Retire Randy Breuer's Jersey

[BleedGopher]

Star Tribune: Letter of the Day (Oct. 18): Randy Breuer

His Minnesota Gophers jersey should be retired based on his statistics, not on whether he completed his degree.



Randy Breuer deserves to have his jersey retired by the University of Minnesota, and it is long overdue.

First, Randy’s statistics are more impressive than many of the already retired numbers:



• Third-leading scorer in school history, with 1,777 points.

• Led the 1982 Big Ten champion Gophers.

• 1983 team MVP.

• Two-time first team All Big Ten.



Those are just some of the highlights.

The U has a policy that an athlete must have a degree in order to receive this honor, but there seems to be a series of “justifications” for other athletes to be honored.

Randy cannot simply solve this problem by going back to school. His major, agricultural business, no longer exists in the form he began with in 1979. Earning his degree would cost thousands of dollars and take almost two years.

It’s time to right this wrong.

KEVIN BREUER, Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Randy Breuer is the writer’s father.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/228258731.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Ope3]

tuition

Star Tribune: Letter of the Day (Oct. 18): Randy Breuer

His Minnesota Gophers jersey should be retired based on his statistics, not on whether he completed his degree.



Randy Breuer deserves to have his jersey retired by the University of Minnesota, and it is long overdue.

First, Randy’s statistics are more impressive than many of the already retired numbers:



• Third-leading scorer in school history, with 1,777 points.

• Led the 1982 Big Ten champion Gophers.

• 1983 team MVP.

• Two-time first team All Big Ten.



Those are just some of the highlights.

The U has a policy that an athlete must have a degree in order to receive this honor, but there seems to be a series of “justifications” for other athletes to be honored.

Randy cannot simply solve this problem by going back to school. His major, agricultural business, no longer exists in the form he began with in 1979. Earning his degree would cost thousands of dollars and take almost two years.

It’s time to right this wrong.

KEVIN BREUER, Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Randy Breuer is the writer’s father.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/228258731.html

Go Gophers!!

Regarding the tuition, I would hope the Athletic Dept would cover that not just for him but any former player. If not, they should. I think they actually get a little APR credit.

 

[Unregistered User]

It’s time to right this wrong.

Finish the degree, and whether or not his number is retired will be judged using the same rules that virtually every other athlete has faced.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Finish the degree, and whether or not his number is retired will be judged using the same rules that virtually every other athlete has faced.

I agree with you UU. These guys are not professional athletes, they are student athletes. I feel like to be honored as one of the greatest student athletes in the history of our storied basketball program, you should need to have had at least some degree of success in the "student" half of student athlete. Earning the degree seems like the easiest and most fair way to measure that success.

Definitely not trying to diminish Beuer's athletic contributions. I think the "he didn't do anything outside of ten feet around the basket" argument is bizarre. Using that logic, I think Decker was pretty unimpressive for the football team. He did not record very many sacks, nor did he kick any field goals outside of 35 yards.

 

[KBreuer15]

I see all of your guys' point about the degree. I do not know if the U would help pay or what. I know his wife did research a few years back to find out what it would take. At this point in his life he would basically be "paying" for his jersey retirement. I know he only needed a few more classes to complete his degree when he left the U, but the degree requirements have changed since the early 80s.

Also, his raw stats do show not only was he the best player on the 82 and 83 teams, but he was statistically better than both TT and McHale. The fact that his team won the Big Ten Title is only one accomplishment on a very long list.

And why are people still bringing up the NBA? Its beyond me...

 

[SelectionSunday]

Kevin, this is a nice thing you are doing for your father. Count me in the camp that one way or another I hope to see your father in the rafters at The Barn. He deserves it. I was just cutting my teeth as a Minnesotan/Gopher fan during your dad's career (attended the state tournaments when he was @ Lake City, too), and I have a lot of great memories from that era. I hope he is doing well.

 

[Unregistered User]

At this point in his life he would basically be "paying" for his jersey retirement.

You keep saying that, any by saying that, you are devaluing a degree from The "U".

If the only value you or your father sees in getting his degree is "paying for his jersey retirment", well, then I can't help you.

 

[Maximus]

You keep saying that, any by saying that, you are devaluing a degree from The "U".

