The Unofficial Furman Football Page

Thought this sentiment deserved its own thread.

Also, do it at halftime.

Rafferty should have his number retired. But I'm of the opinion that number retirements should happen after the player has graduated.

It should be retired, but not until he has graduated. He would be the first one to say it’s not about me. It’s about the team, winning the SoCon tournament and playing well in the Big Dance.

Would stink for both Croone and Sibley who were both Socon POY and were key cogs in this incredible run of seasons to not recognize them for their efforts. There are quite a few guys who need their jerseys hanging!! Rafferty for sure.

Monday wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:43 am

Rafferty should have his number retired. But I'm of the opinion that number retirements should happen after the player has graduated.

Why? Just because that's the way it always been done? You'd have him come back in 5-10 years when there's a new coaching staff, new team, new administration/student body, and everyone who went through the five years with him have scattered to the wind? Do it around strangers?


I saw it done at halftime of senior night for Jonathon Moore and it was fitting.

Do it while he's still here, his family is here, his classmates are here,....

He seems like the guy who'd rather be in the locker room preparing for the second half, not going through a ceremony that can be held any other time. Hell, if it must be done this year do it this Saturday. Then you can have two nights honoring our winningest player ever.

I don't know the circumstances of Moore's retirement but it probably didn't happen during a game that was important as the one on Feb 23.

Fessor wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:52 am

Monday wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:43 am

Rafferty should have his number retired. But I'm of the opinion that number retirements should happen after the player has graduated.

Why? Just because that's the way it always been done? You'd have him come back in 5-10 years when there's a new coaching staff, new team, new administration/student body, and everyone who went through the five years with him have scattered to the wind? Do it around strangers?


I saw it done at halftime of senior night for Jonathon Moore and it was fitting.

Do it while he's still here, his family is here, his classmates are here,....

I’m not up-to-speed on all of Mr. Rafferty’s accomplishments & accolades, but here are some of Jonathan “Stitch” Moore’s...

* named First Team All-SoCon four times
* two-time SoCon Basketball Tournament MVP
* twice named the Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
* scored 2,299 points and grabbed 1,242 rebounds, placing him on an exclusive list of NCAA Division I men's basketball players to achieve both of those milestones
* led Furman to 2 NCAA Tournament appearances
* led Furman to 2 SoCon Tournament Championships & 1 Regular Season SoCon Championship
* led back-to-back Furman victories in successive nights over ACC Powers, UNC & NC State

There was absolutely no question that Stitch’s jersey was, deservedly, slated for retirement as he wrapped up his FU career.

If the situations are similar, then they should be handled similarly.

Stitch could play.

Monday wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:06 am

I don't know the circumstances of Moore's retirement but it probably didn't happen during a game that was important as the one on Feb 23.

It was a game of very little import: South Carolina, at home.

Paladins played inspired ball after the ceremony and beat up SC in the second half for the win.

2 years ago the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Croone?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
Last year the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Sibley?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
This year the crowd says "OMG what are we going to do next year without Rafferty?"......and I'm one of them.



Having said that I can tell you that when I ask Bob that question he gets this "cat that ate the canary" smile on his face and says "have you seen Noah at the 5 in practice?".....

Paul C wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 1:23 pm

2 years ago the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Croone?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
Last year the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Sibley?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
This year the crowd says "OMG what are we going to do next year without Rafferty?"......and I'm one of them.



Having said that I can tell you that when I ask Bob that question he gets this "cat that ate the canary" smile on his face and says "have you seen Noah at the 5 in practice?".....

Rafferty is different. He's the program's best player in decades (granted, it's been a rough few decades for the Paladins). His per-game efficiency is something like the difference between Furman and Mercer, conservatively. It might be more like the difference between Furman and the Citadel.

I'm pretty sure there is a process for this. Perhaps it would start with an email to Mike Buddie. Has anyone thought of this? Or done it?

youwouldno wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 2:31 pm

Paul C wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 15, 2019 1:23 pm

2 years ago the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Croone?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
Last year the crowd said "OMG what are we going to do next year without Sibley?"....I said relax, we'll be fine
This year the crowd says "OMG what are we going to do next year without Rafferty?"......and I'm one of them.



Having said that I can tell you that when I ask Bob that question he gets this "cat that ate the canary" smile on his face and says "have you seen Noah at the 5 in practice?".....

Rafferty is different. He's the program's best player in decades (granted, it's been a rough few decades for the Paladins). His per-game efficiency is something like the difference between Furman and Mercer, conservatively. It might be more like the difference between Furman and the Citadel.

I actually mentioned this to Flagman after the game last night...
I'm encouraged by how the team has played the past few nights WITHOUT Rafferty on the floor. In both the ETSU and UNCG games Matt ended up spending considerable stretches on the bench. In neither of these games did the team; panic, struggle mightily on offense, get outscored, or lapse on defense. There is no doubt in my mind that CBR practices this scenario. I'm confident we'll be ready next year..Gurley, Slawson and Mounce on the floor at the same time will give teams fits...especially after Noah hits the weight room hard this Summer and improves his post-play.

I agree that Rafferty is our best player in decades. And losing him will be tough.

But I think the strategy is to evolve our game plan to fit the strengths of the guys we have, and Noah has some things that he does better than Matt. Expect us to stress those things.

If Slawson and Noah improve this offseason as much as Mounce and Hunter did this past offseason, then we will be ok...but we will still miss Rafferty terribly....