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Scott Shafer, Floyd Little discuss restoration of No. 44 to football program

For about 30 minutes, Syracuse Athletics waited to unveil the big news of the day.

Concealed under a white tent, with 60 chairs and many more people standing, SU interim director of athletics Pete Sala announced the football program’s biggest decision since the hiring of head coach Scott Shafer:

“With the blessing of Jim Brown and Floyd Little, the No. 44 is back,” Sala said.

The iconic number had been retired on Nov. 12, 2005 before SU played South Florida. Three of SU’s best football players — Brown, Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner and Little, SU’s only three-time All-American — wore the number.