If the only value you or your father sees in getting his degree is "paying for his jersey retirment", well, then I can't help you.

He's 53 years old. I don't think he's participating in a lot of job interviews.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Going forward, I would prefer they get rid of the exceptional clause. That's just an excuse to bend their policy whenever they feel like it. There should be no gray area.

Breu is certainly one of the all-time greats & one of the most productive players since I started following the Gophers closely in 1978-79. Since that time, he'd be on a very short list of the guys I'd even consider "rafter worthy". Trent, Breu, Willie, Voshon Lenard, and Bobby Jackson, and I wouldn't argue much if someone said Trent falls well behind the other four. Double-T had a nice Gopher career, but I think he's up there more for his NBA career.

Certainly, most of us know there are reasons Voshon and Bobby likely will never be put in the rafters.

I wouldn't put Voshon in the same category as those others. To me he was an underachiever. Despite having loads of talent the teams he led never won, or even contended for a B1G Championship & never made any noise in the NCAA tournament. His crowning achievement was an NIT Championship & I wouldn't put him in the same category of player as Breur, Tucker, Burton or Bobby J.

Just my .02

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Randy Breuer, the "Andre the Giant" of basketball. A guy who was slow, plodding and one dimensional...but cuddly in his own weird way. If the Bueu wants his banner up in the rafters then he can go take a few online classes and pick up a degree. It's really not that hard. In any case, whether I see his name on a banner or not, I'll still cheer on the newest Gopher's squad.

Oh...and the idea that Randy Breuer was ever the "best" player on any of the squads he played on at the U is laughable. He was a nice center for the team, but never the "best" player on any of those squads.

This is the leader for preposterous post of the year.

He didn't do anything outside of 10 feet? He was a 7'3" Center for crying out loud! That's not where Centers play. It's like saying Trent Tucker was just a "nice" player because he didn't average many blocks per game.

Opinions are subjective but 20ppg & 9reb in the B1G is not. That's the stuff of legends.

 

[KBreuer15]

I understand why higher education exists. Let me lay this out for you.

Randy's major was Agricultural Business and to my knowledge does not exist in the form that he started back in the late '70s. For him to go back and get his degree it would take about 2 years and thousands of dollars and he would essentially be buying his number retirement. What would doing this accomplish for a 53 year old retired NBA player, with a pension, who wasnt foolish with his salary, who lives in Eden Prairie (not a huge farming community), other than get his number retired by the U of M? I don't want to completely speak for him, but I don't think it would hold much intrinsic value for him based on what I said before. I would rather have him spend the $ on visiting his grandkids in AZ.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I wouldn't put Voshon in the same category as those others. To me he was an underachiever. Despite having loads of talent the teams he led never won, or even contended for a B1G Championship & never made any noise in the NCAA tournament. His crowning achievement was an NIT Championship & I wouldn't put him in the same category of player as Breur, Tucker, Burton or Bobby J.

Just my .02

Fair enough, Costa, a good argument. I'm not quite as harsh on Voshon. What I remember is he played a lot of good basketball (the Lenard/Settles game comes to mind immediately), and he played on some pretty good albeit not great Gopher teams (a pair of NCAAs with a tournament win). As you mention, that's where perhaps he falls short.

But in terms of on-court accomplishment, all things being equal & had he not had some of his stats expunged, I think the school's all-time leading scorer (only Gopher over 2,000 career points before the "expunge") is worthy of jersey retirement. Another thing is I know there are some folks who thought Voshon was a selfish player, but I never thought of him that way.

 

[Unregistered User]

I understand why higher education exists. Let me lay this out for you.

Randy's major was Agricultural Business and to my knowledge does not exist in the form that he started back in the late '70s. For him to go back and get his degree it would take about 2 years and thousands of dollars and he would essentially be buying his number retirement. What would doing this accomplish for a 53 year old retired NBA player, with a pension, who wasnt foolish with his salary, who lives in Eden Prairie (not a huge farming community), other than get his number retired by the U of M? I don't want to completely speak for him, but I don't think it would hold much intrinsic value for him based on what I said before. I would rather have him spend the $ on visiting his grandkids in AZ.

Then you're really going to fall on deaf ears.

If you're telling me there is a person out there who has the time, resources, and proximity to complete his degree and won't, well, I really can't get behind that.

