re: Does #7 mini-tradition continue??

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Mauck didn’t pass down the number to Hester

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LSU’s No. 18 tradition started out innocently enough in the spring after LSU’s first national championship in 45 years on Jan. 4, 2004. Marucci, who has been at LSU for 19 years now, was sitting around the equipment room with equipment manager Greg Stringfellow, now in his 11th year with that title, sports information director Michael Bonnette, who has been in that spot since 2000, and quarterback Matt Mauck.

Mauck had decided to turn pro and was preparing for the NFL Draft after helping lead LSU to the BCS national title in his junior season – one year after suffering a foot injury that ended his 2002 season with seven games to play. Mauck’s 28 touchdown passes in the 2003 season remain tied for first in the LSU record book with JaMarcus Russell. His 229 completions that season remain second in school history to Russell.

“It really kind of started as a joke,” Mauck said from Denver, where he is the team dentist for the Denver Broncos and in private practice. “We wanted to give it to someone who’s a good player but also has character and is a good person. We had no idea the way it would work out.”

The first to wear “18” when it was more than just a number was the oddest of all the choices, but so far probably the most deserving. It went to Jacob Hester, who at the time had just signed that February.

“I just knew him from being recruited, and he seemed like the type of guy we were looking for,” Mauck said.

Hester wore 18 for the longest span – four seasons from 2004-07. “It really took off as a tradition under Jacob, especially after that Florida game,” Mauck said. “He was a great player and the ultimate team player.”

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Matt Mauck and Jacob Hester never played together.

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