UT Making Room in the Rafters?
by Lincoln on Apr 9, 2007 5:43 PM CDT
23 comments
Ford, Campbell, Clemens, and Williams. All were Players-of-the-Year in their respective sports. Four years after retiring its first ever basketball jersey number, The University of Texas will find itself in a position next season to retire another.
Like football, men's basketball has numerous organizations at season's end awarding player-of-the-year trophies. In 2007, Kevin Durant made it a clean sweep, picking up the hardware from each of the six major associations. Durant became the first freshman to ever accomplish the accolade feat, but surprised few in Austin (or Suitland, MD) in doing so. After all, No. 35 set so many new standards that he somehow made the incredible appear to be nothing more than merely routine.
Just as Durant elevated Texas' name, it is likely Texas will return in kind...ascending up in to the rafters.
Durant's individual success on the 40 acres began less than a year after another Longhorn departed campus, following a career that captured the hearts of fans and lifted the football program to the pinnacle of the sport. The question now is who will have their number retired first? And can the University even consider withholding the honor altogether from one or both of the athletes?
Vince Young won the Maxwell but (for now) fell short of the Heisman. Of those honored, only Roger Clemens enjoyed POY honors coupled with a National Championship. When it comes to honoring individuals, the University's track record so far reflects a focus on individual accomplishments. Ricky stayed all four years and ran past Dorsett, but as an upperclassman his Horns fell shy of winning the Southern Division, let alone Big Twelve Conference or National Championship. T.J. in his two years at least led his team to a groundbreaking Final Four appearance, only to lose to the eventual champions.
Durant's success is hard to truly define. He dominated the stat columns, appeared to dominate the opposing five, and yet never quite dominated the game, unable to lift up his fellow (young) teammates and will them to victory. Is that enough? Is that more than enough? Again, the Texas standard appears to be guided by the national recognition as player of the year. We're inclined to believe No. 35 is a lock to sway high above the Erwin Center court.
Meanwhile, the argument for Young's #10 is that the Maxwell is a POY award (one which Williams paired with his Heisman in '98). In fact, Tommy Nobis joins the two as the only other Longhorn to win the award, and his #60 is often left unworn.
Young's #10 may similarly go unofficially off the market but perhaps his ability to take over a field of twenty-one other men and lead Texas to it's first BCS bowl and title will strengthen his case.
Momentarily ignoring the free pass seemingly acquired via receiving POY honors and debating which trophies count, does will future "dominance" in the NBA or NFL affect a latter decision to retire the numbers?
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you gatta...
you have to retires vinces, he was an amazing player that lead texas to a national title almost singe handedly, who else has done that, not any of the players who have had there numbers retired
by blazzinken on Apr 9, 2007 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
As much as I hate to say it
Kevin will, Vince won't.
Texas' requirements for retiring a jersey are only if the player has won the POY for their respective sport. KD did. Vince was robbed, but did not. It's political, and I believe he should have it retired, but unless they change the rules specifically because of Vince, it won't happen.
by GoHorns on Apr 9, 2007 8:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
what the fuck are you talking about?
i hear this shit all the time about our "requirements" for jersey retirement.
where's all this written down? and who wrote it?
we're gonna let the fact that a bunch of writers gave some gay ass overrated trophy to reggie bush stop us from honoring the greatest player our school's ever produced? that's stupid.
fuck retiring his jersey, he deserves a statue.
until i see some sort of scroll with this supposed "requirement" produced, i will call bullshit on every parrot who spouts this nonsense.
by Vice President Coco on Apr 9, 2007 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't hold back
Tell me how you really feel!
It may be written, it may be unwritten, but it has come directly from the AD's office. If I had more time or desire, I'd find the right link to appease your ass. Have a nice day!
by GoHorns on Apr 10, 2007 7:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would a Statesman article do?
And Bill, I absolutely agree. Refer to my previous post: "...he should have it retired...". I'd be all for it, anyway.
by GoHorns on Apr 10, 2007 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn right
hahahaha. Yeah, a FUCking statue would RULE
by DogTown on Apr 10, 2007 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Correct me if I am wrong
but didn't Vince win the Maxwell? That is a POY trophy, or is the rewquirement Heisman only?
by billb on Apr 10, 2007 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vince Young is a "Requirement Changer"
by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 10, 2007 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What player in his right mind
would ever put #10 on........I don't think the existing coaches would allow it. The only scenario I can see is that some High School super stud who has always worn #10 wants to wear it, VY calls the coach and says if anybody wants to wear my # they can have it. VY as always thinking Team First........
I'm with VP Coco.......a Statue outside the new North Stands would be greatness........
"Dance with the one that brung ya" DKR
by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 10, 2007 8:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They should retire his jersey and...
add him to the graphic where Ricky and Earl come alive,
erect a statue in his likeness,
sacrifice a bull every year at the exact second he walked into the endzone to win the NC,
Name I35 through Campus VY Highway,
elect him Govenor of Texas and eliminate term restrictions,
and then Thank him profusely for the honor of allowing them to praise him in this way.
by SwimTexas on Apr 10, 2007 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How many years went by
before they retired Ricky's jersey or TJ's jersey?
I was just wondering when I can expect a half time ceremony for KD and VY.
by Wells on Apr 10, 2007 11:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Less than one
Both were retired the subsequent season. Vince...not so much. BUT, The Titans and Longhorns schedules never really permitted it. When the Titans had a bye, Texas was on the road.
by Lincoln on Apr 10, 2007 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My personal opinion is that
you don't get your jersey retired for playing one year.
