|
|
Post by gators1422 on Jan 24, 2014 20:13:52 GMT -6
A little back story, I coach at my alma mater. We as a staff started 3 years ago and have been really successful (36-3). We had a kid who was the player of the year in Florida last year. He set season and career records for the school so we retired his jersey. So a year later our QB is in basically the same boat. He went 43-6 as a starting QB and set school records. We want it to mean something to retire a jersey and this kid deserves it. What do you guys think? Its up to the coaching staff.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachg13 on Jan 24, 2014 21:24:48 GMT -6
43-6? That's it? If he's got all the records that helped a team be that successful I'd say he's pretty deserving.
|
|
|
|
Post by cvaughan598 on Jan 24, 2014 22:18:22 GMT -6
We don't "retire" jerseys... But you better be DAMN GOOD to where #21 or #8 at our school.
|
|
|
|
Post by footballscout on Jan 25, 2014 0:55:24 GMT -6
Personally not a fan of retiring jerseys or having "special" numbers.
Putting certain kids above the program at times with these underlying you better be this or that to wear this jersey.
Just my two cents.
|
|
jmg999
Junior Member
Posts: 263
|
Post by jmg999 on Jan 25, 2014 3:06:34 GMT -6
I'd be careful at the high school level. Before you know it, you'll be handing out jerseys w/ triple-digits on 'em.
|
|
|
|
Post by gators1422 on Jan 25, 2014 6:52:14 GMT -6
It is kind of a slippery slope. The 1st kid was player of the year in the state. It had never been done at the school so we thought OK. Well a year later the QB is the same thing, so its like we did it last year. Not really complaining, its a good problem to have. I know we will have to do it again in 2 years because we have a sophomore who is a 2 time all state kid now. He will graduate with every offensive record and interception record we have, and probably be a 4 time all state kid. Just wondering how you guys thought you might handle it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2014 7:06:36 GMT -6
I've only seen it done out of remembrance if a kid passed away or couldn't play due to unfortunate circumstances but was a kid who the school and coaching staff felt deserved the honor. If you're going to do it based solely on play, I would draft a list of requirements that is set in stone to avoid "favoritism" criticism.
|
|
|
|
Post by jlenwood on Jan 25, 2014 7:12:52 GMT -6
Why not retire "a" jersey instead of their jersey. Maybe a jersey with, instead of the number on the back, you have an enlarged mascot loge along with their name across the top like you normaly would have it. This way you can have a sort of football hall of fame, or ring of honor type of event with the jersey being represented with the kids name on it. Doesn't necessarily have to have a number.
|
|
|
|
Post by k on Jan 25, 2014 8:57:57 GMT -6
Nope. I want the opposite. I want to be able to tell the Robby Schmidt who puts on #6 that many of the greatest players in the program's history have worn that jersey: Robert Smith, Bob Smitty, Rob Smidt. Whatever. I want to link them to the program's history from the day they put on that jersey. I want them to know that after they graduate and I hand that #6 jersey to Bert Goldsmith that I will be telling Bert about the many great players who have worn that jersey in the past including Robby.
Hall of Fame ideas? Sure. Retired numbers? Nope.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachd5085 on Jan 25, 2014 9:34:03 GMT -6
A little back story, I coach at my alma mater. We as a staff started 3 years ago and have been really successful (36-3). We had a kid who was the player of the year in Florida last year. He set season and career records for the school so we retired his jersey. So a year later our QB is in basically the same boat. He went 43-6 as a starting QB and set school records. We want it to mean something to retire a jersey and this kid deserves it. What do you guys think? Its up to the coaching staff. Ugh.. sounds like the Genie is out of the bottle. My first comment is to politely mention that the kid in question did not go 43-6. The team went 43-6, with this player as a member of the team. None of these players achieved these accomplishments in a vacuum. I think this might demonstrate for other coaches a reason to NOT retire a jersey based on a player being a fantastic player. As jmg999 mentioned, at the HS level you have opened yourself up for some pesky parental complaining. While my first instinct was to say leave it to others, and just have a policy of retiring State Player of the year, I then realized not many OL or DL ever win such awards. I can't really help you out with advice here, but I can say congrats on the great success, AND point out some hazards to other coaches considering to do the same. |
|
|
|
Post by kylem56 on Jan 25, 2014 13:59:06 GMT -6
Nope. I want the opposite. I want to be able to tell the Robby Schmidt who puts on #6 that many of the greatest players in the program's history have worn that jersey: Robert Smith, Bob Smitty, Rob Smidt. Whatever. I want to link them to the program's history from the day they put on that jersey. I want them to know that after they graduate and I hand that #6 jersey to Bert Goldsmith that I will be telling Bert about the many great players who have worn that jersey in the past including Robby. Hall of Fame ideas? Sure. Retired numbers? Nope. I agree with this philosophy. There is a program in the same county as us who gives each kid a list of previous players who wore their number so they understand the tradition and responsibility that comes with wearing that jersey. |
|
|
|
Post by huthuthut on Jan 25, 2014 14:10:32 GMT -6
Our school had retired one jersey when I got there. He was a HS stud, played very successfully at the NCAA and NFL level.
