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Should/will the Saints Retire Hokie Gajans Number?
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:13 am
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:13 am
I know he wasnt lights out for the Saints although you could certainly argue that point as hes the Saints all-time leader in rushing average which is really the only true measure of a good running back/O-line but considering how local he is and how beloved he was, every bit as much as the others hanging in the Dome, I think it would be fitting.
The Saints are supposed to be all about "community" and the city and State. Well, Hokie was born and raised in Louisiana, played for Baker High School, played for LSU, played for the Saints, scouted for the Saints forever and then worked for the largest and most Louisiana sports oriented media outlet anywhere in WWL radio. I dont think it gets anymore local or "community" oriented than that. He basically lived every Louisiana kids dream life.
Everyone says that no one has ever had a bad word to say about him so there arent any character issues either.
Maybe some other honor? They named the Twin Spans for Frank Davis so surely Hokie is worthy of something?
The Saints are supposed to be all about "community" and the city and State. Well, Hokie was born and raised in Louisiana, played for Baker High School, played for LSU, played for the Saints, scouted for the Saints forever and then worked for the largest and most Louisiana sports oriented media outlet anywhere in WWL radio. I dont think it gets anymore local or "community" oriented than that. He basically lived every Louisiana kids dream life.
Everyone says that no one has ever had a bad word to say about him so there arent any character issues either. Maybe some other honor? They named the Twin Spans for Frank Davis so surely Hokie is worthy of something?
10
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:15 am to nola000
no.
LA Sports hall-of-fame? Absolutely. Probably already is...
LA Sports hall-of-fame? Absolutely. Probably already is...
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:17 am to jptiger2009
They are retiring both Gajan and Will Smith this year.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:23 am to nicholastiger
I wouldnt retire Will Smiths number. He wasnt that productive or beloved. Will Smith, alongside Archie Manning and Ricky Jackson? Really?
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:24 am to nicholastiger
quote:
They are retiring both Gajan and Will Smith this year.
Did you hear this from somewhere?
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:28 am to nola000
Not a huge fan of retiring numbers to begin with. Only players who have had carrers of such magnitude that their numbers are synonymous with them should even be considered IMHO.
With regard to Hokie I would say, no.
With regard to Hokie I would say, no.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:35 am to nicholastiger
quote:
They are retiring both Gajan and Will Smith this year.
They are not having their numbers retired, they are being inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. Hokie more as a lifelong achievement than just as a player. Both men knew about this honor before their untimely deaths.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:36 am to nicholastiger
quote:
They are retiring both Gajan and Will Smith this year
Unless this is a new development, induction into the Saints HOF does not = a retired jersey number.
Both were important pieces to the Saints org. It's sad that both are gone. But neither achieved enough greatness on the field to warrant number retirement.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:40 am to nola000
I read somewhere that they both were already scheduled to be inducted into the Saints Hall if Fame before they died, but nothing about their numbers being retired.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:41 am to nola000
NFL numbers are not technically ever retired. For the all time greats, its mostly a figure of speech.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:47 am to nola000
We currently have only 2 retired numbers
31 Jim Taylor
81 Doug Atkins
Ring of Honor has 4 members
8 Archie Manning
57 Rickey Jackson
77 Willie Roaf
7 Morten Anderson
There are some more current and former players that deserve ring of honor (Deuce) is one.
BUT there is only one more player at this point who deserves to have his number retired.
9
31 Jim Taylor
81 Doug Atkins
Ring of Honor has 4 members
8 Archie Manning
57 Rickey Jackson
77 Willie Roaf
7 Morten Anderson
There are some more current and former players that deserve ring of honor (Deuce) is one.
BUT there is only one more player at this point who deserves to have his number retired.
9
This post was edited on 4/15/16 at 11:48 am
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:54 am to nola000
No and no.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 11:56 am to nola000
Would they have retired it if he were still alive? No. RIP Hokie.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:07 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
Help me understand something.
Why the hell are Jim Taylors and Doug Atkins numbers retired and not the Ring of Honor members? This should be flipped, should it not? Is the Ring of Honor a bigger deal to the Saints than number retirement?
Agree with Deuce and Brees being retired/RoH. I would add Hokie even though his contribution as a player wasnt that great, his contribution to Louisiana football is maybe unmatched.
Isnt Jim Finks in the "Ring of Honor"? He wasnt even a Saints player. I seem to remember him up there the last time tickets to the Dome were affordable(2004)
Why the hell are Jim Taylors and Doug Atkins numbers retired and not the Ring of Honor members? This should be flipped, should it not? Is the Ring of Honor a bigger deal to the Saints than number retirement?
Agree with Deuce and Brees being retired/RoH. I would add Hokie even though his contribution as a player wasnt that great, his contribution to Louisiana football is maybe unmatched.
Isnt Jim Finks in the "Ring of Honor"? He wasnt even a Saints player. I seem to remember him up there the last time tickets to the Dome were affordable(2004)
This post was edited on 4/15/16 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:14 pm to nola000
No. Both were told last month that they would be inducted into Saints HOF(not ring of honor) last month and it was to be announced next month.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:16 pm to nola000
quote:Both numbers were retired when the team was so bad and fans were looking at them as legends (even though not with Saints). Both numbers have since been brought out of retirement and regularly used.
Help me understand something. Why the hell are Jim Taylors and Doug Atkins numbers retired and not the Ring of Honor members? This should be flipped, should it not? Is the Ring of Honor a bigger deal to the Saints than number retirement? Agree with Deuce and Brees being retired/RoH. I would add Hokie even though his contribution as a player wasnt that great, his contribution to Louisiana football is maybe unmatched. Isnt Jim Finks in the "Ring of Honor"? He wasnt even a Saints player. I seem to remember him up there the last time tickets to the Dome were affordable(2004)
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:18 pm to NOSHAU
Thanks, NOSHAU! Didnt know this stuff. Good info! 
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:21 pm to nola000
quote:Short answer, no.
Should/will the Saints Retire Hokie Gajans Number?
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:22 pm to nola000
quote:
Why the hell are Jim Taylors and Doug Atkins numbers retired and not the Ring of Honor members? This should be flipped, should it not? Is the Ring of Honor a bigger deal to the Saints than number retirement?
Both were HOF players and number's retired under old regime or just long before the ring of honor.
quote:
Agree with Deuce and Brees being retired/RoH. I would add Hokie even though his contribution as a player wasnt that great, his contribution to Louisiana football is maybe unmatched.
While I think down the road he could be added to ROH, there are still a lot of players who deserve it more than he.
quote:
Isnt Jim Finks in the "Ring of Honor"? He wasnt even a Saints player. I seem to remember him up there the last time tickets to the Dome were affordable(2004)
Jim Finks was the architect of some of our best teams prior to 2006.
Posted on 4/15/16 at 12:26 pm to DirtyMikeandtheBoys
quote:
We currently have only 2 retired numbers 31 Jim Taylor 81 Doug Atkins
And both numbers have never stopped being used.
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