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The Next Retired Number

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bkochmc;1230974; said:
The triangular-looking monument in front of Ohio Stadium is the Jesse Owens Memorial.

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Every time I see that thing, I can't help but think that's a terrible tribute to Jesse Owens.

A statue would have been far more fitting. I bet you less than 5% of the people who pass that by know what it is.
 
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rocketman;1231008; said:
Every time I see that thing, I can't help but think that's a terrible tribute to Jesse Owens.

A statue would have been far more fitting. I bet you less than 5% of the people who pass that by know what it is.
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I attended every OSU home game for 5 straight years. Then after I graduated I learned what that was on this message board.
 
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shetuck;1230996; said:
Not for me... if everybody whose name and jersey number is up there was there necessarily/exclusively because they won the heisman trophy, then they'd just change the title of the thing to "OSU Heisman Trophy winners".

Winning a Heisman is ONE way of getting your name on the list for consideration. There are many other factors which, in a context other than sheer/recognized athletic sumpremacy, can make an individual's memory worthy of being enshrined in the 'Shoe.

This isn't pointed at you directly general, but imo, there shouldn't be any questions about why #99 is up there. If anybody has them, they need to reflect more deeply on the reasons behind Gene Smith calling Bill Willis "the Ultimate Buckeye" and saying that retiring his jersey "is a way to salute not just the Willis family, but the Buckeye program overall."
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I wasn't as clear as I meant to be. I thought about including a comment along the lines of "someone who distinguishes themselves as a great person on or off the Ohio Stadium field", but couldn't find the right way to word it. I am in no way saying that Willis does not deserve the honor. I think it was a great tribute, and I'm glad it happened during his lifetime. What I meant was that Willis' inclusion is not within the criteria previously prescribed. From Coach Tressel's website:

To have a number retired, a player must have graduated from Ohio State, or have been in good academic standing upon departure from OSU, in the case of leaving early for a professional career. He also must have won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Associated Press Player of the Year Award, the Football Writers Player of the Year Award, or the American Football Coaches Player of the Year Award.
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To my knowledge, Willis did not win any of the awards listed. In Harley's case, he did not have the chance to win those awards, so the exception was made. My comments were not in regards to Mr. Willis, but more to the talk of including players like Pace and Spielman, who were undoubtedly great players, but did not transcend the sport as the current members did, IMO. As someone pointed out, the Buckeye Hall of Fame honors those players, there is no lack of appreciation for the numerous great players in OSU history. I believe that the ring of honor should be limited to the select few players who's accomplishments not only exemplify excellence at The Ohio State University, but define it.
 
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- After I posted, I remembered Bill Willis's #99 was already retired.

- As for Owens, I am in the camp that he already has a statue and a stadium. I could understand Owens's inclusion off to the side near one of the towers on the open end, although (for me) it makes little sense now given the track is no longer in the Shoe.
 
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rocketman;1231008; said:
Every time I see that thing, I can't help but think that's a terrible tribute to Jesse Owens.

A statue would have been far more fitting. I bet you less than 5% of the people who pass that by know what it is.
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And I just now found out what that thing was. I always thought it was a piece of art maybe an OSU student/grad did.
 
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I don't disagree with any of the arguments presented, but it seems to me that Owens is in a class of his own. First of all he was a world class athlete, way beyond national achievement. Then consider the length his records remained as world marks and the fact that he achieved them before he really had the time to fully mature as an athlete. Lastly, no synthetic running surface, no starting blocks and leather shoes.
 
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If the track were still co-located with the football stadium I'd probably have more of an issue saying no. That said, Owens was a track star and has the track stadium named for him. While the monument outside of the Shoe isn't exactly the most descriptive, it IS a monument to him (yes I knew that before this thread :biggrin: ).....

The next number to be retired will be the #10 likely followed (hopefully) by the #28.....The ring should be manned by people who redefined their position or were found to be the player deemed most valuable during the regular season. That means Pace should be there too IMO. Not so much on Speilman or even JL.....while both are and have been great players they didn't redefine their position. Pace did. Willis did. Chic Harley should have the Heisman named after him. That kind of stuff.....
 
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Just to be old fart stubborn, Jim Parker needs to be mentioned in the same breath as Orlando Pace and John Hicks. And what about Esco Sarkarein, All American end and then the scout Woody relied upon throughout his career?

OR perhaps more could be done to revitalize the Buckeye Grove -- does it even still exsist? Properly placed and landscaped, the grove could honor those who didn't play a "Heisman position." Started as a neat idea, the grove was beginning to turn seedy by the end of the sixties as land grew scarce near the stadium. I've walked into the stadium from the Oval, right past the area where the grove used to be and haven't even noticed it.
 
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cincibuck;1231715; said:
Just to be old fart stubborn, Jim Parker needs to be mentioned in the same breath as Orlando Pace and John Hicks. And what about Esco Sarkarein, All American end and then the scout Woody relied upon throughout his career?

OR perhaps more could be done to revitalize the Buckeye Grove -- does it even still exsist? Properly placed and landscaped, the grove could honor those who didn't play a "Heisman position." Started as a neat idea, the grove was beginning to turn seedy by the end of the sixties as land grew scarce near the stadium. I've walked into the stadium from the Oval, right past the area where the grove used to be and haven't even noticed it.
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The buckeye grove is just west of where the new outdoor tennis courts are. they have actually done a good job making it obvious what it is. and have redone the walks in the area and added arches over the "entrances" to it.
 
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ScriptOhio;1231774; said:
How about Shane Falco?
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No way. Falco couldn't even beat FSU in the Sugar Bowl and was cut from a team of scabs.

At least Utah went to law school, led the Bucks to the Rose Bowl pre-BCS, and by all accounts would have had a successful pro career if he hadn't had his knee bent back 90-degrees the wrong way.
 
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