The uniform number once worn by some of college football’s best players to come through the Syracuse pipeline will be back in season this fall. Today Syracuse announced the No. 44 jersey will be worn once again, with the number coming out of retirement.
Syracuse athletics director Pete Sala announced the decision today with Floyd Little by his side. Little is one of three Syracuse products most known for wearing the No. 44 jersey, with Jim Brown and Ernie Davis being the others. The uniform number was retired in 2005 by former Syracuse AD Daryl Gross, and some Syracuse fans might suggest to you the program has gone downward ever since. Bad karma at play? Or just bad football being played? You decide.
“We know it was the right thing to do,” Sala said of bringing the uniform back.
It is undetermined which Syracuse football player will be given the honor of wearing the number, nor have Syracuse officials discussed how it will be determined just yet. But it is going to be worn. By somebody. For Syracuse. What Sala did say was there will be a small committee put together to determine which player gets the uniform, and Little will be on the committee. One can only hope this committee gets a weekly TV show to reveal to the viewers which player gets to wear the jersey, although the jersey looks to be a season-long recognition and honor.It’s back pic.twitter.com/gZAXOztdwd
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) May 19, 2015