The # 5

#1
realmenwearorange

realmenwearorange

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#1
I know Zeigler is currently wearing the number but when does Tennessee retire that number with Chris Lofton and put it in the rafters with the other Tennessee greats? Just curious what others think about this.
 
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#4
#4
TheMookieMonster said:
If Chris Lofton’s career isn’t worth retiring a number at some point, I’m not sure what a player would have to do here to have it happen.
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Tennessee Retired Jerseys

A student-athlete will be eligible for consideration if they achieve three of the five criteria listed below:

  • SEC Player of the Year
  • National Award (Player of the Year, Sullivan, or similar honor)
  • First-Team All-American
  • Career record holder in a significant category (as determined by the committee) at the UT, SEC, or national level upon completion of career
  • National championship during tenure
  • There is a nominating committee that will determine when an individual will be honored with a retired jersey, and any member of the committee can bring a nomination. The composition of that committee includes the Faculty Athletics Representative, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, the sport administrator of the selected sport, the media relations contact for selected sport or the associate athletics director/communications (or designee), and the senior woman administrator.
 
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#6
#6
TheMookieMonster said:
If Chris Lofton’s career isn’t worth retiring a number at some point, I’m not sure what a player would have to do here to have it happen.
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I'm one of those that thinks these type of accolades (much like a HOF) should be more reserved than they actually are. I have no issue if it get's retired; it just doesn't scream out "Why hasn't it happened already"

College/NBA HOF, Most Important player on Final 4 team, or First Team AA. I know, I'm a tough judge.


Edit - Thanks @whobethis16 for the info.
 
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#7
#7
whobethis16 said:
Tennessee Retired Jerseys

A student-athlete will be eligible for consideration if they achieve three of the five criteria listed below:

  • SEC Player of the Year
  • National Award (Player of the Year, Sullivan, or similar honor)
  • First-Team All-American
  • Career record holder in a significant category (as determined by the committee) at the UT, SEC, or national level upon completion of career
  • National championship during tenure
  • There is a nominating committee that will determine when an individual will be honored with a retired jersey, and any member of the committee can bring a nomination. The composition of that committee includes the Faculty Athletics Representative, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, the sport administrator of the selected sport, the media relations contact for selected sport or the associate athletics director/communications (or designee), and the senior woman administrator.
Click to expand...
Also This

The following are the criteria by which former student-athletes will be eligible for the honor of jersey retirement at the University of Tennessee:

The student-athlete must have demonstrated outstanding character, integrity, and commitment to the University of Tennessee during his/her athletic career.

— Any student-athlete under consideration must have graduated or have left the University in good academic standing, which would have made them eligible to return and compete.

— Former student-athletes are eligible for this honor five years after exhausting their eligibility. If they left school early without exhausting their eligibility, they are eligible eight years after leaving UT.

— Extenuating circumstances may be considered by the committee, and modifications of the policy may be considered under such circumstances by mutual agreement of the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics.

He was SEC player of the year, Current record holder for made three point shots at Tennessee and SEC, Made all American team. Not 1st team but an exception can be made based on the text in bold print.
 
#8
#8
realmenwearorange said:
Also This

The following are the criteria by which former student-athletes will be eligible for the honor of jersey retirement at the University of Tennessee:

The student-athlete must have demonstrated outstanding character, integrity, and commitment to the University of Tennessee during his/her athletic career.

— Any student-athlete under consideration must have graduated or have left the University in good academic standing, which would have made them eligible to return and compete.

— Former student-athletes are eligible for this honor five years after exhausting their eligibility. If they left school early without exhausting their eligibility, they are eligible eight years after leaving UT.

— Extenuating circumstances may be considered by the committee, and modifications of the policy may be considered under such circumstances by mutual agreement of the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics.

He was SEC player of the year, Current record holder for made three point shots at Tennessee and SEC, Made all American team. Not 1st team but an exception can be made based on the text in bold print.
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Yes, but if you look, the most extenuating circumstances appear to be those that died in WWII.

And UT changed the criteria at some point because I remember at first they included accomplishments at the professional/Olympic level. Grunfeld and Houston would not be on there if it wasn't for that criteria years ago. I, for one, am glad they changed that.
 
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#13
#13
realmenwearorange said:
I know Zeigler is currently wearing the number but when does Tennessee retire that number with Chris Lofton and put it in the rafters with the other Tennessee greats? Just curious what others think about this.
Click to expand...
Not a whole lot of retiring of "Numbers" anymore. I see teams retiring "jersey's" (an honorary tribute) -- But not the entire use of specific "numbers" much anymore.......
 
