A season after... Does Melvin Ejim's jersey still deserve to be in the rafters?

[AllInForISU]

Personally I like how UNC does retired numbers and honored numbers. There is a clear description for each scenario. The problem with ISU is that there is no clear way to get to a retired or honored jersey number. It’s all seems arbitrary and that’s dumb

Here is what UNC does. I know I know, F Roy.

One of these criteria must be met to qualify for a retired jersey at UNC:
Associated Press Player of the Year; Naismith College Player of the Year; John R. Wooden Award; Sporting News Player of the Year; Oscar Robertson Trophy, formerly USBWA National Player of the Year; National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year

One of these criteria must be met to qualify for an honored jersey at UNC:
Member of a gold medal-winning Olympic team; MVP of a National Championship-winning team; First- or second-team All-America; ACC Player of the Year; NCAA Tournament MOP

 

[mjhavlo76]

I understand Melvin may not have the accolades as some players in Iowa State history, but he was the epitome of what Iowa State athletics represents. There are not many other players in Cyclone history that excelled in classroom as well as on the court. But most of all, his character was top-notch! One of the most humble student athletes I’ve EVER been associated with.

 

[ISUTex]

I understand Melvin may not have the accolades as some players in Iowa State history, but he was the epitome of what Iowa State athletics represents. There are not many other players in Cyclone history that excelled in classroom as well as on the court. But most of all, his character was top-notch! One of the most humble student athletes I’ve EVER been associated with.

Not have accolades? How many ISU players were All Americans and Academic All Americans and Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the year? How many won a Big 12 title and Sweet 16 in same year? How many were Big 12 POY? National teams for two different countries.

It honestly should be "Not many players in ISU history have the accolades of Melvin Ejim."

 

[Urbandale2013]

I personally would prefer a Hall of Legends, or something of the likes, instead of retiring any jerseys. Or hang the jerseys but don’t retire the number.

No number seems to be truly retired. Maybe if people realized that there could be a better conversation. Retiring a jersey should be a higher honor but still relatively attainable. Retiring a number should be retained for what some people seem to want to use as their criteria. Ejim clearly falls in that retiring the jersey but not the number level.

 

[ISUTex]

Hang em high. #3, #11, #31.

And yes, hang Tinsley and Fizer's. Two best players ISU has EVER HAD.....

 

[CycloneErik]

He was Big 12 POY and an excellent student. Hang his damn jersey.

It literally can't be any more complicated than this. All the accolades. All the excellence. Academics. Athletics. He's the total package. Hang the jersey.

 

[ISC]

I would say i want Ejim's jersey hung more than any of the others. Then Fizer's... and I really could are less if Tinsley's ever makes it in the rafters.

 

[83Clone]

Tinsley was the reason we won two outright conference championships but OK you’re probably right.

I would say i want Ejim's jersey hung more than any of the others. Then Fizer's... and I really could are less if Tinsley's ever makes it in the rafters.

ey w

 

[ISC]

Tinsley was the reason we won two outright conference championships but OK you’re probably right.

ey w

Yeah, i know. I suppose i'm still sore about Hampton

 

[istater7]

I’m simply shocked people could possibly be so emphatically against Ejim getting his jersey retired.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I’m simply shocked people could possibly be so emphatically against Ejim getting his jersey retired.

All Americans don't grow on trees, and it's fairly ridiculous that Iowa State hasn't retired a jersey since Fred.

 

[Cyclonefan710]

I’m simply shocked people could possibly be so emphatically against Ejim getting his jersey retired.

I don’t understand why this is even a topic right now. Niang and Morris are obvious better candidates so why are we discussing Ejim?

 

[deadeyededric]

Tinsley was the reason we won two outright conference championships but OK you’re probably right.

ey w

Tinsley was the best player to ever wear an ISU uniform.

 

[mynameisjonas]

it’s weird that you don’t see any threads about Morris or Niang’s jerseys going up, and they are obviously more deserving than Ejim. This thread is perplexing.

 

[Clonefan32]

Personally I like how UNC does retired numbers and honored numbers. There is a clear description for each scenario. The problem with ISU is that there is no clear way to get to a retired or honored jersey number. It’s all seems arbitrary and that’s dumb

Here is what UNC does. I know I know, F Roy.

One of these criteria must be met to qualify for a retired jersey at UNC:
Associated Press Player of the Year; Naismith College Player of the Year; John R. Wooden Award; Sporting News Player of the Year; Oscar Robertson Trophy, formerly USBWA National Player of the Year; National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year

One of these criteria must be met to qualify for an honored jersey at UNC:
Member of a gold medal-winning Olympic team; MVP of a National Championship-winning team; First- or second-team All-America; ACC Player of the Year; NCAA Tournament MOP

I really like this. Just take the subjectivity out of it. If you meet the criteria, the jersey goes up.

 

[DSM4Cy]

We should have a bunch of them up there - Fizer, Ejim, Niang, Morris for sure. Others could be debated. But we need to put some more jerseys in the rafters.

 

[gocubs2118]

it’s weird that you don’t see any threads about Morris or Niang’s jerseys going up, and they are obviously more deserving than Ejim. This thread is perplexing.

It’s because those two are obvious no doubters. Ejim is more on the borderline side. There is no debating Morris and Niang, we just have to wait the stupid 10 years now.

 

[AllInForISU]

I really like this. Just take the subjectivity out of it. If you meet the criteria, the jersey goes up.

Barry Stevens and Jeff Hornecek all wouldn’t be able to have had their numbers hung. Personally I would be fine with that but I know a lot of people would have a conniption about it.

Not saying they need to be taken down, but players like that should just be in the ISU hall of fame, not have their numbers hung while players like fizer, tinsley, ejim, and niang (off the top of my head) don’t for some stupid reason.

 

[isuno1fan]

it’s weird that you don’t see any threads about Morris or Niang’s jerseys going up, and they are obviously more deserving than Ejim. This thread is perplexing.

They aren't more deserving, but they are just as deserving.

 

[Cyclonefan710]

They aren't more deserving, but they are just as deserving.

If Ejim transferred after his Junior year he would be a forgotten man. The fact that there are fans who can’t tell the difference between a Morris/Niang career and Ejims is sad.