Majors on retiring numbers..

[LadyinOrange]

I hope I don't start some kind of war with this...


Majors on retiring numbers

One of the most famous players in Tennessee football history is a bit surprised by the school's recent decision to retire the jersey numbers of three former Vol standouts.

Johnny Majors, an All-America single-wing tailback and Heisman Trophy runnerup in 1956, did a telephone interview at noon today with Tony Basilio of WVLZ Radio. Asked his reaction to the retiring of jersey numbers 16 (Peyton Manning ), 91 (Doug Atkins) and 92 (Reggie White ), Majors called the action "ususual, to say the least."

Prior to this week, UT's policy was to retire only jersey numbers of former Vols who died in military service to their country. Thus, four former players killed in World War II were the only honorees. Majors described that policy as "very fitting," adding that the decision to alter the policy "seems more like a modern marketing technique than honoring the tradition and success of Tennessee's great football tradition."


Several Vol greats were not considered as candidates to have their numbers retired because they did not distinguish themselves at the professional level. These include Majors (who played briefly in the Canadian Football League), Bob Suffridge and George Cafego, among others.

Majors declined to discuss his credentials for number retirement, noting that it would be "presumptuous, out of line and in poor taste to comment, as far as pertains to me individually."

Majors, who signed and coached Reggie White, spoke fondly of his former star. Majors called White "as great a football player as I've ever seen play defense -- at least his senior year. He was always a great talent but his senior year was as great as anybody could play. He was an outstanding talent his first three years but he was not quite as mentally tough and didn't overcome some minor injuries like he did his senior year. He was a fabulously great player."

Reports of friction between Majors and Atkins apparently are correct. When asked about the retirement of Atkins' jersey, Majors replied: "Doug was a great player … a great athlete and a great player. I don't have anything else to add on Doug Atkins. I don't have anything else to add on him whatsoever."

[KentheOrange]

Originally posted by LadyinOrange@Aug 27, 2005 10:32 AM
[b]I hope I don't start some kind of war with this...


Majors on retiring numbers


Several Vol greats were not considered as candidates to have their numbers retired because they did not distinguish themselves at the professional level. These include Majors (who played briefly in the Canadian Football League), Bob Suffridge and George Cafego, among others.

I don't understand why professional success would have anything to do with performance at UT. Does Hamilton think that UT is nothing but a farm team for the Pros? As I hear more of Hamilton's actions I keep thinking that Tennessee may have transfered its inability to hire a decent President (corrected, I think, with Peterson) to the AD position.

:banghead: :banghead:

[vol_freak]

kentheorange, I am with you on the pro thing. I think the whole idea is silly. They should retire the jersey not the number. Also if you take out that pro requirement, Majors should be included like him or not. It's a shame.

[OldVol]

It is going to sow a lot of ill will among our former great players. You can't really blame them.

There are so many great ones, where do you begin.

I agree that the Pro thing should not be a factor.

This is starting down a slippery slope.

Hamilton needs to go and the retirement thing should be reversed.

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Originally posted by OldVol@Aug 27, 2005 1:59 PM
[b]Hamilton needs to go and the retirement thing should be reversed.

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I agree on both accounts!

[rwkvol21]

Originally posted by MyBloodRunnethOrange@Aug 27, 2005 2:39 PM
[b]I agree on both accounts!

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Ditto.
It makes a statement that true heroes (the guys that died fighting for our country) our now trivialized. At one time the position on the hill was that only guys who died fighting for our country will have a number retired.

[OldVol]

Why should pro football be part of the criteria?

Why not players who go on to be doctord, lawyers, analysts, businessmen, preachers, or just great citizens.

The factors should be what kind of player they were, what kind of citizen, and person they were during and after college.

A pro player would have a shot but an astronaut wouldn't.

A pro player is considered but you could be the greatest college coach in history without being considered if you didn't have pro experience.

Stupid.

[west tn vol fan]

I'm not saying I agree with the way they are going about retiring numbers but Majors is such a cry baby.

[OldVol]

Originally posted by west tn vol fan@Aug 27, 2005 6:33 PM
[b]I'm not saying I agree with the way they are going about retiring numbers but Majors is such a cry baby.

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If that's what you took from that article, maybe you need to work on your reading comprehension.

[BeltwayVol]

You dont have to comprehend it from this article, it goes into along with all the other crap he whines and cries about.

How he won't call Phil by his name.

How he says that "The guy that coaches UT now" hasn't beaten a real Alabama team.

How he continues to hold grudges against people at UT like Atkins.

It's time he moves on either himself, or gets moved along by the University.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they didn't invite him back until he appologizes for the way he treats Phil.

[vol_freak]

I am not going to get sucked in to the whole Majors debate but I will say this: Majors was done wrong and today it's obvious he still holds a grudge.

Beltway, I wouldn't go as far as saying he should apologize. I just wish he and the university could put it in the past.

Majors WAS and IS UT football. His family, his play, his coaching. Johnny Majors was an intregal part of Tennessee football history. I hate that there has to be this animosity.

[BeltwayVol]

[b]Johnny Majors was an intregal part of Tennessee football history.

Two key words, WAS and HISTORY. His time has passed and he needs to keep his mouth shut and except the fact that what happened to him was HIS OWN FAULT, and that regardless he needs to move on.

The university HAS moved on or it wouldnt keep inviting him back.

[oklavol]

I tend to agree with volfreak.

Retire the jersey, not the number.

Yeah Majors was kind of done wrong. The program had really started to turn around and Majors was finally getting some top recruits in here when he got canned.

Thats really is the reason why Fulmer has such a great win-loss record and has recruited so well, he was building on what Majors had been doing. But Fulmer is a better coach then Majors.

[vol_freak]

View it how you want Beltway but Majors was done wrong. And the University has invited him back for some legends type functions but nothing has been done to REALLY reach out to him. Like I said, I see both sides I just wish there was a solution.

[OldVol]

Originally posted by BeltwayVol@Aug 27, 2005 8:45 PM
[b]You dont have to comprehend it from this article, it goes into along with all the other crap he whines and cries about.

How he won't call Phil by his name.

How he says that "The guy that coaches UT now" hasn't beaten a real Alabama team.

How he continues to hold grudges against people at UT like Atkins.

It's time he moves on either himself, or gets moved along by the University.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they didn't invite him back until he appologizes for the way he treats Phil.

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It's really incredible how people ignore these facts.

John hired Phil and gave him a job, helped to mentor Phil, (at one time Phil would have said that) and Phil took his job while he was recovering from heart surgery. Where's the devotion in that?

To acknowledge that John has wronged Phil while ignoring the greater wrong Phil did John is really unbelievable.

I guess wrong only flows in one direction in this matter.

There are thousands of Tennesseans who still believe John was done horribly.

To ignore that is unacceptable.