 

[KBreuer15]

You are completely entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. I am not and do not want to speak for him, but I know you read the above posts and its not as easy as just taking the few classes he would of had to take in 1984 to finish his degree. The degree requirements have changed as I have stated before. The ONLY things that would come from him finishing his degree are the piece of paper and his jersey retirement. He won't be going to a job interview any time soon. Any job he would apply for would most likely be in the world of basketball, not the world of Agricultural Buisness.

Again, all I ask is if you or anyone else believes that hes jersey should be retired, then please voice your opinion to Norwood.

 

[station19]

My best guess:

Without degree - Zero chance.

With degree - May be considered but 50/50 to have jersey retired.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Fair enough, Costa, a good argument. I'm not quite as harsh on Voshon. What I remember is he played a lot of good basketball (the Lenard/Settles game comes to mind immediately), and he played on some pretty good albeit not great Gopher teams (a pair of NCAAs with a tournament win). As you mention, that's where perhaps he falls short.

But in terms of on-court accomplishment, all things being equal & had he not had some of his stats expunged, I think the school's all-time leading scorer (only Gopher over 2,000 career points before the "expunge") is worthy of jersey retirement. Another thing is I know there are some folks who thought Voshon was a selfish player, but I never thought of him that way.

There is that whole leading scorer in Gopher history thing isn't there? That's a damn good point. I'd certainly retire Voshon's jersey, I just don't think he was in the same class as the other players mentioned.

 

[SelectionSunday]

There is that whole leading scorer in Gopher history thing isn't there? That's a damn good point. I'd certainly retire Voshon's jersey, I just don't think he was in the same class as the other players mentioned.

Fair enough.

 

[tikited]

This is the leader for preposterous post of the year.

He didn't do anything outside of 10 feet? He was a 7'3" Center for crying out loud! That's not where Centers play. It's like saying Trent Tucker was just a "nice" player because he didn't average many blocks per game.

Opinions are subjective but 20ppg & 9reb in the B1G is not. That's the stuff of legends.

More like preposterous statement of all time on GH. Tiny's whole argument is beyond baffling (which is weird because he usually displays good knowledge). From "role player" to "NBA career" to "10 feet"...

 

[GoGophers2005]

Hockey is TOTALLY relevant to this conversation. The U of M athletic department better have a singular approach to every sport when it comes to this sort of thing. It is ridiculous in my opinion that the women's basketball team has more retired numbers (names, or whatever you want to call it) than the hockey and football team combined. It had more than the men's program until just a few years ago.

The football team still has players in both the college and pro football hall of fames that are not being recognized. Hobey Baker award winners that are not recognized. Randy Breuer was a Big Ten selection 2 years in a row? Tom Brown was the Outland Trophy winner, All American, National Champion, and finished 2nd in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Brown is barely mentioned as a Gopher great.

This isn't a slight to Breuer, it's a get your heads out of your asses to the U of M athletic department that they better start recognizing some of these people while they are alive.

 

[GoGophers2005]

Football Players that should be recognized with their name in the rafters:
Leo Nomellini - College and Pro Hall of Fame
Carl Eller - College and Pro Hall of Fame
Tom Brown - College Hall of Fame, See above for rest
Bernie Bierman - College Hall of Fame, coached 5 National Championships
Henry Williams - College Hall of Fame, coached 1 National Championship
Murray Warmath - coached 1 National Championship

Hockey
Neal Broten - Hobey
Brian Bonin - Hobey
Rob Stauber - Hobey
Jordan Leopold - Hobey
Herb Brooks - coached 3 National Championships


So my point is that the UofM Athletic Department has a lot of work to do before they even bring up Breuer's name for a jersey in the rafters.

 

[tikited]

So my point is that the UofM Athletic Department has a lot of work to do before they even bring up Breuer's name for a jersey in the rafters.

Totally agree. I think a few of us were just defending the career Breuer had. He could be anywhere from top five to top twenty of all time imo. That alone should make anyone think twice before talk of jerseys/rafters.

 

[station19]

Hockey is TOTALLY relevant to this conversation. The U of M athletic department better have a singular approach to every sport when it comes to this sort of thing. It is ridiculous in my opinion that the women's basketball team has more retired numbers (names, or whatever you want to call it) than the hockey and football team combined. It had more than the men's program until just a few years ago.

