Retire Vince Young's Jersey

by Peter Bean on Jul 6, 2007 2:19 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns Football

Caradoc first asked and 54b laid out many of the relevant questions: should Kevin Durant's #35 jersey be retired?

Honestly, though, from my perspective this one's an easy one. Retire Durant's jersey. Texas has always retired the jersey of POY winners, and shouldn't stop now.

The relevant question has nothing to do with KD; it has to do with Vince. The University of Texas needs to retire VY's jersey, and soon. He was the best player in college football in 2005 - who gives a damn if the Heisman Trophy voters didn't recognize it until after the Rose Bowl, when it was too late?

Maybe the bigger question is whether Texas' whole "policy" makes any sense at all. Why place jersey retirement in the hands of the press, for crying out loud? Do national awards voters in Oregon really need to have a say in whether or not Vince Young's jersey gets retired? Because they do.

The Texas athletics department, normally beholden to no one, should scrap this ridiculous policy and retire any damn number it pleases. They can use the national awards as a guiding rule of thumb, but to be tethered to it is absurd. Retire that outdated policy so we can retire Vince Young's jersey.

Update [2007-7-6 11:19:26 by HornsFan]: I hadn't seen this until a few moments ago, but Cedric Golden has a column by the same title in today's paper.

--PB--

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is that the official policy?

I know Rick Barnes said that KD should have the number retired because of the awards, like TJ, but I thought that was just his opinion. Is that the official policy of UT athletics? And is that something that is actually standing in the way of Vince's jersey being retired? Because that's amazingly stupid.

by hornbone on Jul 6, 2007 1:17 AM CDT reply actions

It is policy

To retire the jerseys of Player of the Year winners.

What is not clear is whether the university intends to make this the sole requirement for retirement. If it does, we need to oppose it - loudly.

I'm fine with the university deeming POY awards as sufficient cause for jersey retirement. I'm absolutely opposed to it being necessary.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jul 6, 2007 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions

other jerseys

What jerseys have been retired so far? I kind of like that Derrick Johnson can wear Tommy Nobis' number, but it would be nice to honor him with the jersey retiring thing. I'm sure there are some other worthy candidates out there.

What about Michael Huff? He was a big part in a national championship year, and he won the biggest award for his position. Anybody like that idea?

by hornbone on Jul 6, 2007 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Clemens

Has Roger Clemens won any POY award in college?

Go Horns, Go Vince, Go Mavs

by Cyrus on Jul 6, 2007 2:30 AM CDT up reply actions

We are talking about VY

Is this the start of an e-mail campaign?

by jedi666 on Jul 6, 2007 1:33 AM CDT reply actions

Hadn't considered it, but perhaps we should

It's inexcusable.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jul 6, 2007 1:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I think

If KD gets his jersey retired, hell should freeze over before VY's isn't retired also. VY meant much more to the school than KD(IMO).

by carsondude on Jul 6, 2007 3:59 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah

To me, I liked Kevin Durant but I've never been too much of a basketball fan. That being said, I never sensed anywhere near as much emotion or effort put into being the best he could be in KD as much as Vince Young. That's just me though. Not to mention, Vince propelled the 2005 team to a National Championship and Kevin Durant didn't even make a difference for a conference championship. Then again I might just be not a basketball person and unable to tell anything about the play.

41-38

by inVINCEable on Jul 6, 2007 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I think

we should get over this false modesty nonsense. Vince Young was not just the best player in college football in 2005. He was the best player in college football ever. I can, and will, argue this point with any person for any amount of time necessary. The fact that he did not win the Heisman is a blemish on the Heisman and the media monster that fuels it, not Vince Young.

I have nothing but love and respect for Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, but you will never convince me that those two were more deserving of having their numbers retired than Vince Young. Mind you, Earl and Ricky were very deserving of having their numbers retired. But for every argument one could make on their behalf, I (we) can make an equally strong argument for Vince Young.

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jul 6, 2007 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

What about the Maxwell award?

Granted, it does not garner the hype or recognition of the Heisman, but the Maxwell is a POY award.

Coming from a non-UT fan, it is crazy there even needs to be a discussion about retiring VY's jersey.

by blackdog81 on Jul 6, 2007 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

Awards

The whole idea of using awards as the criteria for retiring jerseys strikes me as dumb. The jersey retirement is in itself an award, perhaps the ultimate, to those at the player's school. What others think about our athletes should have nothing to do with it. The question is what they achieve here and how much we want to glorify them, which depends on how they perform, how they inspire us, and how they represent the best in us. Every school should honor its best, regardless of what awards they win or how their stats compare to players at other schools.

by Caradoc on Jul 6, 2007 12:09 PM CDT reply actions