Ohio State Football: Should retired numbers be brought back?

Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch wrote an article over the weekend where it talked about how incoming freshman linebacker Justin Hilliard will be wearing No. 47 this upcoming season, which is a retired number by the Ohio State football program.

The number was once worn by Chic Harley, who played for the Buckeyes from 1916-1919, basically putting the football program on the map.

In the article “Incoming freshman Hilliard cleared to wear Harley’s No. 47,” by May for Buckeye Extra of the Dispatch brand, it says the following about how it was all made possible:

"“Hilliard, a linebacker who wore the number while starring at Cincinnati (Xavier) before signing with the Buckeyes, didn’t just make a grab for it. The protocol was followed as set up by OSU officials, who a couple of years ago opted to start honoring players and not retiring numbers after seven numbers had been retired.”"

The No. 47 was also worn by former OSU linebacker A.J. Hawk.

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With retired numbers, it is always a tough course of action. The No. 47 doesn’t bother me for the fact Harley and Hawk both wore the number with OSU, but didn’t win a Heisman Trophy while wearing the number.

The one number that shouldn’t be in circulation right now is the No. 10 of Troy Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2006. That number, I believe, should be with the rest of the former Heisman winners from the Buckeyes.

My belief is any number worn by a Heisman Trophy winner while with the Buckeyes should never be worn again.

Jun 5, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Former Ohio State University quarterback Troy Smith, right, and current quarterback Cardale Jones talk before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Below are the numbers of Buckeye Heisman Trophy winners: (year won Heisman Trophy in parentheses):
No. 10 – Troy Smith (2006) (not retired, but player has been honored)
No. 22 – Les Horvath (1944)
No. 27 – Eddie George (1995)
No. 31 – Vic Janowicz (1950)
No. 40 – Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1955)
No. 45 – Archie Griffin (1974, 1975)

Other retired numbers are the aforementioned No. 47 of Harley and the No. 99 of Bill Willis has been honored, but with the Buckeyes no longer retiring numbers, the No. 10 will be worn by two players this season.

What I do appreciate about Hilliard is his respect for the history of the number 47 and how he researched its history before seeking to wear the number he had great success with in high school.

I still think it is a little weird to see the No. 10 on the field for the Buckeyes, and I think it would be weird to see the No. 27 of George back on the field or the No. 45 of Griffin if that were to ever happen. (By the way, there is no way I can ever see those two numbers, along with the No. 40, ever being worn by any future Ohio State player.) Could you imagine the pressure on those players if those numbers were to ever be brought back? Again, I could never see that happening.

What are your thoughts on all of this … Do you believe if a number has been retired that is all for it, or should the number be “retired” by the school, but still in circulation?

Also, who is on board with the thought that a number that was worn by a former Heisman Trophy winner should never be worn again by any Buckeyes player?

Let us know what you are thinking about this topic.

Any way you look at it, this is a good “problem” to have. To have this discussion of retired numbers, a program has to have great players to start this topic, and it is easy to say OSU has had many great players and will continue to be one of the top programs in college football for years to come.

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