Not a Sharpe Decision

posted by David Cloninger, 2/04/2009 07:52:00 PM

“You’re simply the best,
Better than all the rest.”
----------- TINA TURNER

The looming question out of Wednesday was not why South Carolina didn’t have more offensive linemen in the class of 2009 (more on that later). It was about an issue that seemed pretty clear-cut in the 57 years previous to Wednesday.

What’s the difference between a retired jersey and a retired number?

Here’s the skinny.

Calhoun County High School stud wide receiver Alshon Jeffery signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, reneging on a verbal pledge to the other USC (the one with all the football national championships) that he made last year. He said he felt close to home with USC, liked what he saw, wanted to be part of history, yada yada yada.

But he also said that a USC coach told him he could wear No. 2, his high school number, although the Gamecocks have not had anybody wear No. 2 since Sterling Sharpe did it in 1987.

It was retired then, and for good reason. Sharpe was the Gamecocks’ greatest all-time receiver until a guy named Kenny McKinley came along.

Here’s where it gets really interesting.

Coach Steve Spurrier said nothing was official – un-retiring Sharpe’s jersey was still in discussion. He also said that most other college programs honor jerseys, not numbers – a retired jersey can still have that number be worn by another player.

Sharpe, when reached by another publication, said he had no idea what the caller was talking about and didn’t permit his number to be un-retired.

Before this gets involved into yet another sordid mess, some things need to be straightened out. First, clear up who said what in recruiting Jeffery, if and what was said to Sharpe, the exact difference between retired jerseys and retired numbers. That will all be decided in the coming weeks.

Here’s my opinion now.

Sharpe’s number should stay untouched. Alshon Jeffery may be the greatest receiver USC has ever seen, but as of right now, he is a high school player, better than most, who has yet to play a down of college ball. He can pick another number.

Sorry.

The four numbers USC has retired have not been worn since their retirement. Regardless of what other schools and other programs do, that should not change.

If Spurrier wants to make a rule that says, from here on, any retired jersey can be worn again, fine, do it, that’s his business. But Nos. 2, 37, 38 and 56 need to stay retired and locked out of the roster, because that’s the right thing to do. They should not be grouped in a rule they had nothing to do with.

The whole point of having a retired number is recognizing the greatest athletes in the program’s history. Steve Wadiak, George Rogers and Sharpe are three of USC’s finest and Mike Johnson, by all accounts, would have been a fourth if not for his tragic death.

USC does not have much football tradition, so no one should suddenly change the small bits it does have. What’s next, calling up the Wadiak and Johnson families and saying, “We’re really not trampling on the memories of your deceased sons, but we need to release this number so we can offer it to this two-star recruit out of Possum Holler.”

Then there’s the potential ego of the player involved. With as many problems as USC has had with star recruits over the years, I don’t think yanking a number out of retirement after at least 22 years and bestowing it on an unproven freshman is the best way to improve a young man’s ability to handle the spotlight. Not saying Jeffery would be one of those kids -- I think he would be mature enough to handle losing a jersey number.

A similar kind of situation came up six years ago. Remember Tray Rogers, George’s son? Linebacker out of Irmo? He signed with USC and George mentioned that he wouldn’t mind if his No. 38 was un-retired and given to his son.

I was all for it. Keeping it in the family would be kind of neat, and who knew if Tray wouldn’t be as good on the defensive side as his old man was on offense?

Well, Tray never played for the Gamecocks because of medical issues, so that was dropped. The four retired numbers have stayed out of action since, as they should have been. It’s one thing to do it for family, a whole another for a player who wasn’t even alive the last time the number he’s trying to wear was worn.

Look, I understand how Jeffery may feel, being attached to a number. My e-mail address still reflects my number (and it is mine, no matter what Babe Ruth would say).

But I’d suggest taking a look at Devan Downey and following his example. Downey wore No. 3 in high school and during his first year at Cincinnati. When he transferred to USC, I asked him if was going to contact BJ McKie, whose No. 3 hangs from the rafters at Colonial Life Arena, for permission to use it.

Downey said he might, but he never did. He did the right thing by leaving No. 3 alone, chose No. 2 and embarked on a stellar career. By the time he’s done, No. 2 might be hanging beside No. 3, giving Downey his own identity.

Sharpe’s identity should remain untouched. If Jeffery blows past Sharpe’s and McKinley’s records, that’s fine – I’ll shut up, admit I was wrong and applaud him.

But that’s four years in the future. For now, Jeffery could have No. 02, No. 22, No. 20, even pick another number that he’s never had, just to prove, like Downey did, he can make his own legacy at USC.

Maybe Jeffery could ask Kenny Miles for No. 31. As I recall, the last high-profile recruit who wore it didn’t pan out too well.

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