Any Syracuse Orange fan knows and understands the history and legacy of the number 44 for the football team. It’s ingrained within the fabric of the university and athletic department to nearly every extent possible. It’s part of SU’s identity, down to phone numbers and the zip code. The number 44 IS Syracuse. But again, you know this already.
The powers-that-be at Syracuse know this as well, of course. Yet they’ve forgotten how the number earned its hallowed place to begin with: On-field success. No one’s worn the number since 1998, and 44 was officially retired in 2005.