Retired Numbers

MI Falcon · Post by **MI Falcon** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:39 pm

Just curious why we haven't retired any numbers, ie guys like Harris, Casey, McClure or in other sports for instance Keith or Blake? I think there are these few special athletes that come through a school like ours and they deserve this honor. BEAT TOLEDO!

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:53 pm

Probably because there could be arguments made for alot of people to have their numbers retired. I agree that some stand out alot more than others, but where do you draw the line? I think retired numbers at the collegiate level should be the absolute HIGHEST honor. Though I also think there should be a more visible "hall of fame" display in each arena for the players like those you mentioned. They're all at the ice arena, but for individual sports, it would be cool to take "the best of the best" and honor them in some way. Either with a larger picture in the lobby/concession area, or banners, while not "officially" taking the number out of service.

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:58 pm

Bowling Green Football has retired one number, Paul Miles' #29
Valid Arguments for IMO:: Bernie Casey, Brian McClure, Martin Bayless perhaps?

Hoops just one number #42 Nate Thurmond
Valid Arguments for IMO:: Howard Komives, Anthony Stacey,

Hockey has what, #9-George, "don't call me Doug", McPhee, #19- Nelson Emerson & Brian Holzinger
Valid Arguments for IMO:: #3- Rob Blake

I like that we don't go all "new york yankees" and retire all kinds of numbers. The bar is set pretty high at Bowling Green to have your number put on the shelf and I think that is pretty cool..

MI Falcon · Post by **MI Falcon** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:59 pm

That makes sense. I think the Ice Arena was a nice venue for the hall of fame 10 years ago, now the games aren't as big a draw. Therefore the students don't know of many of our former great athletes. The new athletic center will be a perfect place for it. I still believe there are those certain special individuals that should be honored.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:16 pm

Dayons_Den wrote:Bowling Green Football has retired one number, Paul Miles' #29

Hoops just one number #42 Nate Thurmond

Hockey has what, #9-Doug McPhee, #19- Nelson Emerson & Brian Holzinger, #3- Rob Blake. . .

I like that we don't go all "new york yankees" and retire all kinds of numbers. The bar is set pretty high at Bowling Green to have your number put on the shelf and I think that is pretty cool..

...um, that would be GEORGE McPhee. And Blake's number is not retired. Don Morrison is wearing it this year.

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:19 pm

yikes i have actually met the man too.... got to meet him at the old capital centre right when became the GM of the Caps. . .

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:28 pm

At the rate Omarvelous is going.....

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:30 pm

I think if you retire McCLure, you need to retire Harris. His numbers were just as freaky.

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:36 pm

Flipper wrote:I think if you retire McCLure, you need to retire Harris. His numbers were just as freaky.

Were they though? McClure set a few NCAA records, right? I mean I know Harris was off the charts and I'm not trying to put him down in any way, but I just remember this aura around McClure and his greatness. My brown #18 jersey was the first of a specific player that I ever owned. . .

MI Falcon · Post by **MI Falcon** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:01 pm

I really think Josh would be just as deserving for no other reason then he was the catalyst along with Urban that brought us back to the top. Plus he numbers were decent.....

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:45 pm

McClure came close to setting the NCAA passing record (career yards) but I don't think he ever did catch Doug Flutie.

Don't get me wrong, McCLure was the MAN when I was a student, but Harris' 4600+ yards of total offense last year (a MAC record) along witht he national ranking and bowl win make him just as deserving a candidate as McClure.

If you retire Josh, then you have to look at Erik White....

kdog27 · Post by **kdog27** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:35 am

Dayons_Den wrote:
Flipper wrote:I think if you retire McCLure, you need to retire Harris. His numbers were just as freaky.
Were they though? McClure set a few NCAA records, right? I mean I know Harris was off the charts and I'm not trying to put him down in any way, but I just remember this aura around McClure and his greatness. My brown #18 jersey was the first of a specific player that I ever owned. . .

Also numbers now are a littled skewed. The fact that we played a 12 game season the previou 2 years sand they now count post season statistics for the whole season. Harris had close to 3800 yards passing last year but he had 14 games to do it with the addition of the MACC, bowl game and a 12 game schedule. McClure's numbers were and still are awesome. His numbers are representative of an 11 game season while Harris's were 12+

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:37 am

This thread shows why we should be very, very careful about retiring numbers.

I wouldn't have a problem with retiring Rob Blake's number... but keep in mind, he did leave us a year early.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:38 am

Flipper wrote:McClure came close to setting the NCAA passing record (career yards) but I don't think he ever did catch Doug Flutie.

Don't get me wrong, McCLure was the MAN when I was a student, but Harris' 4600+ yards of total offense last year (a MAC record) along witht he national ranking and bowl win make him just as deserving a candidate as McClure.

If you retire Josh, then you have to look at Erik White....

This is what I was getting at earlier. Its a "chain reaction of greatness". As it looks now, if you retire Josh, you're going to have to retire Omar, and what happens if Turner is as good as advertised for his apparent two year term? There comes a point where you have to draw a line, and that line is so gray that I'm not sure it CAN be drawn. Look at the line of receivers even since 1990 that would be deserving in a "trickle-down" effect.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:38 am

That's true, but McCLure played a full or close to full season as a true freshman with a championship supporting cast. Harris played a few games as a TB/QB on a Godawful team.

I'm by no means saying that McClure isn't entitled, I'm simply stating the belief that Harris is equally worthy