Retiring jersey numbers... yeah or nay?

[goingoneight]

I used to think of it as a nice little deal, but I recently read a bunch of stuff about numbers being reitred and I must say I'm glad OU doesn't do this. If it was a situation similar to Pat Tillman, yeah I can see that... but people getting ****ed about someone wearing a "legend's" number? Seems to me that if a certain number is so special, it would push the you athletes to honor that jersey, right?
Like, say AD was never injured and set some all-time records. A few years later someone attacks a young recruit for wanting to wear #28 when he arrives because "he'll never live up to the number" or he doesn't play AD's position. Isn't that a little bit ridiculous? I met Michael Jordan a few years back during his stint with the Wizards and he said his jersey deal was an "honor" but he didn't feel it needed to be off-limits to anyone else for any reason. Having said that, he forgot to sign my hat... :(

What do you all think?

[bri]

well, for starters...we'd run out of available numbers real quick. :D

[goingoneight]

That's why we **** and moan for nameplates... :D

[Scott D]

I still don't think that Peterson guy gave enough honor to Antonio Perkins' number ;)

[sanantoniosooner]

We should retire dealerships.

[Scott D]

and mullets. and hair pieces. and round italians who have radio shows, and especially relics who pay more attention to hot dogs than to the play by play.

[stoopified]

Retire jerseys not numbers.On the other hand where do you start?All-Americans?National Award winners?Record holders ?Great players who were also true life heros(Bob Kalsu,Waddy Young).Men who made great social contributions (Gautt)?I think these are all good reasons and have in fact been in favor of a ring of honor around the facing of the stadium with names,numbers and jersey replicas.There would be a lot in football.

[goingoneight]

In all of Sooner history, I'd retire Gautt probably as a one and only. The rest? Go on and play in the NFL if you want that kind of attention, I guess.

Thanks for the opinions, though some ventured just a little... :D

[soonerboomer93]

I have no problem having Gautt as the only retired number.

[goingoneight]

So, if a player Bomarizes Texas with the NCAA someday, shall we retire their number? :D

[sanantoniosooner]

UT already retired Ricky's wedding dress.

And I believe OU retired the Boz's hairstyle.

[SteelClip49]

Prentice Gautt and Lt. James Robert Kalsu.

[soonerboomer93]

Kalsu would also be worthy

[Jimminy Crimson]

We could go ahead and retire Chris Weinke's number, too, while we're at it.

[bstuff1979]

I'd rather have a system like Syracuse had with one number being the equivalent of the Don Key award (though given out a bit early). Something else I've noticed, every two to three years a player with a number ending in 8 has ended up an all time great for OU. 38 TRRW, 18 JW, 28 AD, who's next up? Brandon Caleb or Jermaine Gresham?

[starrca23]

I'm not really for it either. Unless it is no. 23. I don't know why any athlete today would try to wear 23. 23 is a legendary number that no one should want to be compared with. Who would want to be compared with...







Devin Hester :D

[TheUnnamedSooner]

retiring jersey numbers... yeah, nah or ghey?

I'm going with ghey. why would we want to be like succ or aggie lite?

[LittleWingSooner]

Retire jerseys not numbers, and you start with Lee Roy Selmon, in fact all 3 Selmon's should go in together.

Then you go with Bob Kalsu and Waddy Young. Both died at war.

After that you got Roy Williams, Brian Bosworth, Jason White, Billy Sims, Joe Washington, Rod Shoate, Tommie Harris, Tony Casillas, Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Greg Pruitt, Daryl Hunt, Josh Heupel, and George Cumby.

I'm sure there's more but that's a pretty good start.

[stoopified]

Prentice Gautt and Lt. James Robert Kalsu.
Walter Roland(Waddy)Young.Flew antisub missions over the Atlantic,bombing missions over Eurpoe and was finalyshot down in his b-29 over the Sea of Japan in 1945.The b-29 incidentallywas named Waddys Wagon.Waddy has been a personal hero of mine since I was a sophmore at Pnca City High and first saw his picture.

[Collier11]

Im down with retiring jerseys and not numbers...but IMO it would need to be very selectful...The Heisman winners(although they already get their own statues), Selmon, and Prentice Gautt come to mind.

Who would you guys say will be regarded as the best Stoops era player thus far when we look back 20 years from now?

[TheUnnamedSooner]

Heupel.

[Collier11]

I am on the fence with Heupel, as far as having his jersey retired and going to the HOF eventually. He put up really good but not great stats and won a national title. But if you just look at the turnaround OU went through with him as our leader, is is almost unparalleled!