The football team still has players in both the college and pro football hall of fames that are not being recognized. Hobey Baker award winners that are not recognized. Randy Breuer was a Big Ten selection 2 years in a row? Tom Brown was the Outland Trophy winner, All American, National Champion, and finished 2nd in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Brown is barely mentioned as a Gopher great.

This isn't a slight to Breuer, it's a get your heads out of your asses to the U of M athletic department that they better start recognizing some of these people while they are alive.

Feel better now?

 

[4four4]

I understand why higher education exists. Let me lay this out for you.

Randy's major was Agricultural Business and to my knowledge does not exist in the form that he started back in the late '70s. For him to go back and get his degree it would take about 2 years and thousands of dollars and he would essentially be buying his number retirement. What would doing this accomplish for a 53 year old retired NBA player, with a pension, who wasnt foolish with his salary, who lives in Eden Prairie (not a huge farming community), other than get his number retired by the U of M? I don't want to completely speak for him, but I don't think it would hold much intrinsic value for him based on what I said before. I would rather have him spend the $ on visiting his grandkids in AZ.

When I was unemployed working at Home Depot in Shakopee he came into the store looking for help. Nice guy!

 

[Ope3]

Hebie

Football Players that should be recognized with their name in the rafters:
Leo Nomellini - College and Pro Hall of Fame
Carl Eller - College and Pro Hall of Fame
Tom Brown - College Hall of Fame, See above for rest
Bernie Bierman - College Hall of Fame, coached 5 National Championships
Henry Williams - College Hall of Fame, coached 1 National Championship
Murray Warmath - coached 1 National Championship

Hockey
Neal Broten - Hobey
Brian Bonin - Hobey
Rob Stauber - Hobey
Jordan Leopold - Hobey
Herb Brooks - coached 3 National Championships


So my point is that the UofM Athletic Department has a lot of work to do before they even bring up Breuer's name for a jersey in the rafters.

They should name the ice sheet at Mariucci after Herbie.

 

[Dr.Don]

When I was unemployed working at Home Depot in Shakopee he came into the store looking for help. Nice guy!

You are a magician!!!

 

[tinyarch]

He was 7'3" in a world with no 3 point shot. The guy never made all-american and he was too slow to defend anyone playing man-to-man defense. He was a decent player, nothing amazing. (Just for the record, the 76-77 team would have kicked the 81-82 teams @ss.) Heck, even Jim Petersen ended up being a better basketball player than Breu.

Let's look at it this way, Costa.

What are the skills that are required for a person to be an all-around great basketball player? Taking all the skills into account, dribbling, passing, shooting, steals, rebounding, defense, etc..., how many of those skills was Breue' exceptional at? Can anyone really say that Breu was the "best" player on any of the Gopher's teams he played on? No.

I'm not saying that Breu wasn't a good player in his role. I'm only saying that his all-around skills are not worthy of the rafter. You and everyone else here are more than welcome to disagree with me. I watched Breu at every level of his basketball life and I respectfully say that he doesn't deserve a banner. Perhaps it's because I have a higher standard for what makes a basketball player special. If you want to push for his name on a banner, be my guest and help out Randy Jr. with his quest. Whether his name dangles from a banner or not it really won't affect my support for the Gophers.

This is the leader for preposterous post of the year.

He didn't do anything outside of 10 feet? He was a 7'3" Center for crying out loud! That's not where Centers play. It's like saying Trent Tucker was just a "nice" player because he didn't average many blocks per game.

Opinions are subjective but 20ppg & 9reb in the B1G is not. That's the stuff of legends.

 

[drinks at Northpoint]

His battles against Granville Waiters and Uwe Blab were epic.

I played in the same HS conference 10 years after Randy. He was in the NBA by then. My coach said he was far more than just a giant in the paint. He had a nice shot and knew how to use his height. He altered games in the paint.

I have no problem with retiring his number.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

He was 7'3" in a world with no 3 point shot. The guy never made all-american and he was too slow to defend anyone playing man-to-man defense. He was a decent player, nothing amazing. (Just for the record, the 76-77 team would have kicked the 81-82 teams @ss.) Heck, even Jim Petersen ended up being a better basketball player than Breu.

