"Retire" Breuer's number NOW

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bemidjigopher said:
It was mostly Tiny vs the board if memory serves me correctly
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I think there were plenty of fair arguments on both side regarding whether or not he should need to complete the degree to be eligible. "Tiny vs. the board" was more about whether or not Breuer was a strong enough starting pitcher to warrant consideration.
 


Not sure if the OP is trying to be ironic and funny with the quotation marks, or is really "serious."
 

Serious. The quotes acknowledge that they don't really retire numbers anymore...at least in a way that they can't be reused.
 

Well, that was a fun read.

Not trying to restart a fight, but just wanted to comment on a few things I read in that thread...

"How is it possible he played for 4 years and didn't graduate?"
Does everyone know what the graduation rate is at the U? And of those that DO graduate, do you know how long it takes them on average?

"Peterson was better than Breuer in the NBA!"
Uh...yeah. That's easily proven false. And regardless, NBA career should have zero to do with this issue.

"Breuer wasn't that good and benefited from the support of others!"
I guess that explains the push to have Cookie Holmes number retired.
 

Ya don't retire the number. We would run out of numbers. U retire the jersey, a jersey the player wore.
 



I believe they actually did retire the first...5?...6? numbers. Then someone said, "Whoa! We're gonna run out of numbers!"

Now, Don. You probably aren't as familiar with this next part since you don't actually go to games...

They put a banner up in the rafters with a picture of the dude and his number on it.
 


Corey Brewer was KEY to the Gophers NCAA championship win! RETIRE HIS JERSEY!
 

brucekaupa said:
I believe they actually did retire the first...5?...6? numbers. Then someone said, "Whoa! We're gonna run out of numbers!"

Now, Don. You probably aren't as familiar with this next part since you don't actually go to games...

They put a banner up in the rafters with a picture of the dude and his number on it.
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Back in the day when I lived close to the Twin Cities I went to more games than you could count. I now live too far away to compete with you pups. So you go in my memory.
 





Retire Bruce Kaupa's number now!!! It is between Benchwarmer Bob Lurtsema and him for best reserve of all time in Minnesota sports!!!
 


Here is a thought I had while driving yesterday.

The academic criteria for having your number retired shouldn't be "graduating". It should be "you finished your career at Minnesota"....and maybe even "you played your entire college career at Minnesota".

The U can say it, but having your number retired has absolutely ZERO to do with the "student" part of the "student athlete".
 

brucekaupa said:
Here is a thought I had while driving yesterday.

1. The academic criteria for having your number retired shouldn't be "graduating". It should be "you finished your career at Minnesota"....and maybe even "you played your entire college career at Minnesota".

2. The U can say it, but having your number retired has absolutely ZERO to do with the "student" part of the "student athlete".
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1. Sounds more like a participation ribbon.

2. And by having the graduation requirement attached it makes it BOTH parts of 'student-athlete'.
 

Compare the following two atheletes:

Athlete #1 graduated with a C average and obtained a degree in Kinesiology.

Athlete #2 attended the U for four years, had an A- average in Civil Engineering but like most students at the U could not complete his degree requirements in 4 years.

Who is the better student athelete?
 

brucekaupa said:
Compare the following two atheletes:

Athlete #1 graduated with a C average and obtained a degree in Kinesiology.

Athlete #2 attended the U for four years, had an A- average in Civil Engineering but like most students at the U could not complete his degree requirements in 4 years.

Who is the better student athelete?
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So now you're going to make me study?

Like the coaches say, 'you need to finish'.

I can play both sides of this.:cool02:
 

Seriously, I just hope Breu's health is OK. Seems like there's been a really strong push (and understandably so) and some urgency from his son and a few others on here that makes me wonder if there are some health concerns. I certainly hope that's not the case.

I think Breu belongs in the rafters, but I respect the opinion of those who think otherwise. It's the demeaning of his accomplishments/ability on the previous "retire his jersey" thread that I didn't appreciate.
 

BTW, I pick on "Kinesiology" because I used to attend the old Backcourt Club monthly meetings at Jaax. At one meeting, Milton or Clem distributed resumes for Lenard, Orr, Walton, Kolander and Wolf. I think (but I could be wrong) that 4 out of the 5 of them were pursuing degrees in Kinesiology.
 

I agree that not all degrees are created equal. However, players know the rule going in, and I think that earning a degree makes for a pretty simple, objective, and mostly reasonable marker for student accomplishment. Definitely think that Breuer's on-court accomplishments are worthy, he'd get my vote if he finished the degree (notwithstanding Tiny's argument about him not being a good enough point guard).
 

Was that the rule going in when Breu started in '79??
 

For the record, I could argue either side of this and lean towards the degree side of this. Nonetheless, Brew was a dominant big man in his day who won many games for us. Anyone who argues to the contrary is delusional or didn't see the games
 

Given the space concerns in terms of hanging other pictures/jerseys in the rafters, I agree with those that would have Breuer replace Trent Tucker, who has no business having his jersey/picture hung in Williams. Breuer is the only 2-time, First-Team All Big Ten Gopher since 1980 (and M. Thompson), and Tucker was the 3rd best player on the 1982 team (D. Mitchell made the coaches First-Team, All Big Ten Team). Tucker never made First Team All Big Ten, which ought to be a pre-requisite for even being considered to hang in Williams.
 


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