Football legends. No. 98, No. 77 and No. 62. Your first thought would probably be a defensive end, an offensive or defensive tackle and an offensive or defensive guard.
Well, you would be wrong. No. 98 was worn by Michigan tailback Tom Harmon, winner of the 1940 Heisman Trophy. No. 77 was worn by Illinois halfback Harold “Red” Grange, who would have won the Heisman in 1925 had there been one. And No. 62 was worn by Georgia halfback Charlie Trippi, who finished second in the Heisman voting in 1946 behind Army’s Mr. Outside, Glenn Davis. Trippi’s number is retired at Georgia, along with Herschel Walker’s 34, Frank Sinkwich’s 21 and Macon native Theron Sapp’s 40.
In today’s college game, you won’t see skill players (halfbacks, quarterbacks, running backs, receivers) wearing those numbers, with the possible exception of No. 98. My friend Keith Stringfellow called a couple of weeks ago and asked me about the numbering system for football and I promised I would give him a response, so here is the best I have been able to determine.
In college football, the only stipulation is that offensive linemen, who aren’t eligible to catch passes, must wear numbers between 50-79. This differs from the NFL, which adopted a policy in 1973 whereby designated players must wear numbers that fall into a specific range. College teams for the most part follow the NFL standards, but it is not mandated other than for the ineligible receivers.
In the NFL, quarterbacks or place-kickers are assigned 1-9; quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and place-kickers also can wear 10-19. Running backs and defensive backs get numbers 20-49. Centers and linebackers wear 50-59, while offensive and defensive linemen wear 60-79. Receivers and tight ends wear 80-89, but they also can wear 40-49 if all the numbers in the 80s are taken, and 90-99 go to defensive linemen and linebackers.
There have been challenges. New Orleans running back Reggie Bush requested to wear his collegiate number, 5, when he entered the NFL, but he changed to 25 when his request was denied.
With only 53 players on an active roster, NFL teams have no problem providing numbers to their squad members. That is a different story, however, in the college game.
In college football, two or more players on the same squad may wear the same number. The dual numbers usually go to one offensive players and one defensive player, and one of those is usually a reserve who rarely plays.
There are exceptions. On this year’s Alabama roster, starting wide receiver Marquis Maze wears No. 4, as does starting defensive back Mark Barron. At Georgia, there are 34 dual numbers on the roster, and Ohio State has three players wearing 17.
Makes you ask the question, “What good is a game program?”
Bobby Pope hosts the Saturday Football Scoreboard Show on 1670 AM. The show is in its 36th year this fall.