Later we had 2-3 more that probably had as good careers as the first. I told them we couldn't retire those numbers because we had three very good players wearing them currently. We decided that the first jersey would be the only number we would retire. All other retirements are just jerseys. They are framed and hung in our gym.
For some reason #19 has had more than its fair share of studs. And I never order #1. Seems like most of the kids that wear them are turds. And every year the highest maintenance kids we have are the ones that ask "why don't we have a #1 jersey. That's my number".
|
|
|
|
Post by fantom on Jan 25, 2014 14:49:11 GMT -6
Nope. I want the opposite. I want to be able to tell the Robby Schmidt who puts on #6 that many of the greatest players in the program's history have worn that jersey: Robert Smith, Bob Smitty, Rob Smidt. Whatever. I want to link them to the program's history from the day they put on that jersey. I want them to know that after they graduate and I hand that #6 jersey to Bert Goldsmith that I will be telling Bert about the many great players who have worn that jersey in the past including Robby. Hall of Fame ideas? Sure. Retired numbers? Nope. I agree with this philosophy. There is a program in the same county as us who gives each kid a list of previous players who wore their number so they understand the tradition and responsibility that comes with wearing that jersey. How about if a number, let's say #65, has been worn by a succession of stiffs? |
|
|
|
Post by kylem56 on Jan 25, 2014 15:01:34 GMT -6
I agree with this philosophy. There is a program in the same county as us who gives each kid a list of previous players who wore their number so they understand the tradition and responsibility that comes with wearing that jersey. How about if a number, let's say #65, has been worn by a succession of stiffs? then talk to them about being different. or burn the damn thing |
|
|
|
Post by mariner42 on Jan 25, 2014 15:14:30 GMT -6
My alma mater has one retired jersey, #60, to honor someone who passed away before his jr year. I think that's pretty much the standard that I'd set for retiring jerseys.
I'll agree with the folks who go the opposite direction and make jersey numbers special because that's what I believed in as a player. For me, if you're wearing #42 for my alma mater, you better be an awesome LB because that's the tradition for that number. I think numbers having traditions is one of those things that makes each player unique.
|
|
|
|
Post by slvcoach on Jan 25, 2014 16:21:37 GMT -6
I've only been involved in retiring a jersey as a coach once. It was for an athlete that joined the US Army after his high school graduation. A great athlete. When his 4-year commitment was done he came back to play on the semi-pro team that I now had coached after my high school coaching days were done. He then re-opted into the Army after playing a few weeks because of 9/11. He was the first casualty of the 10th Mountain Division fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan while we were officially fighting in Irag. It was later learned he was killed by "friendly fire" in a cross-fire while fighting the Taliban. I had his jersey retired and it will be the only way I believe a jersey should be retired - when a man who was a great athlete in his community's eyes gives his life for his country.
|
|
|
|
Post by blb on Jan 25, 2014 16:36:22 GMT -6
Don't do it.
Except for example as slvcoach posted.
|
|
|
|
Post by 19holmes on Jan 26, 2014 12:36:01 GMT -6
At my school we never retired jerseys. We did something I thought was pretty cool.
We had a former coach that was at our school forever and he would come in before the first game and tell great stories of former players based on the number they wore.
Got the kids excited for the season and reminded them of the great tradition of our high school program.
He would talk about everything, unforgettable blocks, a freshman coming in after a jv game and scoring 4 td's, sportsmanship, anything you could think of that comes to mind when you think of small school football.
|
|
|
|
Post by spos21ram on Jan 26, 2014 13:21:17 GMT -6
I'm also against retiring jersey numbers at the high school level....and college. Tradition is a huge focal point in HS, or at least should be. It should be an honor for players to wear the number of past greats. A great example is #44 for Syracuse.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by fantom on Jan 26, 2014 14:21:55 GMT -6
I'm also against retiring jersey numbers at the high school level....and college. Tradition is a huge focal point in HS, or at least should be. It should be an honor for players to wear the number of past greats. A great example is #44 for Syracuse. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using proboards Even that can be tricky if you get a "legend in his own mind" whose dad wants to know why he didn't get the stud number. |
|
|
|
Post by veerman on Jan 26, 2014 17:53:08 GMT -6
retiring jersey or number? Know schools who display a kids jersey with his accomplishments and a action picture, but kids still wear the number when they get new jerseys.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachbb on Jan 26, 2014 18:04:56 GMT -6
I would never retire a jersey number at the high school level for play on the field.
Now, a situation like slvcoach- maybe.
