Two days ago, Syracuse “Restored 44” and it seemed like the status of the 44 jersey changed and the number would be back in circulation. Many fans liked this change, but there were opponents. Namely, Donovan McNabb.
Now, if McNabb were just a former player his comments may not carry much weight. Even if he were the player of his caliber. But McNabb isn’t just a player. He is a Board of Trustee member. Is it possible that his critique of the 44 jersey use changed the University’s position? Yes, but maybe unlikely.
So why would a decision that was clearly announced as: Players will be able to wear #44 again. Get changed now to: We didn’t really mean it, and “extraordinary talent” has been able to wear the number the whole time.
I’m not quite sure, and the hypocrisy is pretty worrying. I know at the end of the day it is just a number that we are talking about, but the fact that the athletic department folds so quickly to public pressure AND tries to say that what they announced two days ago wasn’t really what they announced… that’s troubling.
Of course, the athletic department is in a state of distress with an interim Athletic Director running the ship. But all the other people working in the athletic department are the same people who worked there day-to-day before Gross resigned, and likely are some of the same people who will be working there when a new Athletic Director is hired.
Remember how many people were excited that 44 was put back into circulation on Tuesday? Something we (and others) said was basically righting a wrong decision that Daryl made a decade ago. Why go back because there is a small dissenting group? No decision is going to be 100% praise. If people don’t like the new Athletic Director, will the school go back two days later and hire a new one? Don’t think so, but on a smaller scale, that’s basically what SU did here.
Posted By: Seth Goldberg
5 responses to “Syracuse‚Äôs 44 Flip-Flop”
I agree it is a mess. Two days ago when they mentioned that they were bringing # 44 back for a player to wear I was happy as a lark. What has the new chancellor said about this? I guess Cantor and Gross got what they wanted all along and that was to destroy something that was good. 2015 will be the last for me to support the football team. I guess it just shows the rest of us that this adminstration is not going to support the football program. How sad,I mean really Donovan McNabb. Please give me a break.
yeah I agree
I mean what a disaster a football team without a 44 on the field. Easily cost syracuse 40 wins over the past 10 years it is just disgusting.
I mean that loser mcnabb having an opinion doesn’t he know that he doesn’t get an opinion. To be a true SU fan and a person that can give an opinion you either have to start a terrible blog or have 10,000 posts on a message board. McNabb doesn’t have either of those. Blind loyalty is the most important thing not personal opinion.
Although Jim Brown likes it and his opinion is like god talking I mean he roughed up his wife so his opinion should be like a new passage in the bible when he talks.
and 44 clearly was destroyed by gross I mean imagine how things would be different had they not retired it. GRob would probably still be the coach, likely coming off another conference championship and possibly his 4/5 national championship. Instead….3 and 9 with freaking scott shafer has the hc. Truly a disaster.
What I do find is that ‘fans’ love to talk about the legacy of 44 but the fact is the legacy is about 50 years retired whether you want to admit it or now. Three guys are legends and the other 22 just wore the number is all.
I mean jojo morasco wore 22….did he carry on the powell legacy? heck no the powell legacy is what it is there is no carry over no matter what number a guy wears. Washington can wear 44 or 22 and it won’t matter he will not be in the mold of those three legends.
Hey, just wanted to throw out there. I am not set on one side of this or the other, and personally, I don’t really care whether the number is worn or not. If they want to have a player wear 44, that’s great. If SU doesn’t want someone to wear it, that’s fine. My problem, and what I was writing about, is that the way Syracuse has handled it looks bad. Say something and stick to it. Don’t jump back and forth. All they did was create a lot of confusion. -SG
I also really couldn’t care less if someone wears it or not
I am not one of those people who will cry if they see it lol.
I am totally over the number in general there were three legends, they happen to wear the same number…..thats it. some guy wearing the number doesn’t mean a thing to me.
Tebow,Tebow,Tebow;
Your quote “I am totally over the number in general there were three legends”. They were Jim Brown,Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. Jezz I’m telling you that never seize to amaze me. You using the words “three legends”. You chastised the living hell out of me the other day for calling Jim Brown a living legend. Are you ok? What the hell are you smoking man? Make up your mind please,is Jim Brown a “LIVING” legend or not?