Posted July 4th, 2007 by Brian
Filed under: Basketball
The Austin American-Statesman is reporting that the Longhorns will retire Kevin Durant’s #35 jersey. Durant only spent one season as a Longhorn but he put up one of the best single season’s in college basketball history for a freshman. Durant set numerous Big 12 records on his way to becoming the first freshman to ever win the Adolph Rupp Trophy, the Naismith Award, or the Wooden Award.
There’s some question among Texas fans whether one year on campus is enough to receive this exclusive honor. Coach Rick Barnes believes Durant deserves the honor. “Kevin meets the same criteria as T.J. (Ford),” Barnes said. “He was national player of the year.” Though Durant didn’t lead the Horns to an NCAA championship, he put a young team on his back and took them a lot further than most Texas fans were expecting when the season began.
Durant will be only the fourth Longhorn in any sport to have his number retired, joining Heisman winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, Roger Clemens, and fellow Naismith winner T.J. Ford.
So what do you think? Should one incredible season be enough to have your jersey retired?
Should Texas retire Kevin Durant's #35 jersey?
- No (58%)
- Yes (42%)
Total Votes: 800
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reply to #1
Victor
July 5th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Retire Kevin Durant’s # before retiring Vince Young’s #? I don’t think so…
I believe Kevin’s number should be retired, but not before VY’s.
reply to #2
Karman
July 5th, 2007 at 11:04 am
He is our best basketball player ever ! why not! Of course retire VY’s # too. They have already let another player where VY’s # on the defensive side, which is messed up in my opinion. They should retire both #’s after all VY won us a National Title, not Durant. They are both going to be legends at Texas.
reply to #3
Ben
July 5th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I agree with Victor! Even though he left early, Vince stayed 4 years at UT (reshirt plus 3 active). VY brought us more specatular moments and a National Championship! It would be a crime if Durants jersey was retired to honor him before we honored VY! A CRIME, I TELL YA!! HOOK ‘EM!
reply to #4
botetourt
July 15th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
“Retiring” a jersey for a single season is preposterous. He is a great player, but retiring a jersey is supposed to celebrate a (college) career of accomplishment. Of course, given that so few of UT’s athletes actually graduate, irrespective of the sport, perhaps one good season is representative of a career in the lame state of Texas.
reply to #5
Hook'Em Horns
July 15th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
If our state is so lame , then why does almost every college in the nation come here to recruit? Oklahoma comes here to get all of there recruits, cause there is no talent in oklahoma. All of the top programs come to texas to recruit, not Oklahoma. Our new womans basketball coach , Gail, even said that Texas is the best recruiting state in the nation , for every category. So dont say that our state is lame, cause if its lame then so is OU, cause that is where they get all there talent from. Hook’em Horns
reply to #6
botetourt
July 16th, 2007 at 5:41 am
Last time I looked the purpose of a university is to educate, not be a showcase for athletes. Texas is a huge state–who wouldn’t recruit there? I am simply saying that KD had no career at UT–and to “retire” his jersey for one year serves to celebrate his athleticism at the expense of whatever small amount of intellectual capital UT possesses. Why not retire the “jersey” of the assistant and head coaches who recruited him for his one season? KD brought no honor to UT–don’t kid yourselves. Also, fear not, I am NOT a Sooner fan. I like UT–that’s why it’s stupid to retire a jersey for a one-season player.
reply to #7
Karman ( Hook'em Horns)
July 16th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
ok well im glad our a Lomghorn fan. but did he not also help our school not get in trouble by staying in school for a year, instead of leaving without at least finishing one year out. Like that new rule that they have , as to where a player must finish out his education, for that year or the school will get a probation.Something along that line, but i am not saying because of that one extra thing , retire his jersey. He was the best player our school has ever had for basketball. Why not?
reply to #8
Anita
July 19th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I do not think his jersey should be retired because he only brought a year’s worth of playing to the Longhorns. I think greed and a know-it-all-attitude is why he left. If he was so great why did Florida win the National Championship?
reply to #9
Brian
July 20th, 2007 at 6:52 am
Greed and a know-it-all-attitude? What in the world are you basing that on?
reply to #10
botetourt
July 20th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Greed is not the issue–who wouldn’t want him to play for your school? But everyone knew from the time he accepted that he would only be there one year. It was a one-year NBA charm school gig, courtesy of the Commish’s no high-school draftees rule. This is a disingenuous rule made by a league that is on the edge of losing the respect of its fans. Give credit to the overseas players for restoring its credibility somewhat. Texas gets no credibility by considering the jersey retirement.
reply to #11
chris
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I think botetourt touches on why schools like A&M did so well last year, because they recruited players that didnt peak until their junior or senior year. Guys like Durant and Lebron were nba ready out of the womb. Perhaps Coach Barnes should consider recruiting a class this year that has more upside than immediate benefit. Then when those guys mature around their Jr or Sr year, he should draft the hell out of some young talent. Just a thought.
reply to #12
Juan
August 14th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Kevin Durant’s jersey should be retierd at the university of Texas. No doubt about that.
reply to #13
reese
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:19 am
i do not think yall should retire kevin durant jersey cause that is my *****