Let's look at it this way, Costa.

What are the skills that are required for a person to be an all-around great basketball player? Taking all the skills into account, dribbling, passing, shooting, steals, rebounding, defense, etc..., how many of those skills was Breue' exceptional at? Can anyone really say that Breu was the "best" player on any of the Gopher's teams he played on? No.

I'm not saying that Breu wasn't a good player in his role. I'm only saying that his all-around skills are not worthy of the rafter. You and everyone else here are more than welcome to disagree with me. I watched Breu at every level of his basketball life and I respectfully say that he doesn't deserve a banner. Perhaps it's because I have a higher standard for what makes a basketball player special. If you want to push for his name on a banner, be my guest and help out Randy Jr. with his quest. Whether his name dangles from a banner or not it really won't affect my support for the Gophers.

Your logic is way off. What does Breuer playing before the 3 point shot have to do with....anything? A "role player"? You realize he was team MVP right? Two time, 1st team All-B1G? "Decent"? 20ppg, 9rpg?

All around skills? That's a new wrinkle you just added, but I'll play along. Was Mychal Thompson just a "role player"? He didn't play out on the wing or lead fast breaks. All he did was score, rebound & block shots....like Breuer. Different players have different skills & do different things. You can't judge Dre Hollins by how many rebounds per game he hauls in or how many blocks per game he averages because those stats don't really apply to a PG, just as "All round skills" are irrelevant to a 7' 3" Center who can score 20+, haul down 9 rebs a game & average 3 blocks per.

 

[tinyarch]

You really want to compare Breu with Thompson? Really? Thompson had more athletic ability in his left toe than Breuer had in his whole body.

Dre's skill level is head and shoulders above what Breu had simply because Dre is an athlete while Breu was a big with soft touch.

I'll go further. If Breu played in today's game, he'd be playing for a team like Wofford. He'd never even be offered at a B1G school because he'd never be able to defend outside the paint and the 3 point shot would make his skill-set minimally important.

You are free to put Breu on your pedestal and wish for his name to be dangled from the rafters, but I won't join you in the celebration. He was a good player, but not worthy of the rafters.

Your logic is way off. What does Breuer playing before the 3 point shot have to do with....anything? A "role player"? You realize he was team MVP right? Two time, 1st team All-B1G? "Decent"? 20ppg, 9rpg? D

All around skills? That's a new wrinkle you just added, but I'll play along. Was Mychal Thompson just a "role player"? He didn't play out on the wing. He was leading fast breaks. All he did was score, rebound & block shots....like Breuer. Different players have different skills & do different things. You can't judge Dre Hollins by how many rebounds per game he hauls in or how many blocks per game he averages because those stats don't really apply to a PG, just as "All round skills" are irrelevant to a 7' 3" Center who can score 20+, haul down 9 rebs a game & average 3 blocks per.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

You really want to compare Breu with Thompson? Really? Thompson had more athletic ability in his left toe than Breuer had in his whole body.

Dre's skill level is head and shoulders above what Breu had simply because Dre is an athlete while Breu was a big with soft touch.

I'll go further. If Breu played in today's game, he'd be playing for a team like Wofford. He'd never even be offered at a B1G school because he'd never be able to defend outside the paint and the 3 point shot would make his skill-set minimally important.

You are free to put Breu on your pedestal and wish for his name to be dangled from the rafters, but I won't join you in the celebration. He was a good player, but not worthy of the rafters.

You're critique of Breuer was that he didn't play 10+ feet away from the basket. Neither did Thompson. Then you changed your tune saying that Thompson had way more athletic talent, which of course I agree with but that doesn't change the fact that Thompson too was an under-the-basket player & you say those guys are just "role players".

Dre too has more athletic ability but he doesn't block shots, have post up moves or rebound so again by your criteria he's not an "all-round" player right? He also has never been named 1st Team All-B1G twice or led the team to a B1G Championship (yet ).

Your apples/oranges comparison is irrelevant because Breuer doesn't play today, he played in the late 70's, early 80's & was dominant. I also don't believe Centers today have to be athletic enough to cover a man at the 3 point line & don't understand your obsession with this point? Elliot plays in today's game, isn't particularly athletic & no one's making him chase guys around at the 3 point line. Centers rarely have to leave the paint that's what they do.