I personally do not think the retiring of an individuals number in college is something that should be done unless it's in memory of.
What I disagree with even more is what The University of Texas has just announced they are doing. They are going to retire the number of Vincent Young, great athlete and winning quarterback on a national championship team. Also a student athlete who left after his junior year. They are also retiring the number of Kevin Durant who was freshman all-american and drafted by the Seattle Supersonics. He left school after his freshman year. Again, not proponent of retiring college numbers, but definitely against retiring numbers of kids who leave school early.

Any Thoughts?

Wow, I just noticed I have "Old Timer" under my name!

I think that if they keep this up, Texas will run out of numbers fast. Either that or go to triple digits, which will look very odd.

No real thoughts from me on retiring jerseys, but I do have a comment about the idea that leaving school early is such a bad thing. It's funny that is always brought up as an issue in basketball and football, but it's just understood that the very best baseball players will likely not spend four years on campus. In fact, baseball doesn't even require it's players to ever step foot on a college campus.

My thought is this- college is designed to prepare it's attendees for their future careers. The gifted few happen to be preparing for careers as a professional athlete and good for them. Some of the most successful people in the world left college early and weren't athletes...Steve Jobs and Bill Gates come to mind.

No problem with leaving school early either. Just feel if your going to retire a number in college, you would have like the student/athlete to have put in the four years of hard work. Retiring a number is something very special. All just my humble opinion!

I feel that to retire a number a minimum requirement needs to be they stay at least four years. I don't have a problem with a guy leaving early but let's face it - they are PROBABLY being rewarded with a pro career. The guy who stays four years probably won't be going pro (yes there are exceptions to both but law of average works out this way). Let's award the 4 year guy with a jersey being retired.

Maybe have other requirements like if you win two (or more) conference championships or a national championships then open it up to them as well.

But let's reward the 4 year guy.

Ok after reading what I just put I contradict myself with the minimum of 4 year stay and then open it to the championship guys. Sorry.

I think, IMO, it's ok if there are conditions to be met to retire player #'s. Those conditions should include holding school records. It shouldn't be just because someone is famous, especially if there are quite a number who make the professional ranks in a program. I understand the comment about years in attendance.

I am not sure about football, but at son's former program pretty sure only 3 #'s have been retired in baseball. Two MLB players who were All Americans, both broke school records, both first round (maybe both USA players as well) and Coach Wilhelm who was the coach for a gazillion years before Jack. One player left after 3 years another attended all 4. The program has produced numerous MLB players and draftees, but only those two achieved more at school.

JMO.

quote:

Wow, I just noticed I have "Old Timer" under my name!

I hear that's the first of two cardinal signs that you're getting old. The second one I can't remember! Welcome to the old farts club TGUF!

I hate to be cynical, but I wonder if there's another number a$$igned to those retired numbers? Like jemaz said, if this is a trend they better start thinking about triple digits soon.

Student/Athlete or Athlete/Student? I'm confused, I think I know what UT really wants!