Is Eric Berry's Number Going To Be Retired?

#1
VOLS_FAN15

VOLS_FAN15

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#1
Hey, just wondering if Eric Berry's 14 number will be retired in the future. No doubt one of the greatest Vols to play in orange. If so, how long do you think it will be until it's retired? peyton left in 1997 and got his number retired in 2005.
 
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#2
#2
My vote would be no. I would make it a requirement to stay all 4 years, or at least graduate before you moved on to the league. That would show dedication to the university above your own interests and that to me would garner that type of recognition. Not saying Berry wasn't top 3 greatest safety I've seen in my 30 years of watching UT or saying he isn't VFL or whatever. I don't begrudge anyone who makes the leap to the NFL early that makes that kind of $$, cuz I'd do it too.
 
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#3
#3
dancinoutlaw said:
My vote would be no. I would make it a requirement to stay all 4 years, or at least graduate before you moved on to the league. That would show dedication to the university above your own interests and that to me would garner that type of recognition. Not saying Berry wasn't top 3 greatest safety I've seen in my 30 years of watching UT or saying he isn't VFL or whatever. I don't begrudge anyone who makes the leap to the NFL early that makes that kind of $$, cuz I'd do it too.
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i mean both of his parents lost their jobs and both of his brothers were about to get really involved with recruiting and camps and stuff. if you go back to the video when he decided to leave, he said that this is what he needed to do for his family. he also said that he really wanted to stay but couldnt.
 
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#6
#6
daj2576 said:
I looked up the criteria for retiring a jersey at UT.

Here are some of the requirements:

6. A candidate must have achieved THREE of the following five collegiate honors:
a. Induction into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
b. Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year.
c. Consensus All-America.
d. Heisman Trophy winner.
e. Have won one of the following general athletic/academic or non-position specific awards: Sullivan Award, SEC Athlete of the Year (all sports) or Draddy Award.

7. Recognizing the tremendous collective impact of Tennessee Volunteers in professional
football, candidates must have also achieved THREE of the following four professional
distinctions:
a. Induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.
b. NFL offensive or defensive MVP.
c. Achieved Pro Bowl status in 5 seasons.
d. Holder of a major career or season statistical record (yards, sacks, tackles,
touchdowns scored or thrown).
Click to expand...

Berry will need to do more in the NFL, and get put into the College Football Hall of Fame to make it. 4 years is not a requirement.

He is talked about here:
Tennessee Football & Basketball Retired Number Criteria - Rocky Top Talk
 
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#7
#7
Eric Berry was clearly the best player on the team and one of the best in the country his last 2 years. I can name a lot of former Vols that meet that criteria that don't have their number retired.
 
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#8
#8
VOLS_FAN15 said:
Hey, just wondering if Eric Berry's 14 number will be retired in the future. No doubt one of the greatest Vols to play in orange. If so, how long do you think it will be until it's retired? peyton left in 1997 and got his number retired in 2005.
Click to expand...

You have to wait 5 years...2005 was the 1st year they started retiring jerseys with the new rules.
 
#9
#9
GAVol said:
Eric Berry was clearly the best player on the team and one of the best in the country his last 2 years. I can name a lot of former Vols that meet that criteria that don't have their number retired.
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Some say the NFL stuff was added to keep Johnny Majors out.
 
#10
#10
dancinoutlaw said:
My vote would be no. I would make it a requirement to stay all 4 years, or at least graduate before you moved on to the league. That would show dedication to the university above your own interests and that to me would garner that type of recognition. Not saying Berry wasn't top 3 greatest safety I've seen in my 30 years of watching UT or saying he isn't VFL or whatever. I don't begrudge anyone who makes the leap to the NFL early that makes that kind of $$, cuz I'd do it too.
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He can always go back finish his last year of college. I was 36 when I finished. If he goes back and finishes his last year, he deserves his number to be retired IMO.
 
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#11
#11
VOLS_FAN15 said:
Hey, just wondering if Eric Berry's 14 number will be retired in the future. No doubt one of the greatest Vols to play in orange. If so, how long do you think it will be until it's retired? peyton left in 1997 and got his number retired in 2005.
Click to expand...