I think it is a total disservice to all those athletes that have played in the past.
Is KD the best ever to play BB at Texas, I'm not qualified to answer that.I feel there will be others that deserve the honor as much if not more. Again, I'm not big into BB,as most everybody at BON knows, I just feel it deminishes the athletic department, and "The" University as a whole to do something of this magnitude.
I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know the #'s of the FB players jerseys that have been retired. I'm guessing Earl and Ricky at least.
I hope I haven't pissed off the KD supporters out there, I just don't think there is a case for retiring his jersey after only 1 year at Texas.
by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 10, 2007 1:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What if a guy transfers in
and only has one year of eligibility left, but then wins every award possible in basketball, but does not win the national championship. Would you give it to him?
KD essentially had one year of eligibility. As I said before, I think if it was just him then he can make that decision on his own, but he has to look his parents in the eye and tell them they can't retire this year, and may not ever be able to, because he wants to stay in college.
by Wells on Apr 10, 2007 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
4 Jersey's retired
Earl, Ricky, Roger Clemens, and TJ. That's it. Quite Elite company. It's extremely difficult for a fan to judge whether or not a jersey should or should not be retired. I think we can all agree that Vince's jersey should be retired. If the AD wants to throw out the requirement of having won the POY award, the Maxwell counts. For my money, that's the loophole (if you want to call it that) that should have it retired.
KD is a little different. I agree with ouASS in that the retirement of a jersey is more than just an individual's efforts, but a body of work that was exibited throughout a career and how it impacted the school and his team. However, it's extremely hard to argue against retiring the jersey of the most dominant freshman and one of the most dominant players (regardless of class) of all time.
Both should be retired. Sadly, though, I'm not convinced that VY's will be. I hope I'm wrong.
by GoHorns on Apr 10, 2007 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
A similar argument was made when TJ's number...
was retired. There were lots of people arguing at the time that two years in the University was not enough to merit a jersey retirement.
So, the question becomes... does two years of playing, winning a national POY award and a Final Four appearance warrant a jersey retirement while a single year playing, winning all of the major POY awards (in a record setting fashion as a freshman, no less) and a disappointing end to the season does not?
TJ's jersey retirement was not completely tied to his accomplishments while at UT. A lot of it had to do with what his impact became on the program after he was gone. It's been said many times that TJ made it cool for elite level basketball players from Texas to go to UT. I think Durant's impact won't be known for a few years either
FWIW - I do believe Durant's number should be retired.
by gwh65 on Apr 10, 2007 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't get it
Roosevelt Leaks is an incredibly significant player and person in the history of UT athletics, but his number isn't retired. Tommy Nobis is one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of college football and his number isn't retired. The University has turned wearing Nobis' number 60 into an honor.
I don't understand the enthusiasm for retiring numbers.
by Bob LaBlog on Apr 10, 2007 2:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought it was great
when D. Johnson put Nobis' Jersey on. That is the kind of event or person I was talking about earlier.
I give up, I'm a novice in Basketball, but been watching FB for more years than most on this site. Retiring a jersey is one of total recognition of a persons Record? Stats? Trophies? hell I'm not sure.
You better be a very special individual though, and I can't argue that KD isn't a great player as well being what appears to be a great person off the court.
Now to maybe get some people pissed off.........
Retire VY's before KD's.
If you retire KD's first, I'll take pictures of someone(me) tearing it down. I mean it too........
by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 10, 2007 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
NO KD
yes on VY. He won a championship and was a star. No on KD. He was great, but he didn't revolutionize the team or bring back any awards for the team. He was an amazing player, but I think it 5-10 years this year will be remembered as a bad year. He helped this year. In the next couple of years, UT will be a final four team and those stars will possibly have their fame recorded.
by carsondude on Apr 10, 2007 2:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Seriously?
Yeah, a 25-10 record with seven freshmen will be looked upon as a real dark time in our program's history.
by LonghornRoadTrip on Apr 10, 2007 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i have to say no on KD
it's a combination of personal and team results that matter. decent but not great team results can be made up with just unbelievable personal stats or other impact (and vice versa).
i don't see the reason for an unequivocal rule against retiring the number of someone who only played for one year, and what KD did was just so unbelievable that there's a case to be made that 35 should be retired. But the results of the team this year, while not disappointing given the rightfully low expectations, were not that good. if this team makes the final 4 or maybe even the elite 8, I might have changed my mind.
now, along with gwh65's suggestion, if we find out in a few years that KD's impact on the program is something approaching TJ Ford's impact, then maybe I'll reconsider my position.
#10 should never be worn again, however.
by billyzane on Apr 11, 2007 12:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
BZ, as old as I am, having been there
watching Street et al, Earl and Company. Vince Young "Is" Texas Football......I can't think of a player, ever in college football, that I admire more, what a hero to have.........
by ouALWAYSsux on Apr 11, 2007 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
VY, TJ, then maybe KD
VY is a no-brainer. He will be the defining figure for Longhorn football for multiple generations. KD is the most amazing basketballer to grace Austin with his presence, but TJ Ford was the most important. Had he not chosen UT and played like he did, Texas wouldn't have had the prestige to attract KD during his recruiting. I also believe TJ left behind a sort of nostalgic legacy, like Major Applewhite, but with more success in his field. Or court, so to speak.
This debate seems to boil down to three choices: TJ, or KD, or both.
by Kool Hand on Apr 11, 2007 2:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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