Archive for the ‘NCAA football jerseys’ Category

In 1986 The University of Illinois retired the number 50 football jersey formally worn by none other than the great Dick Butkus. Butkus was only the second player in University of Illinois history to enjoy this honor. (Harold “Red” Grange was the other.) Two-time unanimously voted All-American (1963 and 1964), Butkus was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1983. Butkus also enjoyed the honors of The Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1963, the American Football Coaches Association Player of the Year in 1964. Butkus went on after college to enjoy a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.

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On September 23, 2006, Michigan State made the wise decision to retire the NCAA football jersey (Number 95) of Charles “Bubba” Smith. The retirement ceremony was held during the 40th anniversary celebration of “The Game of the Century” where Bubba and the rest of the Spartans played against Notre Dame. That’s right, before his great acting career, Bubba Smith was one of the greatest defensive ends to play the game of football. Since his college years, Smith has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, was drafted into the National Football League, and has won one Superbowl ring.

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Indiana retired the NCAA Football Jersey Number 32, which belonged to Anthony Thompson. Thompson’s number was the first football jersey retired by Indiana University.  As proof of the fact that he deserves this honor (of having his NCAA football jersey retired), Anthony became the NCAA’s all-time career rushing and scoring leader, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and was named to the Big Ten MVP on two separate occasions.

Perhaps even greater than his play, is Thompson’s humility:  “I had to pinch myself when I was sitting in downtown New York,” said Thompson, speaking of his Heisman Trophy nomination.  “I had never been there and it was very surreal.  I figured if I won that would be great, but if I didn’t, it was still such an honor.”

Technorati Tags: Anthony Thompson, Indiana Hoosiers, NCAA football jerseys