Cawley?

Over the next decade, I think we are going to see a bunch of Dukes playing on Sundays and being candidates for jersey retirement.

(06-22-2020 10:00 AM)Purple Wrote:  Over the next decade, I think we are going to see a bunch of Dukes playing on Sundays and being candidates for jersey retirement.

As important as playing in the NFL would be to someone's chances of getting their number retired or honored, I think it should be more than that. Postseason awards, a closeness to the city, school, and JMU community at large, and probably some sort of "serving the ideals of JMU" (whatever that means) should also be considered. Otherwise I fear our future student-athletes will have jerseys that might have them confused with Elon Musk's children.

(06-22-2020 10:15 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 10:00 AM)Purple Wrote:  Over the next decade, I think we are going to see a bunch of Dukes playing on Sundays and being candidates for jersey retirement.

As important as playing in the NFL would be to someone's chances of getting their number retired or honored, I think it should be more than that. Postseason awards, a closeness to the city, school, and JMU community at large, and probably some sort of "serving the ideals of JMU" (whatever that means) should also be considered. Otherwise I fear our future student-athletes will have jerseys that might have them confused with Elon Musk's children.

They'll end up wearing fractions like the baseball players in Futurama

Yeah considering the size of an NCAA football roster anyway it should take a ton to get your number retired. 15 isn't even retired at Florida. 11 and 55 were, but Spurrier un-retired them. There isn't really much room for retired numbers in college football.

(06-22-2020 11:26 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 10:15 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 10:00 AM)Purple Wrote:  Over the next decade, I think we are going to see a bunch of Dukes playing on Sundays and being candidates for jersey retirement.

As important as playing in the NFL would be to someone's chances of getting their number retired or honored, I think it should be more than that. Postseason awards, a closeness to the city, school, and JMU community at large, and probably some sort of "serving the ideals of JMU" (whatever that means) should also be considered. Otherwise I fear our future student-athletes will have jerseys that might have them confused with Elon Musk's children.

They'll end up wearing fractions like the baseball players in Futurama

Yeah considering the size of an NCAA football roster anyway it should take a ton to get your number retired. 15 isn't even retired at Florida. 11 and 55 were, but Spurrier un-retired them. There isn't really much room for retired numbers in college football.

I like the idea of having certain numbers on a roster that are special to the program, a la #22 at Virginia Tech for Beamer or the collection of greats at Michigan. It would be cool to have a number for players to strive for based on performance, seniority, etc.

(06-22-2020 11:56 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I like the idea of having certain numbers on a roster that are special to the program, a la #22 at Virginia Tech for Beamer or the collection of greats at Michigan. It would be cool to have a number for players to strive for based on performance, seniority, etc.

Speaking of the Turkey Buzzards, I think when we play them we should have someone wear the number 21-16.

(06-22-2020 01:04 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 11:56 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I like the idea of having certain numbers on a roster that are special to the program, a la #22 at Virginia Tech for Beamer or the collection of greats at Michigan. It would be cool to have a number for players to strive for based on performance, seniority, etc.

Speaking of the Turkey Buzzards, I think when we play them we should have someone wear the number 21-16.

Not sure the exact rules on captains you send out for the coin toss as far as how many you send out, if you can change it up for individual games, things like that... But it would be hilarious to just send out #21 and #16.

(06-22-2020 01:16 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 01:04 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-22-2020 11:56 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  I like the idea of having certain numbers on a roster that are special to the program, a la #22 at Virginia Tech for Beamer or the collection of greats at Michigan. It would be cool to have a number for players to strive for based on performance, seniority, etc.

Speaking of the Turkey Buzzards, I think when we play them we should have someone wear the number 21-16.

Not sure the exact rules on captains you send out for the coin toss as far as how many you send out, if you can change it up for individual games, things like that... But it would be hilarious to just send out #21 and #16.

Yes yes yes! The photo opps alone would be worth it. Kinda like when WVU players Dingle and Berry were sitting adjacent on the Mounties' sidelines years ago.

(06-22-2020 09:45 AM)Dukester Wrote:  Not that I'm suggesting there be a 4th retired right now, but if there was - who would it be?

Lezotte?

Stephon Robertson was a beast. He’d get my vote.

Tony Lezotte is probably the strongest if we’re basing it on collegiate accomplishments. Dude was a 4-time All-American.

I'm not really crazy with the concept of retiring college numbers because there are so many players that we already have several players wearing the same number, but of all the boxes to be checked including on-field performance and post college career, Moats checks all the boxes. Wouldn't mind that at all.

The three retired numbers are for players that became NFL all pro and participated in Super Bowls. One has 5 rings. No one since has come close to their professional accomplishments.

IMO, I don’t feel anyone since the three has done enough to have their jersey retired. Moats is the closest due to his NFL longevity but his resume pales in comparison to the three that have their jersey’s retired.

(06-24-2020 09:50 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  The three retired numbers are for players that became NFL all pro and participated in Super Bowls. One has 5 rings. No one since has come close to their professional accomplishments.

