#12 will be retired this year. Congratulations to Colt. I'm happy for a great guy and a great Longhorn. He joins the following Longhorn legends:
Vince Young (30-2 / National Champion / Maxwell / Davey O’Brien / retired #10)
Earl Campbell (Heisman Trophy & Doak Walker / retired #20)
Tommy Nobis (National Champion / All American LB / retired #60)
Ricky Williams (Heisman Trophy & Doak Walker / retired #34)
Bobby Layne (All American / retired #22)
That's rather elite company when you consider the quality of players that have come through this program. Of our now six retirees, only one is a defensive player and Nobis actually played both ways as a MLB and OG. Supposedly, he was just as elite as a blocker.
Colt's list of bona fides is long and impressive:
- 45 wins
- 13,253 passing yards
- 112 passing TDs
- 1589 yards rushing, 20 TDs
- Two BCS Bowls
- Big XII Offensive Player of the Year
- First Team All American by Associated Press
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
- Davey O’Brien Award
- Archie Manning Award
- Maxwell Award
- Walter Camp Award
That's a rather solid resume.
Philosophically, I'm against jersey retirements. Not because he wasn't a great player for us, but because I think jersey retirements are a celebration of self and the individual while football is the sport that most embodies the team. I readily concede that this objection is curmudgeonly, but I'm curious as to what you think?
Does Colt belong with the Longhorn Immortals?
Is there anyone missing from this group that deserves to be there?