Preemptive Bring Back 44 Thread

[VikesCuse84]

I'm assuming that 44, all orange logo-free helmets, are completely off the table at this point for reasons that are above my pay grade.

My assumption is that Wildhack, as an alum and a fan, would have brought them back if he could.

Damn. I’m really hoping to see them go back to those uniform and helmet combo someday as well as bringing back 44.

 

[Qbobby]

That courtesy is how it's typically been done at other schools when a number has been taken out of retirement. But I guess at Syracuse, we have no problem to just give you an honor and yank it right back like it never happened.

Like it or not (and I agree that I wish it hadn't been done) the number was retired and I don't think we can just pretend November 12, 2005 never happened if it suits us.

In most cases I agree. But it this case it was a decision from a guy the never really had a history at SU and was a self aggrandizing doofus who made that decision to inset himself into a legacy he had nothing to do with. Acknowledge the poor decision, reverse it, and move on. Perfect way to permanently sever ourselves from the start of that era and the idiocy that has followed the program since.

 

[MSOrange]

In most cases I agree. But it this case it was a decision from a guy the never really had a history at SU and was a self aggrandizing doofus who made that decision to inset himself into a legacy he had nothing to do with. Acknowledge the poor decision, reverse it, and move on. Perfect way to permanently sever ourselves from the start of that era and the idiocy that has followed the program since.

I will agree that I couldn't think less of Daryl Gross and this is at the top of my list why among many other reasons.

 

[Qbobby]

Also, self aggrandizing doofus would make a great subnic for someone...

 

[Cusefan78]

I really hope they bring it back but truthfully there hasn’t been a good enough rb that been here since it’s been retired. I know Tucker but he would have gotten it his last year and he didn’t light it up. Hopefully Fran can bring in the next number 44 and we can bring it out in style. I think if any coach is going to do it. It’ll be him. He seems plugged into the past which is awesome

 

[JRHEETER]

I wouldn’t hold your breath on 44

Too much money loss for the player and for the university

Can’t see them wanting to split the $$$$

 

[kingtidge]

If one of our board genies can put a Cuse FB jersey 44 on this, we can start a social media campaign.. let’s go

 

[bnoro]

The three main 44's are all now dead. Doubt their family would give the blessing to un-retire the number.

 

[donniesyracuse]

I don't think we can just pretend November 12, 2005 never happened if it suits us.

Never forget!

 

[UnknownOrange]

I would put the chances at under 10% for the exact reason$ some have mentioned

 

[721Comstock]

The three main 44's are all now dead. Doubt their family would give the blessing to un-retire the number.

BNoro - you ruin... nm.

It's absurd that the 3 families have this much say over a # , that was also worn by quite a few "just a guy" sort of players over the years.

Dr. Gross did a lot of awful things to the school and program during his reign of error;
but being allowed to retire 44 as a halftime stunt against a nothing team in a game nobody remembers, might have been the worst.

Clearly there's a desire amongst the players for it to be back in circulation:
Both Zaire and Tucker chose 44 as their NFL #.


Plus - then we could have hoops players also start wearing it again (cough, Donnie Freeman, cough cough).
We've had greats like Schayes, DC, and J-Dub rock the 44.

We need new blood.

 

[bnoro]

BNoro - you ruin... nm.

It's absurd that the 3 families have this much say over a # , that was also worn by quite a few "just a guy" sort of players over the years.

Dr. Gross did a lot of awful things to the school and program during his reign of error;
but being allowed to retire 44 as a halftime stunt against a nothing team in a game nobody remembers, might have been the worst.

Clearly there's a desire amongst the players for it to be back in circulation:
Both Zaire and Tucker chose 44 as their NFL #.


Plus - then we could have hoops players also start wearing it again (cough, Donnie Freeman, cough cough).
We've had greats like Schayes, DC, and J-Dub rock the 44.

We need new blood.

Jim Brown himself didn't want the number unretired. He should have the ultimate say.

