The LSU — Jayden Daniels public spat could be avoided by following the Miami Hurricanes’ blueprint
The Tigers and their former QB are at odds, but there’s a potential path for them and other programs to find a middle ground in the future.
The LSU Tigers and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels made headlines Thursday for all the wrong reasons. Daniels’ attorney reportedly sent a letter to LSU instructing the program that it is no longer allowed to use Daniels’ name, image, and likeness. The reason: LSU is allowing current player DJ Pickett to wear Daniels’ number, while no other player has worn Joe Burrow’s number since his all-time 2019 season.
It’s a problem that comes up from time to time among college programs, although rarely this publicly and rarely due to the outcry of an aggrieved former player in this manner.
However, one program has shown this does not have to be an issue, that you can in fact protect the program’s ability to use numbers while also honoring former greats who wore them.
Miami Hurricanes offer a blueprint for avoiding jersey number disputes
The Miami Hurricanes have had many legendary players come through the program who left their mark before going on to outstanding NFL careers. The Hurricanes honor them in a number of ways. They hang the player’s name and number from the rafters when they are named First Team All-Americans. They also have placed 31 names in the school’s ring of honor at Hard Rock Stadium.
And for the four numbers they have previously retired — George Mira, Sr. (No. 10), Vinny Testaverde (No. 14), Jim Dooley (No. 42) and Ted Hendricks (No. 89) — those numbers have not been off limits to current players — but with a catch. For example, Miami freshman sensation Malachi Toney wore Mira’s No. 10 last year, but with a patch honoring Mira on his shoulder.
That approach keeps numbers in circulation while still recognizing the players who made those numbers iconic. It’s a model that balances tradition with practicality.
Could other programs follow suit?
It could be difficult for some programs to change things up at this point given the number of former players who have already had their jerseys retired, and with differing views among players and school administrators as to what’s the proper way to continue to honor their legacies.
That being said, if there’s a way to honor players the way Miami has, other programs might be able to avoid the headache LSU is going through right now with its former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
