Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
6 2 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M was a three-time Pro Bowler, he didn't develop into a Taylor- level talent, and a serious motorcycle accident in June 2007 hastened the end of his pro football career. He announced his retirement three months later. Back at Penn State, Arrington's example was one that other linebackers wanted to emulate. In 2009, NaVorro Bowman switched from No. 18 to No. 11 as a tribute to Arrington and a testament to his own ambitions. The District Heights, Md., na- tive had led the Lions in tackles the year before and was intent on living up to Arrington's legacy as a junior. He succeeded. Bowman finished with 93 tackles including 52 solo stops. In his last game as a collegian, he had 9 tackles to lift Penn State past LSU in the Capital One Bowl. The following spring, Bowman was drafted in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers. He went on to play eight pro seasons, winning first- team All-Pro honors four times. After Bowman's exit, the jersey went to Khairi Fortt. A consensus four-star prospect and U.S. Army All-Amer- ican Bowl selection, Fortt had been expected to follow in Bow- man's footsteps at PSU. Instead, though, he transferred to Cal after the NCAA handed down its sanctions in 2012. Brandon Bell wore the jersey in 2015, having switched from No. 26, his number as a freshman and sophomore. Bell knew Arrington's history when he made the change but was unfazed. "I wouldn't say [there's] any pressure," he explained. "I do recognize the player that wore the number before me, but I think it's just a number at the end of the day." Bell went on to enjoy a solid career. In 2016, he was one of the defensive standouts on Penn State's Big Ten championship team. In the league title game against Wisconsin, he had 13 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. 'Wear It With A Chip On Your Shoulder' After Bell's graduation, the number went unused for a year before being handed to one of the most celebrated recruits ever to sign with Penn State, five-star Harrisburg prospect Micah Parsons. Parsons did not disappoint. He led the team in tackles dur- ing both years of his all too brief college career, winning consensus All-America honors as a sophomore. He now wears No. 11 as an All-Pro linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys, a possibility that had opened up only a few months prior to his selection when the NFL relaxed the rules that had previously limited linebackers to numbers 40 through 59 and 90 through 99. As an NFL player, the highest numerical honor that Parsons could receive would be to have his jersey retired. The Cowboys don't officially retire jerseys, but you'll likely never see another Dallas player wear No. 8 (quarterback Troy Aikman), No. 12 (quarterback Roger Staubach), No. 22 (running back Emmitt Smith) or No. 74 (defensive tackle Bob Lilly). It would be wildly premature to put Parsons in that group, but that's how NFL teams show respect for the greatest of the great. A total of 155 NFL players have had their numbers retired over the years, the most recent being former Penn State running back Franco Harris, whose famed No. 32 won't be worn by any future Pittsburgh Steelers player. College teams, of course, don't have that luxury. With more than 100 players on the roster in a typical year, they can't afford to take too many numbers out of circulation. In its 135-year football history, Penn State has retired just one number, the No. 22 jersey worn in 1973 by John Cappelletti, the program's only Heisman Trophy winner. Cappy's number was officially retired at halftime of Penn State's 2013 season opener, though running back Akeel Lynch was permitted to continue wearing it for the duration of the season. There have been no indications that Penn State is considering retiring any additional jerseys. Indeed, Cappelletti thought ini- tially that even one retired jersey might be too many. "Are you guys sure you want to do this?" he asked then-athlet- ics director Dave Joyner upon learning of the university's plans. As famous as No. 11 has become, it's probably the last jersey that Penn State would want to retire. It's too valuable as a signi- fier of linebacking greatness — or at least potential greatness. The jersey gives its owners a standard to uphold, and in that sense, it serves as a great source of motivation. When Penn State revealed in June that Carter would be wear- ing No. 11, Parsons reached out to him via Twitter, letting him know that "this is not just a number, it's a brotherhood." "Wear it with a chip on your shoulder," Parsons advised. "I'll be watching!!" ■ Micah Parsons led Penn State in tackles during his two collegiate seasons. In 2021, he was drafted 12th overall by Dallas and went on to become NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL PSU's Notable No. 11s Year(s) Player 1997-99 LaVar Arrington 2009 NaVorro Bowman 2015-16 Brandon Bell 2018-19 Micah Parsons 2022- Abdul Carter