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Our opinions on if and how SU should use the iconic number
The Syracuse Orange are making headlines with the news that transfer center Eddie Lampkin will wear the fabled #44 for Adrian Autry’s squad this season. Our ever-growing crew got together to discuss whether the number should be coming out of retirement and what criteria a player should have to don the uniform.
Mike: As someone who didn’t grow up a Syracuse fan, the significance of 44 is what truly does make SU stand out from many other college programs. It should never have been retired in the first place, and I’m all for it returning in both football and basketball.
As for how it’s earned: I do think in the case of the former, it should be reserved for a returning player who has performed well on and off the field. Sean Tucker would have been an excellent candidate, but for now Fran Brown should keep it shelved and wait for the right guy to emerge. (KingJoseph Edwards is my early pick, but I also get the argument to keep it for the RBs.) Basketball is different since many stars are now one-and-done. I don’t think there would be many complaints if Donnie Freeman was the first to bring it back, but the way Lampkin got it without any flair or even an official acknowledgement from SU Athletics is what irks me.
Carson: Considering Coach ‘Red’ Autry’s long history with Syracuse University and Syracuse Athletics, I’m surprised he allowed Eddie Lampkin to select the number 44 in the first place. Although 44 is most significant to Syracuse football, the number itself has not only come to represent greatness on the football field but become a part of the university’s and community’s identity as a whole.
As it stands right now (and I’ll admit my bias in this – I’m a Cleveland Browns fan), if the late Jim Brown said, ‘it [#44] should probably get retired’, then his word is law. Keep it hung it in the rafters, and never let another Syracuse athlete wear it again. Lampkin likely had no idea of the number’s significance, and he clearly meant no disrespect to the past athletes who have worn the number previously.
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Audrey: My kneejerk reaction to Lampkin’s decision to wear #44, and Coach Autry’s decision to allow him to do so, was that it was distasteful; why should athletics let someone who will only rep the Orange for a season to don such a significant number? However, after thinking about it, I don’t think it will have the negative implications or set a bad precedent like some people are afraid of. Because Lampkin has worn #44 in seasons prior, the number obviously means something to him, which I think those who are upset about this are failing to consider. At this point, it would be impossible for him not to know how culturally important #44 is to Orange Nation. Whether he factored the opinions of the crowd who will watch him play this season into his decision to wear the number or not, I believe Lampkin approached this with as much respect as someone in his position can have.
At the end of the day, I think if anything it will add some fuel to Lampkin’s fire to perform this year. The pressure to live up to the legacy that #44 holds will be present every time he steps on the court, and if he can contribute in the way that he’s expected to, I think the Cuse fandom will come to embrace him, jersey number and all.
Dom: To be quite honest, the arguments are incredibly legit on both sides of the aisle. I’ve got a background based mainly in history, and I get it. The great history of the Syracuse Orange matters, and there is a laundry list of legends who have had the honor to bestow the great #44. SU’s literal zip code ends with 44 — that’s how much of a big deal this is. Like Mike, I’m an out-of-state guy from Miami who didn’t know much about it until I arrived at SU. Over those next four years while I was on campus, I realized 44 is a lot more than just a number. It’s a rare honor.
And yet, I strongly disliked how this all played out.
As Mike pointed out, there was no official announcement at all from SU Athletics. A general lack of communication and transparency inevitably leads to chaos and situation that could’ve been prevented… and that outcome is exactly what played out with Coleman’s initial remarks and Lampkin’s response.
My take: I’ve never been nor will ever be a college player. I don’t have that perspective, so I’m not going to fault DC or Lampkin at all. If there’s “blame” to go around, it’s athletics for the lack of communication about the criteria and the small part of the fanbase who wants to blow this whole thing out of proportion and publicly. If we’re going to treat #44 as more than a number, can we at least get some clear guidelines?
![Syracuse Derrick Coleman, 1990 NCAA Playoffs](https://www.buffalosports.today/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/81344417.jpg)
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Szuba: It’s of my personal philosophy that the No. 44 at Syracuse is sacrosanct; it should not just be protected, but preserved inside a house of worship – inaccessible to those still preoccupied with transitory life. It should be kept out of sight from the unenlightened who fall short of grasping what it means to wear 44. The stewardship of the No. 44 should be entrusted only to that of a deity and only through divine intervention – or the unanimous decision of former 44s – could the jersey number be granted for deaccession and eventual reuse. Then, and only then, will the worthy player be given permission to travel deep inside a temple of the chosen house of worship and retrieve the jersey sword-in-the-stone style from the depths of secrecy. Surely that’s the only fair and reasonable way to determine its rightful place – or to simply ensure the No. 44 could never be seen or talked about again. Like the 1990 Syracuse Lacrosse National Championship trophy.
Cmon, what are we doing here? We’re talking about a number on jersey.
It’s probably more prudent to hang out in the question and I guess my take is as arbitrary as anyone else’s but unless the No. 44 would be retired and made unavailable in men’s basketball for all future use, waiting around for some magical player who would stay at Syracuse for multiple years, carve out a legacy and be “worthy” of the number seems will-o’-the-wisp in this era of college athletics. Tradition has its place, but tradition is also the illusion of permanence. Let Lampkin revive 44 and have fun. Who cares what number he wears? If he’s not as good as Coleman or Wallace it won’t dilute what those players did or tarnish the legendary number and eventually everyone will forget about it and still associate 44 with Coleman and Wallace anyway. Of the few things worth being offended about, this hardly feels like one of them.
Kevin: We know all about the legacy of the number, but what does it mean to current and soon-to-be Syracuse students/fans? I was able to witness 44 in action on both the Dome turf and hardwood and I’d like it if the number was still active – just like men’s lacrosse uses the 22 jersey.
If you’re not a men’s lacrosse fan you might not realize that 22 has been on the field for Syracuse for as long as I’ve been watching. Have all of those players been at the level of Gary Gait or Casey Powell? Of course not, but keeping it active has allowed the number to hold a significant meaning when a Joey Spallina comes along.
In a perfect world, 44 would have been at used in recruiting. Terry Richardson and Rob Konrad aren’t going to join Jim Brown and Floyd Little in Canton, but they didn’t tarnish the legacy of those two players because they didn’t live up to impossible expectations.
If a player wants to carry the weight that comes with the storied number, and they have the support of their coaches why not keep it active? Yes, there are NIL issues to dance around and yes these legends should be made aware before someone else is handed the number, but it’s not their number for eternity.
With all of the emphasis put on 44, the number really belongs to Syracuse fans and I think the fanbase would welcome those who wish to carry on the tradition.
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That’s a lot of words from us, so now we’d love to hear more from you TNIAAM fans. What do you think about the removal of 44 from football and men’s basketball? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.