Should Alabama Football Retire Numbers?

[BamaBoySince89]

I came across this from SDS. I wouldn’t be totally opposed but I think Saban is more about the team as a whole than individual players. It’s a fact that Devonta Smith is easily the most decorated player in Alabama history. Could this happen some years down the road?

Link

 

[AlistarWills]

No

 

[JustNeedMe81]

No.

 

[B1GTide]

Temporarily, for 5 or 10 years, as an honor, sure. Permanently - I just don't see how a school like Alabama could.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

No

 

[Tubafore]

I would vote, if they go a retirement route, for retiring the jersey, so the combination of Smith and 6, Henry and 2, Harris and 22, etc.

There are just not that many available numbers in the game with the various numbering rules, like linemen and being numbered 50-79.

 

[Special K]

Never

 

[rolltd]

Absolutely NO. They already wear duplicates Not enough #'s

 

[TideEngineer08]

Nope.

Numbers are actually a recruiting tool. No need in limiting yourself. Do a ring of honor around the stadium (though we’d run out of room fast). Something like that.

 

[81usaf92]

I say 22 and 6 should be retired but that’s about it. I think with how great we are evolving as an offensive juggernaut we probably shouldn’t retire every Heisman number because we are bound to get more. Mark was our first and Devonta is an extremely special Heisman so they get my vote. I still think every Heisman should get a statue around the stadium. But ultimately Bama is a program based upon team accomplishments not individual awards. But Mark and Devonta are extremely special players.

 

[TideFan in AU]

No! Bama is bigger than any one player. That’s no disrespect to any player, and I imagine the vast majority of them would feel that way.

 

[TideFan in AU]

I say 22 and 6 should be retired but that’s about it. I think with how great we are evolving as an offensive juggernaut we probably shouldn’t retire every Heisman number because we are bound to get more. Mark was our first and Devonta is an extremely special Heisman so they get my vote. I still think every Heisman should get a statue around the stadium. But ultimately Bama is a program based upon team accomplishments not individual awards. But Mark and Devonta are extremely special players.

Not that I disagree with Mark or Devonta’s importance, I’d argue that we do not win 2015 without Henry. Would we have won 2009 without Mark, and 2020 without Devonta? I’m not sure. I doubt it, but there is no doubt in mind that we absolutely do not win 2015 without Derrick.

That’s the rub for me with retiring numbers. There’s too many great players to choose from over the years.

 

[bamacon]

NCAA would have to allow LETTERS, or Decimals, FRACTIONS or something else quick! Too much talent coming through to be PROCESSED BABY!!!! RTR!

There is more to TRADITION than anything else. Change nothing or than adding something for our Heisman Trophy winners.

 

[Padreruf]

No...just put great players into a HOF and leave it at that...get's too messy otherwise. And often the privilege of wearing a great player's number -- 12, 22, 6 55 etc...motivates one.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

No

 

[Tide Rev]

No. The honor some get is the hands and a foot at Denny Chimes. That is enough and unique to us.

 

[The Ols]

I like Tubafore’s idea of retiring jerseys and not numbers...

Smith
6

Henry
2

etc...

It’d be pretty hard to duplicate a name and a number that deserved that honor...and the numbers would always be available to a current player.

 

[jabcmb]

Going to be a long off season.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

Nah.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

Going to be a long off season.

It always is.