Mason says it's "mind boggling" why Eslinger, Spaeth and TC don't have their jerseys retired at The U

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Schnauzer said:
I don't like actually retiring jerseys. But I am all for a ring of honor listing the numbers that these superstars wore. With that in mind, I agree that Eslinger belongs on the ring of fame along with Leo Nomelini, perhaps a few others, and the ones that are up there now.

As it is, the conf and national titles listed on the ring give the impression that the program died in 1960 and completely forgetting to add players to the ring of fame makes that "look" even more pronounced.
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What happened in 1961 that changed things?
 

“rosters larger than 100 call for that.”

This is what is killing 85% of college football teams. The helmet schools take the cream kids. How many four star kids are at ‘Bama & O state and a few other schools to keep them away from teams like Minnesota. Koi Perich would not have seen the field if he would have signed with the buckeyes. Lane Kiffen is absolutely right.

Reduce the rosters and cap the NIL money.
 


Joe Hardy said:
“rosters larger than 100 call for that.”

This is what is killing 85% of college football teams. The helmet schools take the cream kids. How many four star kids are at ‘Bama & O state and a few other schools to keep them away from teams like Minnesota. Koi Perich would not have seen the field if he would have signed with the buckeyes. Lane Kiffen is absolutely right.

Reduce the rosters and cap the NIL money.
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You can’t cap NIL
But I’ve been saying roster limits is the way for parity for years
 

You can't retire numbers except in very rare cases, because you need those uniform numbers. It's totally okay to put the player's name and number in a ring of fame but still use the number because you need to. And yes, guys like Esslinger should be honored.
 


disco said:
You can't retire numbers except in very rare cases, because you need those uniform numbers. It's totally okay to put the player's name and number in a ring of fame but still use the number because you need to. And yes, guys like Esslinger should be honored.
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Especially in college where a player is only there for a relatively short amount of time the standard for retiring a number should be incredibly high (unless you play for Colorado and are the coaches kid). But retiring a jersey on the other hand makes a ton of sense and it is a little surprising the U has not done that for a really long time.
 

I do think having no retired / honored numbers and names since Sandy Stephens on the upper deck facade at The Bank, along with the last Big Ten title in 1967 adds to the picture of Gopher football as a thing of the distant past.

It would be nice to see a few of our contemporary stars up there, even if their jersey numbers are still issued for logistical reasons.
 

I'm generally against retiring numbers. I think that seeing players on the field with a number of a former great player makes me more likely to recall the great player, than to never see the number again.
 




I don't like retiring jerseys, particularly at the college level. I mean if you want to have a Gophers Football Hall of Fame and do a little display and hang his jersey in there that seems fair. These were really great players they probably deserve some sort of recognition.
 

bleedsmaroonandgold said:
Im surprised coach Prime isn't lobbying to have the entire NCAA retire his son's number, like the NHL did with 99 for Gretzky.
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I mean, Gretzky was the greatest and all, but I think Peon sees his son more like Jackie Robinson and MLB retiring #42 since he believes that his son fundamentally changed the game and the history of the sport.
 






There's also a large section of real-estate on the press box that could be used to honor players. Its just gray concrete now on those two levels. I've wished they utilized this area better for while.
 

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GopherVotary said:
2001 Purdue game, or the 2005 Wisconsin game, etc.,
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I would add the 2 games that followed the historic win in 2000 against Ohio St.

Lost at Indiana (43-51) and home to Northwestern (35-41).

That loss to the Wildcats on a Hail Mary was particularly ghoulish.
 

I try to purge all memories of games like were mentioned.

If someone came up to me, out of nowhere, and asked, for example, how did the Gophers do against Northwestern in the 2000 season? I would have no answer.

But then someone posts a mention of that game, (and all the others) and I can see it in HD in my head. It is a sickening infliction.

Thanks @Ope3 now I'm gonna go open and finish a bottle of Irish Whiskey.
 

Unregistered User said:
I try to purge all memories of games like were mentioned.

If someone came up to me, out of nowhere, and asked, for example, how did the Gophers do against Northwestern in the 2000 season? I would have no answer.

But then someone posts a mention of that game, (and all the others) and I can see it in HD in my head. It is a sickening infliction.

Thanks @Ope3 now I'm gonna go open and finish a bottle of Irish Whiskey.
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Sorry my bad.


Whomever came up with the phrase, Time heals all wounds, was evidently not a Gopher football fan.
 


1) I agree with Mason on this. In my opinion the U does not do a very good job of recognizing legends from the modern era.

2) Does anyone know how TC is doing? He was very active (and a little off the wall) on social media a few years ago and then radio silence.
 


PMWinSTP said:
Twins also started here the same year.
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Yes, and by the end of the decade pro basketball was back in The Cities (Pipers, Muskies) and the NHL was also drawing fans' money and attention. Prior to all these pro teams diluting sports spending, Gophers Football was the state's sport.
 

FanSinceTheFifties said:
Yes, and by the end of the decade pro basketball was back in The Cities (Pipers, Muskies) and the NHL was also drawing fans' money and attention. Prior to all these pro teams diluting sports spending, Gophers Football was the state's sport.
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That would account for a diluting of fan interest and discretionary spending, but doesn't explain the decline in on-field performance after the 1960's. The administration clearly decided football was not important.
 

disco said:
That would account for a diluting of fan interest and discretionary spending, but doesn't explain the decline in on-field performance after the 1960's. The administration clearly decided football was not important.
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This was the entire big ten outside of mi and osu.
 

disco said:
That would account for a diluting of fan interest and discretionary spending, but doesn't explain the decline in on-field performance after the 1960's. The administration clearly decided football was not important.
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I think the top recruits don't want to be on page 5.
 



MNfootballfan said:
1) I agree with Mason on this. In my opinion the U does not do a very good job of recognizing legends from the modern era.

2) Does anyone know how TC is doing? He was very active (and a little off the wall) on social media a few years ago and then radio silence.
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So Mason said he didn’t even know about them honoring Eslinger until it was too late to make a change of previous plans.

I think every 1st Team AP and AFCA All-American should be honored in a ring of honor. We went 20+ years (‘72-‘96) without one and when Mason came in we started to have them again.


Carter
Hamilton
Eslinger
Winfield

Those are the 4 in last 50+ years
 

MaxyJR1 said:
So Mason said he didn’t even know about them honoring Eslinger until it was too late to make a change of previous plans.

I think every 1st Team AP and AFCA All-American should be honored in a ring of honor. We went 20+ years (‘72-‘96) without one and when Mason came in we started to have them again.


Carter
Hamilton
Eslinger
Winfield

Those are the 4 in last 50+ years
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Eslinger is in the College Football Hall of Fame ... but he's not good enough to have his jersey up in the stadium. Seems kinda weird ...
 

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