IMO, I don’t feel anyone since the three has done enough to have their jersey retired. Moats is the closest due to his NFL longevity but his resume pales in comparison to the three that have their jersey’s retired.

It would be nice for JMU to put together displays of the three retired jerseys/numbers, visible at Bridgeforth.

Yeah, I didn’t even know those guys’ numbers were retired. I do find the concept of retiring a college number for pro accomplishments a little strange, but I get the logic. While Moats might not have the NFL cred of Charles Haley, I suspect his active philanthropy for the school could easily put him in consideration.

I think the bar should be set so high for a retired number that the odds of it happening are miniscule of ever achieving it...and perhaps, some extraordinary circumstance drove it. I do like the concept of a Ring of Honor though. And, names/placards installed at strategic locations in and around BFS to highlight JMU's history. Perhaps one new entrant per season for the next decade.

(06-24-2020 10:52 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Yeah, I didn’t even know those guys’ numbers were retired. I do find the concept of retiring a college number for pro accomplishments a little strange, but I get the logic. While Moats might not have the NFL cred of Charles Haley , I suspect his active philanthropy for the school could easily put him in consideration.

You make a good point. One could argue that there have been quite a few players who accomplished more over the last few years collegiately with three NC title games and many undefeated CAA seasons. None of the Clark, Norwood and Haley teams even made it into the playoffs.

(06-24-2020 11:35 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  

(06-24-2020 10:52 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Yeah, I didn’t even know those guys’ numbers were retired. I do find the concept of retiring a college number for pro accomplishments a little strange, but I get the logic. While Moats might not have the NFL cred of Charles Haley , I suspect his active philanthropy for the school could easily put him in consideration.

You make a good point. One could argue that there have been quite a few players who accomplished more over the last few years collegiately with three NC title games and many undefeated CAA seasons. None of the Clark, Norwood and Haley teams even made it into the playoffs.

And there's the rub. An individual honor is often tied to how the team did - particularly at a position like QB. Then again, Phil Niekro was one of the best pitchers in MLB history and made the Hall of Fame though he played on decades of lousy Braves teams that were for the most part a joke. Do you punish a great individual's contributions because they were kinda stuck on mediocre to average (or maybe even good, just not national title level "good") teams? I think you see where I'm headed.

I *do* think any student-athlete in consideration for a retired number should be a graduate of the university barring some unforeseen reason they can't be - e.g., died in service to the country or just died before being able to finish off the degree in a reasonable time frame. Meaning, if you are an All-American for 3 years and leave JMU early and never finish off your degree, I like having the degree completion as an apple at the end of the horse's nose for motivation.

Yeah I’d agree that it feels weird for it to not be about what you did while wearing that number at JMU. However, winning five Super Bowls and ending up in the HOF afterwards is obviously a very good look for JMU(plus naming your daughter Madison!) and a program like JMU has tons of guys come and go with a ton of success while they’re here. Would be very cool to see a ring of honor once the other side of the stadium gets done and there are plenty of deserving names to go on it.

(06-24-2020 12:29 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  I *do* think any student-athlete in consideration for a retired number should be a graduate of the university barring some unforeseen reason they can't be - e.g., died in service to the country or just died before being able to finish off the degree in a reasonable time frame. Meaning, if you are an All-American for 3 years and leave JMU early and never finish off your degree, I like having the degree completion as an apple at the end of the horse's nose for motivation.

Interesting point, I do know that Antonio Gates’ jersey retirement was put off forever due to him not graduating. He led a great basketball squad to the Elite 8 years ago and his teammates had their numbers in rafters but not his #44. I believe the school was missing out on a great opportunity for PR for years and finally put it aside and hung his too.

Also, teams like the Yankees that have had storied franchises have had so many greats it’s hard to retire them all. The UNC basketball team as well, they will honor your number for reaching certain levels (AA etc.) but for them to actually retire your number you would have to be the National POY.

(06-24-2020 01:57 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(06-24-2020 12:29 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  I *do* think any student-athlete in consideration for a retired number should be a graduate of the university barring some unforeseen reason they can't be - e.g., died in service to the country or just died before being able to finish off the degree in a reasonable time frame. Meaning, if you are an All-American for 3 years and leave JMU early and never finish off your degree, I like having the degree completion as an apple at the end of the horse's nose for motivation.

Interesting point, I do know that Antonio Gates’ jersey retirement was put off forever due to him not graduating. He led a great basketball squad to the Elite 8 years ago and his teammates had their numbers in rafters but not his #44. I believe the school was missing out on a great opportunity for PR for years and finally put it aside and hung his too.

Also, teams like the Yankees that have had storied franchises have had so many greats it’s hard to retire them all. The UNC basketball team as well, they will honor your number for reaching certain levels (AA etc.) but for them to actually retire your number you would have to be the National POY.

I am not really into retiring numbers unless it is a really special circumstance.

At BFS on the first level JMU does have an area where many of the players mentioned on this thread and others are noted. They could probably do something similar on the side of Plecker to make is even more visible in the future.