Retiring Jerseys/Numbers

[True blue (and gold)]

My athletic director and I recently had a discussion about this. What do you think the criteria should be for retiring a jersey and/or number?

 

Please feel free to give examples of what schools that you know require, but also what you think it should personally consist of. I'm interested in opinions!

[ColonelMike]

Hi, True Blue!

 

Tell Frank I'm hurt he didn't ask my opinion... :lol:

 

Seriously, I don't think there can be a set criteria for retiring numbers. Retiring numbers is the ultimate honor in sports where players have unique numbers. If truly retired - meaning nobody will use the numbers ever again at the school - this honor should be reserved for extremely special circumstances.

 

For that reason, I view it as being somewhat subjective. The honoree should stand out as an athlete - they might set records, or lead the team to state tournaments, or become pros....but I don't think any of these should be ironclad "requirements". And - while I can't really cite any particular cases off the top of my head - I know some schools have honored former athletes in this manner for other "above and beyond" reasons that may not even be athletically oriented.

 

On a more somber note, I know of players whose numbers were retired when the players tragically died during their HS career.

 

And the standard may vary by school... Bottom-line is we're talking about special people. I just don't think you can quantify "special" by coming up with a checklist of requirements.

[gold sunrise]

Hi, True Blue!

 

Tell Frank I'm hurt he didn't ask my opinion... :lol:

 

Seriously, I don't think there can be a set criteria for retiring numbers. Retiring numbers is the ultimate honor in sports where players have unique numbers. If truly retired - meaning nobody will use the numbers ever again at the school - this honor should be reserved for extremely special circumstances.

 

For that reason, I view it as being somewhat subjective. The honoree should stand out as an athlete - they might set records, or lead the team to state tournaments, or become pros....but I don't think any of these should be ironclad "requirements". And - while I can't really cite any particular cases off the top of my head - I know some schools have honored former athletes in this manner for other "above and beyond" reasons that may not even be athletically oriented.

 

On a more somber note, I know of players whose numbers were retired when the players tragically died during their HS career.

 

And the standard may vary by school... Bottom-line is we're talking about special people. I just don't think you can quantify "special" by coming up with a checklist of requirements.

 

I agree. My husband had his retired at his high school, he played college ball. At GRC in 1998 we had a football player in a very bad car accident. He is now in a wheelchair and paralyzed from the waist down. His # to my knowledge is retired. I do know that his # hangs on the fieldhouse. Each case should be reviewed on their own merit.

[day tripper]

Trinity has retired two jersey numbers in football, both of which won the Mr. Football Award, Jeff and Brian Brohm.

[Commander 25]

Trinity has retired two jersey numbers in football, both of which won the Mr. Football Award, Jeff and Brian Brohm.

 

That is a good reason. I really don't think that they should be retired unless they are very special cirmunstances. IMO

[Voice of Reason]

I don't think high schools should retire player numbers. If a high school really wants to do it, then the criteria should be unparalleled accomplishments in high school AND even greater accomplishments after high school. I can think of nothing a high school athlete can accomplish in high school that is great enough to warrant retiring a number.

[Ram]

I'm with VOR, I don't think high schools should retire numbers. Now, displaying a player's jersey, that has accomplished great things in high school and after high school, I think is acceptable.

 

Now, criteria for displaying a players jersey, I think would be a long the lines of having an unparalleled high school career, leading rushing in the state, leading receiver in the state, Mr. Football, and/or, having a great college career after high school, or making it to the NFL. Those would be reasons to me, to display a players jersey.

 

But, I don't think you have a set in stone list of reasons to honor a player, it depends on the situation. Every situation has to be judged on it's own merits. What may be a big accomplishment now, may not be such a huge accomplishment in 20 years. And what was a huge accomplishment 40 years ago, may not seem that huge now. You have to look at the situation in every instance.

[True blue (and gold)]

I can agree with possibly never retiring numbers or at least limiting it to extremely seldom circumstances.

 

However, one of our local rival schools has an area outside of their gym where they have displayed the jerseys (along with photos and lists of accomplishments) of former standouts. To me, when I walk in there, I get a sense of nostalgia and feel that the school wants to honor those players and encourage the best our of future athletes.

[True blue (and gold)]

Trinity has retired two jersey numbers in football, both of which won the Mr. Football Award, Jeff and Brian Brohm.

 

Have they retired the jerseys of others?

[RyleRAID34]

Ryle football has retired two numbers - I know one was retired because the player died in an accident right after his jurnior year in football not sure about the other one. The basketball team retired Justin Dollman's jersey # and I think they have retired Kirsten Allen's # in softball. She holds a lot of state records, was Ms. Softball - Gatorade Player of the year - and is currently playing at Oklahoma.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I'm with VOR, I don't think high schools should retire numbers. Now, displaying a player's jersey, that has accomplished great things in high school and after high school, I think is acceptable.

 

Now, criteria for displaying a players jersey, I think would be a long the lines of having an unparalleled high school career, leading rushing in the state, leading receiver in the state, Mr. Football, and/or, having a great college career after high school, or making it to the NFL. Those would be reasons to me, to display a players jersey.

 

I completely agree with VOR and Ram. I am all for displaying jerseys if the circumstance is warranted, but actually retiring just isn't necessary in my opinion.

[PepRock01]

I don't think high schools should retire player numbers. If a high school really wants to do it, then the criteria should be unparalleled accomplishments in high school AND even greater accomplishments after high school. I can think of nothing a high school athlete can accomplish in high school that is great enough to warrant retiring a number.

 

This is where I fall.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the Brohms but I don't think either brother should have had his number retired.

[PepRock01]

Have they retired the jerseys of others?

 

 

Not that I am aware of.

[extackler]

I don't think high schools should retire player numbers. If a high school really wants to do it, then the criteria should be unparalleled accomplishments in high school AND even greater accomplishments after high school. I can think of nothing a high school athlete can accomplish in high school that is great enough to warrant retiring a number.

 

I agree!

[getalife]

What if a player excels in his/her sport but is not what one would consider a good citizen or is not looked upon as a positive role model. Should that prohibit his/her jersey from being displayed or number being retired?