Restore 44 : Dontae Strickland says it has been discussed

[xc84]

Damien Rhodes.

What point are you attempting to make?

Didn't Rhodes take the number 1? Or are you saying he was offered #44 but didn't want it?

 

[TheCusian]

Which one of these RBs were offered #44 as an incentive to play at SU? Most Yards Rank Yards Player Year 1 4,299 Joe Morris 1978-81 2 3,424 Walter Reyes 2001-04 3 3,104 Delone Carter 2006-10 4 2,934 Larry Csonka 1965-67 5 2,869 James Mungro 1998-2001 6 2,704 Floyd Little 1964-66 7 2,643 David Walker 1989-1992 8 2,626 Dee Brown 1997-2000 9 2,551 Bill Hurley 1975-79 10 2,461 Damien Rhodes 2002-2005

I have no idea why you are not wanting to offer it as an incentive.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

It's not retired in basketball.

Damien Rhodes.

What point are you attempting to make?

Reyes was offered it as well when he was up at SU, but turned it down. I'm not sure of the point either.

 

[jekelish]

Didn't Rhodes take the number 1? Or are you saying he was offered #44 but didn't want it?

I'm pretty sure the subject at least came up during his recruitment, and he wanted to wear 1.

 

[xc84]

It's not retired in basketball.

Reyes was offered it as well when he was up at SU, but turned it down. I'm not sure of the point either.

I posted facts about top 10 rushers. You can create your own point.

 

[jekelish]

I posted facts about top 10 rushers. You can create your own point.

It's also an incredibly misleading point being made with the top 10 rushers. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't think that the two greatest running backs in SU history didn't both wear 44?

 

[xc84]

I have no idea why you are not wanting to offer it as an incentive.

If they want to offer it as an incentive, fine. I just don't think it was an incentive that produced much fruit. I really don't care if they offer it or not.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I posted facts about top 10 rushers. You can create your own point.

So, basically you had no point? That's an effective post.

 

[xc84]

It's also an incredibly misleading point being made with the top 10 rushers. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't think that the two greatest running backs in SU history didn't both wear 44?

Again, I didn't make a point. I just posted some facts. Yes, the 2 best running backs wore 44. That is why 44 is a special number. That's a lot different than how effective the number is in recruiting.

 

[xc84]

So, basically you had no point? That's an effective post.

I like facts.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

It's also an incredibly misleading point being made with the top 10 rushers. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't think that the two greatest running backs in SU history didn't both wear 44?

Not to mention that 3 of those guys, I believe were recruited to play other positions where 44 wasn't really relevant.

 

[javadoc]

I posted facts about top 10 rushers. You can create your own point.

Wouldn't yards per game be a better measure?

 

[jekelish]

Again, I didn't make a point. I just posted some facts. Yes, the 2 best running backs wore 44. That is why 44 is a special number. That's a lot different than how effective the number is in recruiting.

And how effective it has been is irrelevant right now, because it has the chance to be VERY effective. The fact of the matter is, there's an incredibly highly regarded recruit who would love to wear 44 for Syracuse, and who has a lot of highly regarded friends who might come play with him.

That's pretty substantial incentive, and would potentially prove incredibly fruitful in using 44 as a recruiting tool.

Obviously hindsight is 20/20, so you can't predict for sure how good Washington will wind up being. But you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

 

[jekelish]

I like facts.

The last three guys to be offered, and accept, 44 all played in the NFL. Those are good facts, too.

 

[xc84]

The last three guys to be offered, and accept, 44 all played in the NFL. Those are good facts, too.

I agree, those 3 were pretty good backs but to be accurate, Owens (maybe the best of them in college) never made an NFL roster.

 

[jekelish]

I agree, those 3 were pretty good backs but to be accurate, Owens (maybe the best of them in college) never made an NFL roster.

You're right - I remembered he was drafted by the Chiefs, but never realized he never actually made the active roster.

 

[TheCusian]

I think "The Express" coming out when a lot of these kids were in middle school has created a new respect for the number. We need to hop on it now.

 

[xc84]

And how effective it has been is irrelevant right now, because it has the chance to be VERY effective. The fact of the matter is, there's an incredibly highly regarded recruit who would love to wear 44 for Syracuse, and who has a lot of highly regarded friends who might come play with him.