[LittleWingSooner]

Im down with retiring jerseys and not numbers...but IMO it would need to be very selectful...The Heisman winners(although they already get their own statues), Selmon, and Prentice Gautt come to mind.

Who would you guys say will be regarded as the best Stoops era player thus far when we look back 20 years from now?

Williams, White, Heupel, Peterson, Harris, Calmus, and Griffin would be the top 7.

[okienole3]

Williams, White, Heupel, Peterson, Harris, Calmus, and Griffin would be the top 7.


Ever heard of a guy named Derrick Strait?

[Seamus]

No. Tell me more ... ?

[TheUnnamedSooner]

I am on the fence with Heupel, as far as having his jersey retired and going to the HOF eventually. He put up really good but not great stats and won a national title. But if you just look at the turnaround OU went through with him as our leader, is is almost unparalleled!

I don't think any player should get their jersey retired. But I think he was the main player to get the program turned around, so, we are on the same page. I will take Heupel's leadership and football smarts over guady stats any day.

[47straight]

The mural at the switzer center is already a pretty good tribute to a lot of these players. I am happy to leave it at that.

[LittleWingSooner]

Ever heard of a guy named Derrick Strait?

I'm sure there's others that are worthy of being listed there also. Brown was the best offensive lineman.

[bixby28]

No. The team would have to throw out too many numbers !

[EstablishedSooner1967]

we would run out of numbers... and AD needs a Heisman and the rushing title at OU before I would give his number up.. and stay 4 years.

[BigHouseDon]

Retire jerseys not numbers.On the other hand where do you start?All-Americans?National Award winners?Record holders ?Great players who were also true life heros(Bob Kalsu,Waddy Young).Men who made great social contributions (Gautt)?
I ...have in fact been in favor of a ring of honor around the facing of the stadium with names,numbers and jersey replicas.There would be a lot in football.


I agree with a ring of honor. If you start retiring numbers at any consistently good program, its just a matter of time before you run out of numbers.


BHD

[Soonerfan88]

I would go with a Ring of Honor for honorable deeds in life - Prentice Gautt, Waddy Young, Bob Kalsu & Jerry Anderson are the ones that instantly come to mind.

OU has so many football award winners and they will always be remembered. But men of character are those I would want the country to know we honor the most.

[goingoneight]

Retiring jerseys? Tell a n00b how that works. Does that mean another quarterback can't wear #18 if you retire Jason's jersey? :confused:

[SteelClip49]

Most underrated player under Stoops was Nate Hybl. He received a lot of criticism and all he did was come in and win. He did win a Big 12 Title, Cotton and Rose Bowl MVP.

Other players under Stoops that are worth mention....Woolfolk, Marshall, T. Smith, Cody, Ontei Jones.

[goingoneight]

Most underrated player under Stoops was Nate Hybl. He received a lot of criticism and all he did was come in and win. He did win a Big 12 Title, Cotton and Rose Bowl MVP.

Other players under Stoops that are worth mention....Woolfolk, Marshall, T. Smith, Cody, Ontei Jones.

The Nate bashing is the same bashing Thompson got. When you succeed a great player, you get negged. Thompson just so happened to be OUr only hope at the time, and his neg went away. I think that now, people realize after an 8-4 and this past season that you have to respect guys who come in and do just what you said... win.

[LittleWingSooner]

Retiring jerseys? Tell a n00b how that works. Does that mean another quarterback can't wear #18 if you retire Jason's jersey? :confused:

No it just means that player gets honored.

[LittleWingSooner]

I would go with a Ring of Honor for honorable deeds in life - Prentice Gautt, Waddy Young, Bob Kalsu & Jerry Anderson are the ones that instantly come to mind.

OU has so many football award winners and they will always be remembered. But men of character are those I would want the country to know we honor the most.

I think you do both. But a character guy you forgot is Don Key.

I think you have to have Selmon on any ring of honor or honored list for OU though. Then the Heisman winners.

[Nohorns]

Prentice Gautt and Lt. James Robert Kalsu!!! :lwm:

[swardboy]

Gahhh! Don't retire numbers. How could you not retire every number of every OU player who played in every game of the 47 win streak? Plus, it handicaps recruiting potentially when you tell a kid he can't have THAT number, even though it's his favorite number, and otherwise available.

[CU Sooner]

We would run out of mubers but maybe we could get permission to have triple digits, how cool would that be. I mean, Loadholt would look good with #179.:D

[Collier11]

1st-what the hell is a "muber" CU SOONER? Typos are normal but good lord!
2nd-this would never work in college unless you just retired the jersey and not the actual number, which many of us have already said

[CU Sooner]

I just wanted to see what it felt like to be James Hale. Now I know and I will never go there again.

[Collier11]

gotcha