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Here's a hypothetical question. If you could retire one number from the rich history of Alabama football, which one would it be?
The debate over retiring numbers in college football resurfaced on social media this week after the Colorado Buffaloes and coach Deion Sanders announced they would retire the numbers of Shedeur Sanders (the coach's son) and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
The two wrapped up their playing careers in Boulder less than four months ago. They're the first Colorado players to have their numbers retired since running back Rashaan Salaam, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1994. Salaam's number was retired in 2018.
Colorado is only the latest program to dive into the trend of retiring numbers in recent years. In 2021, Ole Miss retired Eli Manning's No. 10. Louisville did the same that year with Lamar Jackson's No. 8. In 2024, USC football retired the numbers of its two most recent Heisman Trophy winners: Reggie Bush and Caleb Williams. The Trojans have retired the numbers of every Heisman winner in school history.
Alabama has never retired a number, at least not officially. And it seems highly unlikely they'd start now, even as some programs are making it more commonplace.
For the sake of argument, though, let's say the Crimson Tide decided to retire a number. Whose would you retire?
If you're asking me, I say the honor goes to the No. 55 worn by College Football and Pro Football Hall Of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas. By and large, I don't think Alabama fans would have a problem with this.
It's not like Thomas' No. 55 has been used a lot in recent years. Offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. is the last noteworthy player to wear the number. Ekiyor was a three-starter in the trenches from 2020-22 and garnered All-SEC recognition.
Thomas recorded 27 sacks in the 1988 season, which still holds as Alabama's single-season record, as do his 52 career college sacks. He won the Dick Butkus Award in 1988 and was the No. 4 overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Thomas had an 11-year career with the Chiefs. He passed away from a pulmonary embolism at only 33 years old in 2000, less than a month after a fatal car crash on icy roads. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Legendary college football broadcaster Brent Musburger provided one of the more memorable soundbites in Alabama football history while calling the Crimson Tide's 1988 win over Penn State. On that October day at Birmingham's Legion Field, Alabama defeated Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions with Thomas leading the defense. He finished with three sacks, nine quarterback hurries and a safety.
"Have you ever seen a defensive player take charge like this? ... Superman does it. Derrick Thomas leads Alabama to an 8-3 victory," Musburger intoned from his seat in the CBS broadcast booth atop "The Old Gray Lady." Musburger said it was "the most dominating performance I have ever seen by a college player."
It's doubtful that Alabama will ever officially retire a number, but if the day ever comes, few would be more deserving than Thomas.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football will never retire numbers, but perhaps it should
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The debate over retiring numbers in college football resurfaced on social media this week after the Colorado Buffaloes and coach Deion Sanders announced they would retire the numbers of Shedeur Sanders (the coach's son) and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
The two wrapped up their playing careers in Boulder less than four months ago. They're the first Colorado players to have their numbers retired since running back Rashaan Salaam, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1994. Salaam's number was retired in 2018.
Colorado is only the latest program to dive into the trend of retiring numbers in recent years. In 2021, Ole Miss retired Eli Manning's No. 10. Louisville did the same that year with Lamar Jackson's No. 8. In 2024, USC football retired the numbers of its two most recent Heisman Trophy winners: Reggie Bush and Caleb Williams. The Trojans have retired the numbers of every Heisman winner in school history.
Alabama has never retired a number, at least not officially. And it seems highly unlikely they'd start now, even as some programs are making it more commonplace.
For the sake of argument, though, let's say the Crimson Tide decided to retire a number. Whose would you retire?
If you're asking me, I say the honor goes to the No. 55 worn by College Football and Pro Football Hall Of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas. By and large, I don't think Alabama fans would have a problem with this.
It's not like Thomas' No. 55 has been used a lot in recent years. Offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. is the last noteworthy player to wear the number. Ekiyor was a three-starter in the trenches from 2020-22 and garnered All-SEC recognition.
Thomas recorded 27 sacks in the 1988 season, which still holds as Alabama's single-season record, as do his 52 career college sacks. He won the Dick Butkus Award in 1988 and was the No. 4 overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Thomas had an 11-year career with the Chiefs. He passed away from a pulmonary embolism at only 33 years old in 2000, less than a month after a fatal car crash on icy roads. Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Legendary college football broadcaster Brent Musburger provided one of the more memorable soundbites in Alabama football history while calling the Crimson Tide's 1988 win over Penn State. On that October day at Birmingham's Legion Field, Alabama defeated Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions with Thomas leading the defense. He finished with three sacks, nine quarterback hurries and a safety.
"Have you ever seen a defensive player take charge like this? ... Superman does it. Derrick Thomas leads Alabama to an 8-3 victory," Musburger intoned from his seat in the CBS broadcast booth atop "The Old Gray Lady." Musburger said it was "the most dominating performance I have ever seen by a college player."
It's doubtful that Alabama will ever officially retire a number, but if the day ever comes, few would be more deserving than Thomas.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football will never retire numbers, but perhaps it should
Continue reading...