I would also consider it if my school produced an NFL HOF caliber player. But those kinds of decisions are made wayyyy into the future.
|
|
|
|
Post by k on Jan 29, 2014 6:49:40 GMT -6
I'm also against retiring jersey numbers at the high school level....and college. Tradition is a huge focal point in HS, or at least should be. It should be an honor for players to wear the number of past greats. A great example is #44 for Syracuse. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using proboards Even that can be tricky if you get a "legend in his own mind" whose dad wants to know why he didn't get the stud number. Simple. There are no "Stud Numbers." You get what number you get: Players pick by lifetime number of "enter helmet award sticker name here." This factors in both seniority (sticker for team wins), dedication (stickers for meeting off season lifting requirements), effort in practice (stickers for each coach's practice player of the week), performance (stickers for players of the game), academics (stickers for making honor, and service (stickers awarded for X community service hours, hours done as part of our team service projects count double). Also it gives a very clear answer to your parent's question. Kids want THEIR number. They might have had it since youth ball or maybe it was their dad/brother's number or their favorite NFL player's number. They won't change numbers after they get one unless it is the number they had in youth ball that an upper class-man had previously. I've never had a kid come in and say "Oh I just have to have #18 because graduating senior Sammy Smith had it last year and he was a beast!" Most incoming freshman have no idea who wore what number last year. We get a lot of former players who come by practice and attend games regularly. They almost always will want to find who has their number now. I almost always tell them they should go introduce themselves and tell little Freddy the Freshman about "our number" and its history. I've had former players disappointed that no one was wearing their old jersey. |
|
|
|
Post by coach2013 on Jan 29, 2014 7:16:41 GMT -6
I think you go the route that Syracuse went. Don't retire the number, instead make it mean something to wear that number. Much more honorable. "this year, Joe Wilson will wear #44, you have big shoes to fill"
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bennett on Jan 31, 2014 13:10:01 GMT -6
We retire a jersey every year...for one year only. Here's what it says...
---------------------------------------------
With all of the activities competing for today’s athletes’ valuable time, we want to recognize an athlete who has made football his priority.
This award is given to the football player who has made a complete commitment to the sport of football.
He has made personal sacrifices to further his football
career and to promote the success of the team.
He is a leader of high moral character whose actions speak for themselves. This player is the very definition of what xxxxx Football represents.
To honor this player, we will retire his jersey for one
season.
For the 2014 football season no player will wear the
number X.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachb23 on Feb 4, 2014 11:06:46 GMT -6
We retire a jersey every year...for one year only. Here's what it says... --------------------------------------------- With all of the activities competing for today’s athletes’ valuable time, we want to recognize an athlete who has made football his priority. This award is given to the football player who has made a complete commitment to the sport of football. He has made personal sacrifices to further his football career and to promote the success of the team. He is a leader of high moral character whose actions speak for themselves. This player is the very definition of what xxxxx Football represents. To honor this player, we will retire his jersey for one season. For the 2014 football season no player will wear the number X. I do like this. Other than this idea, I know of a school that does a Wall of Honor and list the number of players who made great legacies at the school. I personally would only retire a number was if they had a player make it to the NFL, because I think that's a great accomplishment and doesn't happen very often. I agree that if you do not make the criteria to retire a number strenuousenough, you can run out of numbers pretty quick at the high school level. |
|
|
|
Post by Coach_O on Feb 7, 2014 10:08:03 GMT -6
I hate the school, but love what Michigan does with "Legend" jerseys.
|
|
|
|
Post by nickferguson58 on Feb 11, 2014 10:47:45 GMT -6
I love the idea of retiring a number for one year. I would say you must make the standards strict and absolute. Not an opinion on who is the best, but a statistical measure of who was most dedicated, successful (attendance, captainship, stickers, etc.)
I also like wall of fame. At my former high school, any player who plays in college has a picture of them in their college uniform hung on a special wall in the field house. I also like having a wooden jersey with the player's name on it somewhere in the stadium.
The "special" numbers for only good players can't be an official thing but will definitely happen unofficially. It can be a bad thing though. At my old high school, #7 and #33 were the two "legend" #'s. Well one family had 4 sons all wear #33. The oldest 2 played D1 football and the third was 1st team all state. Well the 4th one comes along and he is still a good athlete but not the football player the other 3 were. Starter on a State Champion Basketball team, played college basketball, and was a 2 year football starter but by no means an impact player. Well I hear his mom yell at him one day after a practice and she tells him that he "is a disgrace to that number and doesn't deserve to wear it." WOW....
|
|
|
|
Post by macdiiddy on Feb 13, 2014 23:20:32 GMT -6
We haven't retired a jersey, but I like the idea of adding a patch to the jersey like the University of Michigan does.   |
|
|
|
Post by IronmanFootball on Feb 19, 2014 7:12:49 GMT -6
Can't you just make a "ring of honor" type deal? Keep wearing the # but everyone sees the ring of honor? I've considered that if we ever had someone who earned it!
|
|
