Time to Amend Rules on Retired Jersey Numbers

Last week's announcement that Georgia Amoore would follow Kenny Brooks to Kentucky for her final season has elevated the discussion about retiring numbers

One month ago, before Liz Kitley tore her ACL, before the losses in the ACC and NCAA tournaments, before the coaching change, and before the portal departures, the conversation in Blacksburg centered on when Kitley’s jersey would be retired and if Georgia Amoore’s should be retired at the same time.

Just as consensus was forming around soon and yes as the obvious answers, everything went “out of whack”, as Frank Beamer would say.

Retiring Kitley’s jersey is still a no brainer, but it’s not so simple with Amoore. As one of the most popular and well liked players in school history, her departure is going to sting for a while.

And if you think this is a just a women’s basketball issue, you haven’t been paying attention.

Wanna know my biggest fear (outside of an untimely Lisfranc injury in August)?

Imagine Kyron Drones leading the Hokies to a playoff berth and winning ACC Player of the Year in 2024, then receiving a mid-round NFL Draft grade and watching his top five receivers (including tight end Nick Gallo) graduate. And then all the SEC NIL offers start rolling in.

Suddenly, this wouldn’t be home anymore.

A proposed amendment to the current rule

Virginia Tech’s rule on jersey retirements was written in the pre-portal era and is sorely in need of an update.

In 2002, the Virginia Tech athletics department developed a new policy on retiring jerseys. This special honor is bestowed to acknowledge an individual who has won an established national award in their sport, while allowing the number to continue to be worn by others. Tech will no longer retire numbers.

I would propose adding the following stipulations to the current policy:

To qualify, individuals must have either earned a degree from, or completed their playing career at, Virginia Tech.

The amended language would clearly qualify Amoore and likely Drones, as well, regardless of whether or not he ultimately transfers out. The second part of the amended text would make way for players who depart early to play professionally. While many of these players ultimately return to Blacksburg to complete their degrees, that should not delay the university from honoring them for their athletic exploits.

Looking to the past, and the future

At present, Virginia Tech has retired four football numbers and six jerseys. One of the six men to have their jersey retired never actually played in a Virginia Tech uniform. That person…Bud Foster. So, clearly there is some degree of flexibility in the stated rule.

That wiggle room could lead to hurt feelings if the athletic department does not get out in front of this issue. Clarifying who the university honors will also make clear why we honor them.

And there is precedence for honoring great players who finished their college careers at another school. A relevant example is Russell Wilson, who was back on campus in Raleigh in the spring of 2014 to have his jersey retired.

Yes, Wilson entered the NFL straight-outta-Madison-Wisconsin, but he had three amazing years at NC State prior to that, and the sporting public never forgot that fact.

Is it irksome that on WNBA Draft day, Georgia Amoore will be called up with a blue Kentucky chyron on the bottom of the screen? Sure, but that will not change her status as an all-time great Hokie and, most importantly, an alum.

And if my Kyron Drones nightmare plays out in real life, it won’t change what he would have accomplished at Virginia Tech.

That would be worth remembering. And honoring.