever wore it should have the same character traits as Floyd, that it should go to his grandson and after that everything was fair game, etc...well, it left me with the feeling that The Legend of 44 had turned into The Legend of Floyd.

I'm kind of at the point where it wouldn't bother me if Sean kept his number and blazed his own trail. Joe Morris never wore 44, and although sadly his name is rarely really mentioned with Brown, Davis, and Little, he is our alltime leading rusher. Sean is on pace to better Joe's records so maybe he and his number should be the focus and not a number filled with politics. I hope he gets 44 but if he doesn't then #34 will become the new measuring stick for future Orange running backs.

 

[DoubleDee]

I sent an email to AD Wildhack last week and received a reply. In essence, they are going to consult with families, etc and nothing will be done mid-season. Nothing new but I appreciated the response.

It is kind of odd that a a number that we thought was made to be representative of our university as a whole...is actually not. Even more confusing were the comments made by Floyd's widow.

Now let me emphasize that, as a kid, Floyd was my second favorite sports hero behind Ernie Davis. I can still recall standing next to him for about 5 minutes when he visited my high school. Once I got to SU and came to view athletes as simply kids similar to everybody else, my days of having sports heroes ended.

That being said, Floyd's widow stating that whomever wore it should have the same character traits as Floyd, that it should go to his grandson and after that everything was fair game, etc...well, it left me with the feeling that The Legend of 44 had turned into The Legend of Floyd.

I'm kind of at the point where it wouldn't bother me if Sean kept his number and blazed his own trail. Joe Morris never wore 44, and although sadly his name is rarely really mentioned with Brown, Davis, and Little, he is our alltime leading rusher. Sean is on pace to better Joe's records so maybe he and his number should be the focus and not a number filled with politics. I hope he gets 44 but if he doesn't then #34 will become the new measuring stick for future Orange running backs.

As I stated earlier, isn’t it strange that every single thing they market, every television broadcast etc, revolves around a number they refuse to use.

 

[RandomGuy]

Everyone chanting 44 each time Sean Makes a big play? That'd be cool.

 

[David321]

I sent an email to AD Wildhack last week and received a reply. In essence, they are going to consult with families, etc and nothing will be done mid-season. Nothing new but I appreciated the response.

It is kind of odd that a a number that we thought was made to be representative of our university as a whole...is actually not. Even more confusing were the comments made by Floyd's widow.

Now let me emphasize that, as a kid, Floyd was my second favorite sports hero behind Ernie Davis. I can still recall standing next to him for about 5 minutes when he visited my high school. Once I got to SU and came to view athletes as simply kids similar to everybody else, my days of having sports heroes ended.

That being said, Floyd's widow stating that whomever wore it should have the same character traits as Floyd, that it should go to his grandson and after that everything was fair game, etc...well, it left me with the feeling that The Legend of 44 had turned into The Legend of Floyd.

I'm kind of at the point where it wouldn't bother me if Sean kept his number and blazed his own trail. Joe Morris never wore 44, and although sadly his name is rarely really mentioned with Brown, Davis, and Little, he is our alltime leading rusher. Sean is on pace to better Joe's records so maybe he and his number should be the focus and not a number filled with politics. I hope he gets 44 but if he doesn't then #34 will become the new measuring stick for future Orange running backs.

I think Floyd’s widow needs to be brought back to reality. She cannot logically argue that it should stay in retirement perpetually unless someone is an exemplary human being according to her own standard, but her grandson can also automatically have it. It comes across as selfish.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

As I stated earlier, isn’t it strange that every single thing they market, every television broadcast etc, revolves around a number they refuse to use.

Yeah.

If they want to retire it they have to let the number slide away into the history books.

Having an elite RB and not giving it to him when they market the number non stop is frankly insulting to the player and fanbase.

 

[David321]

Everyone chanting 44 each time Sean Makes a big play? That'd be cool.

I like it, and can see this happening.