HE DIDN’T REALIZE why they were laughing.
Jerry Stovall was just one freshman among dozens, standing in front of The Cage, as trainers sized up each new player for his equipment.
What size pants do you need? What size shoes do you wear? What size helmet are you?
And the last question from Jim Smith, the football equipment manager in 1959: What jersey number would you like?
That was easy. Stovall had worn the number in high school, and so, he would wear it in college.
‘“Well,” Stovall told Smith, “I’d like number 20.