Barry Stevens was a tragedy, his number or jersey should have been retired, instead we waited for no good reason. Clearly one of our great players, no idea why it took him dying to get it done. Perfect example why you don’t wait 20 years.
Hang their jerseys
- Thread starter Knownothing
- Start date
I would argue Melvin was one of our best all around players ever. He did everything well. Every phase of the game he was really good at. People that don’t value how good he was don’t understand the game.
Fred was very good, but he was also born and raised in Ames which adds to his lore. He was the all American kid who stayed (until he didn’t). He may not have been the better player but no one really cares it seems.
I am even more annoyed now that JP won't hang some freakin jersey's up when I see Iowa announced while Garza is still playing that they are going to hang his. Good lord! What does an ISU player have to do?
If graduation is a pre-requisite for a jersey hanging, I think the order of candidates is:
1. Niang
2. Morris
3. Ejim
I would hope those top 2 would have their jerseys hung in the rafters sooner than later because there should be 0 debate as to whether they are deserving of the honor. Only thing in the way is this arbitrary amount of time needed for their legacy to marinade before it will happen.
1. Niang
2. Morris
3. Ejim
I would hope those top 2 would have their jerseys hung in the rafters sooner than later because there should be 0 debate as to whether they are deserving of the honor. Only thing in the way is this arbitrary amount of time needed for their legacy to marinade before it will happen.
I will be fair in that I think those first two at least are just waiting until they are done playing. They are easy an automatic. I think logistics stands in the way for hopefully a while. Ejim should absolutely be up there too, but I'm not as confident in people making that right decision. He is also still playing so logistics are an issue there too.
Since Niang and Morris are currently on NBA contenders I think you wait just a little bit more to see if they happen to be wearing a championship ring during the jersey retirement at Hilton.
Super stupid to eliminate Monte Morris based on that criteria. All American is subjective and Morris made some AA teams, Niang and Ejim as well I think. Only 2-3 players a season nationwide are true "consensus" AAs the way Fizer was and the vast majority of them are from a handful of bluebloods.
Tinsley is an example. He was 1st team AA in some/most and not in others. Is he an All American?
Super stupid criteria that Fizer is disqualified because he gave up millions to come back for his junior year when he didn't have to.
Grayer is before my time. Was he a consensus AA? Fizer is the only one in my 30+ years that was a real consensus AA across the board generally considered the 2nd best player in college basketball that year.
Fred was definitely not any more of a consensus AA than Morris, Niang or Ejim so we can drop that reason.
I don't mind that either...but with Fizer especially we're waiting too long. It's an antiquated rule. The guy could have been drafted his sophomore year easily and came back.
If you value a season of dominance Fizer's probably the ISU GOAT.
If you look at 4 years of production Monte and Niang are in that GOAT discussion but I agree it's not the time with them both playing NBA minutes entering the middle of their careers.
Not retiring Fizer/Tinsley but also not retiring Ejim is just completely irrational in every way.
Yeah, Fred was only honorable mention AA.
Niang was consensus second team. I know Morris was at least honorable mention AP. Ejim had a couple second team AA honors.
And if you want to factor academics into it, then Ejim should go up now since he was also scholar athlete of the year and academic AA.
Not to mention, in terms of All-American credentials, Fred is the least decorated among Fizer, Tinsley, Morris, Niang and Ejim. Fred made a couple as HM. All the others did at least that or more.
I'm not saying Fred's jersey shouldn't be in the rafters, but I find it odd that people rarely question that, yet there seems to be resistance to Ejim, when he was probably a more accomplished player at ISU.
This will probably get some negative feedback but.... Ejim had a good career, an incredible senior year, and was a great representative of ISU. But I wouldn't include him on the same level as Monte and Georges, and in my personal opinion shouldn't have his jersey retired or hung or whatever you want to call it. If he had one more season close to his senior year, I'd be all for it. But he was more or less a good role player for 3 of his 4 years here.
Was Fizer the only truly consensus AA? Even Tinsley was second team on a few.
No jerseys up there if consensus AA and graduation are required. The odds of a Garza type player who is a consensus AA and stays 4-5 years are astronomically low.
Watching Haliburton this year I have little doubt he could have been a consensus AA graduate if he played two more years while all the other players of their skill level cashed checks, but they guy basically needs to turn down 60 million dollars to do that. It's nonsensical.
Consensus AA also has an obvious lean toward blue bloods. Tinsley would have 100% been a consensus AA if he had Duke on his jersey. Probably Morris/Niang/Ejim as well. Dumb for ISU to value that sort of bs.
And add in that Ejim was 2nd team AA in what are typically considered the two most recognized AA teams - AP and BB writers.
It's the only reason I'd put him at the bottom of the 5 I think should be hung...but if someone is one of the "Fizer didn't graduate" people...then Ejim needs to be the #1 most deserving.
Fizer - very possibly GOAT and gave up millions to come back a third year
Monte - might own the record book the most of any Cyclone, owns Big 12 record book more than any Cyclone
Niang - top 3 or 4 career production.
Tinsley - Only two years but the guy did nothing but win games
Ejim - model student athlete, senior year probably a top 5 season of any Cyclone ever
The three guys playing are no big deal if it happens eventually. Fizer not being retired makes the program look bad. It would be like UNC not honoring Michael Jordan because he left the same year Fizer left ISU.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry, but it's just plain dumb that Ejim's jersey isn't hanging in Hilton. Has it been five years for Niang and Morris? All three should be up there. Has anybody asked ISU what they are waiting for?
Would also be something fans could look forward to next season.
Would also be something fans could look forward to next season.