I was there. 69 Subregional against Dayton in Fort Worth. In fact, I’m in the uncropped pic
The Otis Birdsong article praising Mercy Miller brought this topic back up… they mentioned we only have 5 retired jerseys… we now have more FFs than retired numbers.
I think #1 should be retired to memorialize the great career $head had at UH.
Which UH basketball players have had their jersey number retired? Glad you asked:
Elvin Hayes #44
Don Chaney #24
Otis Birdsong #10
Hakeem Olajuwon #34
Clyde Drexler #22
Michael Young #42
Jim Nantz, (Non-player, but deserving, IMO)
The above players represent the low hanging fruit. There are a number of players who merit consideration. Let the arguments begin.
I’ll just start with players after PSJ as a prerequisite…
I’d start with #1… Jamal $head.
2023-24 Big 12 POY, DPOY and Athlete of the Year!!!
The black ones.
And First Team All-American. He did it all!
And Don Chaney #24. His jersey retired last year I believe.
D’oh! Thank you.
Added Don Chaney.
Oh… the author of that article missed Don, too!
Galen for sure. He’s the grandaddy of the new era
Thank you!
Just a thought…
Retiring a player’s number is a special honor. An athlete’s accomplishments need to be extraordinary and not easily matched. I would rather have athletes on the outside looking in than retiring every star player’s number. The current players are very deserving. I think some of the names bandied about are deserving of consideration and others, IMO, are fringe. And no, I will not mention any players.
Let’s keep retiring a player’s number reserved for truly special UH basketball players.
No way
Is there a player that earned higher awards than $head did his senior season… #3 all time in steals and assists including 2nd most assists in a season.
Retiring $head’s jersey is a no brainer.
I agree, of all the current generation of players, he is the one that meets the mark in my mind. After that… I would maybe consider Sasser but probably need a bit more convincing.
I believe none of Sampson’s players will get their jersey retired while he’s still coaching. Maybe a couple will during Kellen’s tenure.
Here is what AI says about retiring an athlete’s jersey number at UH:
Significant Athletic Achievement
- All-America honors: Earning All-America recognition is a key factor.
- National Awards: Winning a major national award, such as the Heisman Trophy, is another significant achievement considered for jersey retirement.
- Consensus All-American: Being recognized as a consensus All-American demonstrates a high level of performance and impact.
- Conference Awards: Winning a conference MVP or Player of the Year award, or being a three-time All-Conference First Team member is also factored into the decision.
- NCAA Record Holder: Holding at least five NCAA records for a substantial period (at least 10 years) can also lead to jersey retirement.
Contributions to the University of Houston Program
- Team Success: Players who significantly contributed to the success of their teams, for example, winning a conference championship or making a deep postseason run, may be considered for jersey retirement.
- Professional Success: A successful career at the professional level can also enhance a player’s candidacy for jersey retirement.
- Leadership and Character: Demonstrating good character, sportsmanship, and leadership during their time at the university can also be considered.
- “Trailblazer” Status: In special cases, like Don Chaney’s jersey retirement, significant contributions beyond athletics, such as integrating intercollegiate athletics, can be a major factor.
It’s important to note that a player typically needs to meet at least two of the listed criteria to be considered for jersey retirement.
In some cases, the University of Houston has also retired jersey numbers of players who experienced untimely deaths during their playing careers.
The University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor recognizes individuals who have profoundly influenced the university and reached the pinnacle of their fields, according to the University of Houston Athletics website. While Hall of Honor induction is not the same as jersey retirement, there might be overlap in the criteria used to identify deserving individuals.
So… AI agrees that $head should have his jersey retired… and that’s even before he finishes his pro career.
You have to retire Double D and Birdsong and then Shead!