That's pretty substantial incentive, and would potentially prove incredibly fruitful in using 44 as a recruiting tool.

Obviously hindsight is 20/20, so you can't predict for sure how good Washington will wind up being. But you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Like I said, I don't care if they offer this kid 44 or not. Let's say they do. What are the odds he will commit to SU next year because of it? I know what you are saying, we have nothing to lose... but I think the impact of it as a recruiting tool is being touted with little history to back it up.

 

[jekelish]

Like I said, I don't care if they offer this kid 44 or not. Let's say they do. What are the odds he will commit to SU next year because of it? I know what you are saying, we have nothing to lose... but I think the impact of it as a recruiting tool is being touted with little history to back it up.

I will say this: the odds of us landing Washington are better if we offer him 44, than if we don't.

 

[Millhouse]

Again, I didn't make a point. I just posted some facts. Yes, the 2 best running backs wore 44. That is why 44 is a special number. That's a lot different than how effective the number is in recruiting.

I like this board best when people points with facts.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Like I said, I don't care if they offer this kid 44 or not. Let's say they do. What are the odds he will commit to SU next year because of it? I know what you are saying, we have nothing to lose... but I think the impact of it as a recruiting tool is being touted with little history to back it up.

I used to agree with this way of thinking. To me, 44 hasn't really been too relevant on the field in my lifetime. I would always point to Glenn Moore as an example of how 44 doesn't always work out. I was fine with the number being retired and raised to the rafters. The movie The Express and the relevance off 44 in SU football history has come up a number of times now in the last and current recruiting cycle. If it helps SU land Washington and he has a great career at SU, then obviously restoring the number will be viewed as a success. If we miss on him, as long as the number isn't handed out to the next runner up, I think things will be ok too. If he comes to SU but flames out, I don't think that it diminishes the number any more than Mandel or Glenn did. I don't see the downside in handing it out to someone who is worthy. And yes, I realize that you don't care if it's offered or not. I do think that it's more relevant to some than you may have realized. I know now that that's the case with me.

 

[CuseCrew08]

Jekelish, what do you think our chances are landing him if he doesn't get 44? 1%? Or what is Strickland is wearing it? 0%?

 

[TheCusian]

I used to agree with this way of thinking. To me, 44 hasn't really been too relevant on the field in my lifetime. I would always point to Glenn Moore as an example of how 44 doesn't always work out. I was fine with the number being retired and raised to the rafters. The movie The Express and the relevance off 44 in SU football history has come up a number of times now in the last and current recruiting cycle. If it helps SU land Washington and he has a great career at SU, then obviously restoring the number will be viewed as a success. If we miss on him, as long as the number isn't handed out to the next runner up, I think things will be ok too. If he comes to SU but flames out, I don't think that it diminishes the number any more than Mandel or Glenn did. I don't see the downside in handing it out to someone who is worthy. And yes, I realize that you don't care if it's offered or not. I do think that it's more relevant to some than you may have realized. I know now that that's the case with me.

I think it's wrong to think that poor performance on the field by a player tarnishes the legacy in any way. It's not a measuring stick - the number stands on its own. You give it to kid that shows great promise on the field - and is a great kid off of it. A kid who respects the legacy fully.

Like the recruit in question .

 

[jekelish]

I think it's wrong to think that poor performance on the field by a player tarnishes the legacy in any way. It's not a measuring stick - the number stands on its own. You give it to kid that shows great promise on the field - and is a great kid off of it. A kid who respects the legacy fully.

Like the recruit in question .

You mean this kid? Yeah, I think he might be an okay person to give 44...

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[jekelish]

Jekelish, what do you think our chances are landing him if he doesn't get 44? 1%? Or what is Strickland is wearing it? 0%?

Honestly, I couldn't even begin to speculate. What I know is based on what JackBauer44 has told me, but I don't think we're out of it if he doesn't get 44. Our chances are just much better if he does get offered the number. Right now, Ohio State, for example, can offer a national championship pretty easily. We can't offer that right now. 44 is offering to have him help restore the legacy. That's very enticing to him, and the big equalizing factor that puts us right in the mix with the big boys, IMO.