We talked about Bingo Smith needing to be added to the rafters... who else deserves it?
My list:
Coley #11
Ruffin #51
Harrington #10
My list:
Coley #11
Ruffin #51
Harrington #10
Players who should have their jerseys in the rafters?
- Thread starter astonmartin708
- Start date
No NBA = no retired jersey. So Ruffin can be in imo --- long NBA career and was the best rebounder Tulsa has/will ever have.
or...
No 1st, 2nd or 3rd team AA = no retired jersey. So Bingo is in. And see above re: NBA career.
or...
No 1st, 2nd or 3rd team AA = no retired jersey. So Bingo is in. And see above re: NBA career.
Coley was the "best" player on the best team we've had. That would deserve a retirement if you ask me. Plus, he played with a unique skillset and he was local. He deserves it.
Perhaps after he pays back due dues to GHC. He makes so much by being an alsome person and attorney, he can totally afford it.
Exactly. He was completely unique and special. We'll never have another like him. He was the baddest mofo that ever played for us and we have had some bad mofos.
Coley was special... but retiring his jersey? Then retire.... Williamson, Harrington, Dawkins, etc.... where do you stop.
***Someone please post any other D1's retirement of any jersey where the player did not go on to have a long NBA career or was an NCAA all-american (1st, 2nd or 3rd team)? Start the list...
***Someone please post any other D1's retirement of any jersey where the player did not go on to have a long NBA career or was an NCAA all-american (1st, 2nd or 3rd team)? Start the list...
There are plenty.
I think you could make a case for Harrington as well. He's still Tulsa's career assist leader and when he left TU he led in quite a few other stats.
I never saw Bingo play so I can't comment to that. Ruffin is the only one I can think of. At the time he left school he was the all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots and played 8-9 years in the NBA as a defensive specialist. While I loved Coley, I don't think he is in the conversation to be retired. Same with Harrington, Uzoh, or Jordan.
Remember, when you're retiring someone's number, you are saying they were the best. I think it's right that TU has taken that very seriously and not thrown it out there. Ruffin was a 4 year starter. Coley was not (to my recollection).
Remember, when you're retiring someone's number, you are saying they were the best. I think it's right that TU has taken that very seriously and not thrown it out there. Ruffin was a 4 year starter. Coley was not (to my recollection).
My criteria is how well you played at TU, and how you did as far as the NCAA tournament. That's why Uzoh and Jordan would be left out for me. Same reason I don't think Shaq or Woodard would deserve it either. They never won a tournament game. The NBA has zero bearing on retirement for me.
Its all subjective. Its very difficult to put forth a criteria that is universal since all the players had different strengths. But I just think Bingo met most of them for me and i doubt anyone would refute that he was one of our great players. I am a big believer in honoring a person while they are still able to appreciate the honor. IMO
Loved Harrington... IF I COULD MAKE UP ANY TULSA TEAM FROM ANY AND ALL ERAS, Greg Harrington would be my #1 guy running the team. So good. So smart.
And then I would add the obvious cast of players around him. But, I'd start with Greg. That noted... he's not someone you retire. Neither is Coley (who would be my #3 on my team fwiw).
And then I would add the obvious cast of players around him. But, I'd start with Greg. That noted... he's not someone you retire. Neither is Coley (who would be my #3 on my team fwiw).
Eldridge Webb, Ron Carson, Dana Lewis, Steve Bracey, Bingo, Willie Biles, Grasshopper Smith, Herb Johnson
I think the criteria for consideration should be:
Any All-American team
Conference POY
2000 career points
1st round draft pick
Non-trivial NBA career.
Retiring a jersey should really mean something and should be fairly rare.
Any All-American team
Conference POY
2000 career points
1st round draft pick
Non-trivial NBA career.
Retiring a jersey should really mean something and should be fairly rare.
I agree with this. Then again I am a Celtics fan and there's a reason why there are so many weird numbers won by Celtics players now. I don't agree on a set of criteria regarding stats. The individual has to have a unique and rare impact on your program and the program's legacy.
TU does have a Hall of Fame...they usually induct some individuals and 1 team in February and introduce them during half time of a game.
I think being the all time leader in a category can be misleading. By that logic, Dougie would be in our hall of fame because he won more games than any TU coach in history. There is logic for Ruffin's number to be retired. At the time his playing career ended with TU he led in career rebounds and blocked shots as an undersized (6'9" would be generous) 5. He has since been surpassed by Jerome Jordan in the blocked shots category. Coley still leads in steals (consequently he led TU in assists in '99 and 2000).
Ruffin: #23 in scoring, #1 rebounds, #2 blocked shots and Ruffin may be the leader in shooting percentage (he shot 56% his last year). Led the team in FG% 3 of his 4 years. Was a CoSida 1st Team Academic All American. Ruffin was inducted into TU's Hall of Fame in 2015.
Coley: #24 in scoring, #1 steals, #5 blocked shots, #11 rebounds. Coley was an honorable mention All American 1999-2000
By comparison, Seals is the all-time leading scorer and no worse than 5th all time in steals, rebounds, and assists.
I think there is a case that can be made for both of them...and then Harrington. Looking at Harrington's career stats are ridiculous as well.
I agree that being an All American is the starting point.
Retiring numbers should be an extraordinary/rare feat.
There are plenty of other accolades a player can receive prior to consideration of a retired number.
That should be basically be a "Mount Rushmore" type discussion.
Coley was an honorable mention All-American (I think) his senior year. He was close, but didn't quite meet the criteria.
Regardless, he was my favorite player ever to play at TU.
Retiring numbers should be an extraordinary/rare feat.
There are plenty of other accolades a player can receive prior to consideration of a retired number.
That should be basically be a "Mount Rushmore" type discussion.
Coley was an honorable mention All-American (I think) his senior year. He was close, but didn't quite meet the criteria.
Regardless, he was my favorite player ever to play at TU.
Bingo, Ruffin and Coley--in that order. Coley was tremendously underrated nationally. He could take over a game. He was the best player on our best team ever. Retire #11.
Eric Coley impacted games in so many ways and that team definitely doesn't do the things it did without him. I don't know that I would agree that he was better or more important than Harrington though. I just don't see Coley being on the same level as Pressey, Harris, Seals or even Gary Collier.