Peyton also stayed all 4 years.:)
 
#12
#12
VOLS_FAN15 said:
Hey, just wondering if Eric Berry's 14 number will be retired in the future. No doubt one of the greatest Vols to play in orange. If so, how long do you think it will be until it's retired? peyton left in 1997 and got his number retired in 2005.
Click to expand...

I love Eric Berry but he's not deserving. Sorry but anyone who leaves early for the NFL draft doesn't deserve to have their number retired. Just how I feel about it.
 
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#13
#13
steelejacs said:
He can always go back finish his last year of college. I was 36 when I finished. If he goes back and finishes his last year, he deserves his number to be retired IMO.
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But he can't go back and play that 4th year of football, which is the key here IMO. The bottom line is that he CHOSE to bolt on his team early for the NFL. If you make the decision to do that, you forfeit your chance for jersey retirement, IMO.
 
#14
#14
Just say what you mean. You're mad that a guy dared to not entertain you for free for one more year.
 
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#15
#15
GAVol said:
Just say what you mean. You're mad that a guy dared to not entertain you for free for one more year.
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No I'm not mad at him at all. He made the decision that he thought was best for him and I respect that. However I just feel that part of the criteria for jersey retirement should be they play all 4 years for the University. It's not out of spite or bitterness. Jersey retirement should be considered THE highest honor a University can pay their athletes and shouldn't be something easily attained. I just think that part of the criteria for earning such a high honor should be you give all 4 years of service to the school and the program.
 
#18
#18
Brave Volunteer said:
But he can't go back and play that 4th year of football, which is the key here IMO. The bottom line is that he CHOSE to bolt on his team early for the NFL. If you make the decision to do that, you forfeit your chance for jersey retirement, IMO.
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Yeah that's true; your're right. I forgot about the playing part. I guess that would be kind of important.
 
#19
#19
Brave Volunteer said:
No I'm not mad at him at all. He made the decision that he thought was best for him and I respect that. However I just feel that part of the criteria for jersey retirement should be they play all 4 years for the University. It's not out of spite or bitterness. Jersey retirement should be considered THE highest honor a University can pay their athletes and shouldn't be something easily attained. I just think that part of the criteria for earning such a high honor should be you give all 4 years of service to the school and the program.
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why 4 years? Why not make it 5yrs since that would completely exhaust all eligibility?

They sign a 1yr contract each season so he fulfilled his obligation. The point of college is to help get a better job and he did that. In fact, he did it better and is giving back more to UT than 99.9% of students that have attended classes there.
 
#21
#21
VOLS_FAN15 said:
i mean both of his parents lost their jobs and both of his brothers were about to get really involved with recruiting and camps and stuff. if you go back to the video when he decided to leave, he said that this is what he needed to do for his family. he also said that he really wanted to stay but couldnt.
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This is said so many times when it isn't true, it sounds like a broken record. People lose their jobs everyday in this country and go find new ones. His father is a coach is he not? Don't know many places that would turn down an opportunity to hire his father. He left for the $$$ as do 95% of the others that leave. No jersey retirement, ever.

Quote from TOS:
"These may be the only conversations that I don't recruit in is with these guys," Kiffin said. "It's too important for them to make the right decision. This isn't about me, it isn't about Tennessee .

If the decision to leave is about the player and not about The UT, then I can't see EVER retiring a player’s number that leaves in 3 years without graduating. And even then, I would say play your full eligibility to qualify.
 
#22
#22
Brave Volunteer said:
No I'm not mad at him at all. He made the decision that he thought was best for him and I respect that. However I just feel that part of the criteria for jersey retirement should be they play all 4 years for the University. It's not out of spite or bitterness. Jersey retirement should be considered THE highest honor a University can pay their athletes and shouldn't be something easily attained. I just think that part of the criteria for earning such a high honor should be you give all 4 years of service to the school and the program.
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He made the decision for his family. They both lost their jobs. If Peyton's parents lost their jobs his junior year he makes the exact same decision he made because his parents were secure finacially.

Family comes before the college you chose anyday of the week.
 
#25
#25
I find it odd that Tennessee has NFL accomplishments in the requirements for jersey retirement. Not sure what that has to do with Tennessee.
 
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