 

[kingtidge]

The petition link and tweet:

Petition:

This campaign needs you now

Syracuse University Athletics - Bring Back Football Jersey # 44

chng.it

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

Bringing back 44 is dumb and desperate. We've gotten meaningful contributions from what, two 44s in the last 40 years. Let the kids forge their own path. The pitch should be "I wanna see your number up there next to the greatest player in NFL history." Syracuse is not alone in retiring numbers. Move forward. Make your own legacy.

 

[KellySyracuse]

In most cases I agree. But it this case it was a decision from a guy the never really had a history at SU and was a self aggrandizing doofus who made that decision to inset himself into a legacy he had nothing to do with. Acknowledge the poor decision, reverse it, and move on. Perfect way to permanently sever ourselves from the start of that era and the idiocy that has followed the program since.

this is the best synopsis of that stupid decision I've ever read

 

[kingtidge]

this is the best synopsis of that stupid decision I've ever read

Exactly... Cantor letting that doofus retire 44 was dumb.

 

[Cusefan78]

Jim Brown himself didn't want the number unretired. He should have the ultimate say.

Why are we taking advise from a guy that beat women. He didnt own the number.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

Why are we taking advise from a guy that beat women. He didnt own the number.

Interesting take. So what's the pitch to the high schoolers? "Come and wear the same number as the guy that beat women." You can't have it both ways.

 

[kingtidge]

Interesting take. So what's the pitch to the high schoolers? "Come and wear the same number as the guy that beat women." You can't have it both ways.

No one gave Jim Brown carte blanche to decide if 44 should be retired.

He was a complicated person and had an opinion on 44 like everyone else and is gone now (RIP).

 

[tep624]

Jim Brown himself didn't want the number unretired. He should have the ultimate say.

The tradition wasn't built on Jim Brown and Jim Brown alone wearing the number. The tradition was built on Jim Brown giving the number to another player to carry on the legacy. Let's not forget that, irrespective of what Jim Brown and his massive ego had to say in his later years.

 

[tep624]

BNoro - you ruin... nm.

It's absurd that the 3 families have this much say over a # , that was also worn by quite a few "just a guy" sort of players over the years.

Dr. Gross did a lot of awful things to the school and program during his reign of error;
but being allowed to retire 44 as a halftime stunt against a nothing team in a game nobody remembers, might have been the worst.

Clearly there's a desire amongst the players for it to be back in circulation:
Both Zaire and Tucker chose 44 as their NFL #.


Plus - then we could have hoops players also start wearing it again (cough, Donnie Freeman, cough cough).
We've had greats like Schayes, DC, and J-Dub rock the 44.

We need new blood.

Retiring it was dumb. And egos getting in the way of our only program tradition being hijacked is even dumber.

 

[tep624]

There's a very simple way to get around this. You keep the jerseys retired in the rafters, like all the other greats, and you reintroduce the number. It's not rocket science and it serves all parties involved.

Now managing it with NIL is tricky but I'm sure that can be worked in a way that it works for everyone. Maybe you have a private donor set up that specifically gives NIL at a certain $$ amount to a 44 wearer or something.

People just like to make things more difficult than they need to be. Why I don't know...

 

[baggerbob]

There's a very simple way to get around this. You keep the jerseys retired in the rafters, like all the other greats, and you reintroduce the number. It's not rocket science and it serves all parties involved.

Now managing it with NIL is tricky but I'm sure that can be worked in a way that it works for everyone. Maybe you have a private donor set up that specifically gives NIL at a certain $$ amount to a 44 wearer or something.

People just like to make things more difficult than they need to be. Why I don't know...

What you do is what they should have done. Retire a jersey for Brown, Davis, and Little as they have done for all the other football and basketball players.

 

[kingtidge]

What you do is what they should have done. Retire a jersey for Brown, Davis, and Little as they have done for all the other football and basketball players.

BINGO... not the number, just their jersies...

Delone Carter should have gotten 44... and Tucker.

 

[OrangePA]

I'd love for a 30 for 30 on 44 but not sure the story is interesting enough nationally to garner that type of documentary. I think the big issue is not alot of intrigue post Ernie Davis. I think the angle that could work is why it wasn't given to Tucker and if there was something shady going on with the SUAD and the former 44s...who knows.

With Brown and Davis - the National Championship - the Heisman Trophy - and the rest of it, I think it's a national story that would be very appealing.