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#14
#14
EverythingOrange said:
Not a whole lot of retiring of "Numbers" anymore. I see teams retiring "jersey's" (an honorary tribute) -- But not the entire use of specific "numbers" much anymore.......
Click to expand...

This makes the most sense, in my opinion. I'm in full support of Nowling/Klarer/Tucker/Fuson having the only truly retired numbers (or jerseys, for that matter) across any sport, but feel that any desire to extend the population beyond that should have always required A) national player of the year and B) a national championship.
 
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#17
#17
I'm not a fan of retiring numbers. And CL is one of my all time favorite Vols. The fact that we are having this discussion about all the great #5s sounds like reason enough to let it live on. Plus CBB only allows a limited number of options in the first place. 6 tens place and 6 one place options make for a limited amount to begin with.
Go read up on all the #s of AAs dating back to mid 20th century that UK has "retired". They've physically run out of #s and "retirement" still allows the number to be used currently. Hang it! Honor Chris. Honor Admiral etc etc etc. But don't retire it. It brings back more memory to me being out there on the court!
 
#18
#18
Hubbs and Price were talking about this just the other day; they mentioned that C Lo doesn't meet the requirements.
 
#19
#19
BACKDOC said:
Hubbs and Price were talking about this just the other day; they mentioned that C Lo doesn't meet the requirements.
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Not to be morbid, but I bet if he had passed away from the cancer, it would be retired. But he beat it, so while he produced many memories, he's just a feel-good story that doesn't meet the requirements.
 
#20
#20
whobethis16 said:
Tennessee Retired Jerseys

A student-athlete will be eligible for consideration if they achieve three of the five criteria listed below:

  • SEC Player of the Year
  • National Award (Player of the Year, Sullivan, or similar honor)
  • First-Team All-American
  • Career record holder in a significant category (as determined by the committee) at the UT, SEC, or national level upon completion of career
  • National championship during tenure
  • There is a nominating committee that will determine when an individual will be honored with a retired jersey, and any member of the committee can bring a nomination. The composition of that committee includes the Faculty Athletics Representative, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, the sport administrator of the selected sport, the media relations contact for selected sport or the associate athletics director/communications (or designee), and the senior woman administrator.
Click to expand...

Lofton was a Sports Illustrated 1st Team AA, John Wooden All-American which Tennessee itself recognizes as a 1st team AA, SEC POY, and holds the 3 point record at Tennessee and in the SEC. This is a quote from the UT AD a few years ago. "“Chris was one of the most impactful players in the recent history of Tennessee basketball, and he does meet the criteria for jersey retirement," said Tom Satkowiak, assistant athletic director for media relations at Tennessee. "But aside from the established criteria, timing also is a factor that is considered when evaluating potential jersey retirement honorees. Efforts are often made to select a date on which the honoree is able to attend the ceremony. That’s an important element from a fan experience standpoint and also is a big part of what makes the experience special for the honoree.”
 
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#21
#21
Chris Lofton might not meet the arbitrary requirements we set for the rules to be retired, but it’s hard to think of many more iconic players or guys who did more for Tennessee Basketball than Chris Lofton.

He did so much.
 
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#22
#22
TheMookieMonster said:
Chris Lofton might not meet the arbitrary requirements we set for the rules to be retired, but it’s hard to think of many more iconic players or guys who did more for Tennessee Basketball than Chris Lofton.

He did so much.
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The requirements are not arbitrary, they are there for a reason. Follow this link for a list of players that did equal or better than Lofton in their career at Tennessee. Should we retire all their jersey's as well? Lofton was a good player, a good man, was fun to watch and easy to root for but the standard for a retired number is, and should be, higher than what he accomplished.
 
#23
#23
VolArmy74 said:
Lofton was a Sports Illustrated 1st Team AA, John Wooden All-American which Tennessee itself recognizes as a 1st team AA, SEC POY, and holds the 3 point record at Tennessee and in the SEC. This is a quote from the UT AD a few years ago. "“Chris was one of the most impactful players in the recent history of Tennessee basketball, and he does meet the criteria for jersey retirement," said Tom Satkowiak, assistant athletic director for media relations at Tennessee. "But aside from the established criteria, timing also is a factor that is considered when evaluating potential jersey retirement honorees. Efforts are often made to select a date on which the honoree is able to attend the ceremony. That’s an important element from a fan experience standpoint and also is a big part of what makes the experience special for the honoree.”
Click to expand...
Find me the link that says he was an SI 1st Team All-American. Every single bio and information I found on him doesn't have that listed. Everything is consensus 2nd team. Also where it says the John Wooden is accepted.
 
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