47

by randomterrace on Apr 7, 2008 4:21 PM EDT

G-Day (inadvertently) reminded me once again of one of my biggest pet peeves about the Georgia program - one of our current players (I have no idea who) wears number 47.

David Pollack, in only three years, registered 283 tackles, 58.5 for a loss and 34 sacks, a Georgia record. He was responsible for 117 QB pressures, 18 defensed passes, 4 (that's right 4) interceptions, 7 forced fumbles (with three recoveries) and four blocked kicks.

David Pollack won SEC Player of the Year in 2002, Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, 2 Hendricks Awards, the Lomardi Award, the Bednarik Award and the Lott Trophy.

No player ever played harder, with more determination or fire. Few played with the same stregth of character. For a generation of Georgia fans, David Pollack (along with David Greene) is the ultimate expression of Georgia football. His play against South Carolina is emblazoned on the pages of Georgia lore forever, not only as a great moment in itself, but as the first chapter in the story of the program's greatest hero.

That's right, it's greatest. Herchel was amazing, but everybody knew he would be before he ever stepped on campus. As possibly the biggest recruit of all time, his success, while extraordinary, wasn't beyond the imagination.

David Pollack was a fullback his freshman year. Pollack is the embodiement of Finish the Drill, of work ethic and desire, of all those things your father tried to teach you when you were small.

David Pollack is the programs second three-time All American. The first has already had his number retired.

It's time for another retirement ceremony.

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Comments

I could get behind that.

Does anyone know when each of the other numbers was retired?

by NCT on Apr 7, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

As a matter of fact . . .

. . . Frank Sinkwich, who lettered from 1940 to 1942, had his jersey (No. 21) retired in 1943.

Charley Trippi, who lettered in 1942 and in 1945 and 1946, had his jersey (No. 62) retired in 1947.

Theron Sapp, who lettered from 1956 to 1958, had his jersey (No. 40) retired in 1959.

Herschel Walker, who lettered from 1980 to 1982, had his jersey (anyone who needs me to tell him this number is reading the wrong weblog) retired in 1985.

Sometime subsequent to that point, the practice of retiring jerseys was discontinued for practical reasons (with 85 scholarship athletes, plus walk-ons, there are only so many of the jersey numbers from 1 through 99 that can be retired before current players have to start doubling up), although I do not know how ironclad a policy this is.

by T Kyle King on Apr 7, 2008 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

Granted, BUT

I've had that same thought - I mean, hopefully Georgia will be playing football for another hundred years or so, if not longer, and eventually there will be other world-beating players, so eventually you run out of numbers.

But if you're going to retire numbers at all, you have to retire 47.

There are 48 one the two deep (counting the kicker and the punter), and only a few more special teams starters. I think there's room for one more retired number.

Although, if there isn't, I would be satisfied if all those players had their numbers "un-retired" and were simply honored by having their names and numbers displayed in the stadium (a la Turner Field).

by randomterrace on Apr 8, 2008 12:43 PM EDT reply actions