#49 - Printable Version
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#49 - OutsiderFan - 10-29-2013
Ben Gardner's absence from the field in Stanford's remaining 2013 season games is certainly a set-back, and there will be plenty of discussion about how to fill the void he leaves in the coming days.
I'd like to start a dialogue in another direction.
Few players come into a program and establish themselves as stalwart players. Fewer still also become strong team leaders. And it's practically unheard of for players with no other scholarship offers to have the impact on a program Ben Gardner has had on Stanford. To me, this needs to be recognized, and internalized into the Stanford football fabric and tradition, to remind all players who come to Stanford that they can be great players, even if they feel under appreciated as recruits because they didn't go to the combines, camps, etc., and maybe they focused on academics instead.
Therefore, I'd like to suggest that Stanford make it a tradition to award the #49 jersey to the defensive starter with the fewest scholarship offers and/or voted the most self-made player on the team. To me, this would be an awesome way to cement Ben Gardner's contribution and legacy in the Stanford football program, and create a great incentive for future players to want to claim his number. This is the kind of thing that can inspire future generations of Stanford football players, and franklly something that can be embraced by the entire Stanford football nation. College football is all about tradition. I can't think of a cooler way to say thanks to Ben Gardner for is contributions to Stanford, than to earmark his number to future players who are inspired by his legacy.
Re: #49 - stanfan - 10-29-2013
Great idea! I'm a brobdingnagian fan of Big Ben for all the reasons you mentioned.Â
Re: #49 - Hank 91 - 10-30-2013
This is a really cool idea. There's something special about a uniform number, and once you've been a fan of a particular team for a while, each number represents a chain of players who have worn it. Often it's just a disconnected group of guys who have that one thing in common, but they're still linked in the fans' minds. (For me, Chris Owusu's #81 brought me back to Cory Booker, and Usua Amanam's #15 reminds me of Gary Taylor, who lived across the hall from me in Rinconada freshman year.)
Outsider, if you don't mind, I'd love to post something about this on my blog -- giving you full credit, of course.
Re: #49 - OutsiderFan - 10-30-2013
Hank,
No need to take credit for the idea. Frankly, it was inspired from LSU. Since 2003, in honor of QB Matt Mauck, the LSU player who has overcome the most adversity and best represents the ideal LSU player, has been bestowed with the honor of wearing Mauck's #18. Though the #49 can be an offensive number, given Gardner is all defense, it seems reasonable to keep it on the defensive side of things. Plus, a player at any position on defense can wear it. Not sure an OL can wear a number lower than 50.
It would be cool to have the idea communicated to Stanford players and coaches for serious consideration. To me, these kinds of things are far more meaningful than over the top lockers and space age uniforms.
Re: #49 - FarmBoy - 10-30-2013
Is he still rocking the mullet? Even if he's not, the team should all do something to honor it. And it should be required that any future player to don the 49 has to have a mullet in season.
Re: #49 - Spiny_Norman - 10-30-2013
Maybe #49 should go to the player who is the best golfer on the football team. The current holder of that title appears to be Ben Gardner! Who knew?
http://youtu.be/nVezREPwoXE?t=3m15s
Re: #49 - sinclairchang - 10-30-2013
http://rivals.yahoo.com/iowastate/football/recruiting/player-David-Parry-99268
David Parry passed up scholarship offers to 3 different schools to walk-on here. He's put in the work and is now a starter. A deserving candidate for #49.