SPORTS

NFL jersey numbers are changing and I don’t like it

Published

3 years ago

09/08/2021

Football is already back, but for me it does not feel like it has really started until the NFL season starts which it does this Thursday.
While every season brings with it some rule changes and such, the biggest one for me is purely an aesthetic one I am not a fan. Starting this season, players can now wear whatever jersey number they want.
I know, it is a stupid thing no one really is complaining about outside of maybe some jersey collectors out there who I guess have to buy certain players jerseys again if they have gone and changed their jersey.
I am warning you right away, this is one of those arguments where someone is wanting the status quo to stay for no other reason than because they are used to it.
I believe just because something is a tradition is not a good enough reason for it to not change or evolve. As a contradiction and a fan of NFL history, I don’t like this though.
I blame youth, high school and college football number culture and Keyshawn Johnson specifically. Somewhere lost to time, it became cool for skill position or playmaker types (wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs, linebackers) to wear the single digit or teen numbers at the lower levels of football.
Maybe because they want to be on the bottom row of team pictures organized by jersey number. Maybe because single digit numbers also are wanted in other sports and they want to match that jersey number as well. Who knows after all these years why it is considered cool.
Traditionally in the NFL these numbers were reserved only for quarterbacks and kickers. Running backs and defensive backs had numbers 20-49 while receivers and tight ends had all of the 80-89, with the odd tight end maybe having a number in the 40s. Linebackers had all of the 50-59.

To read the rest of this rant, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.

SPORTS

Nocona new press box put into place

Published

2 days ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

(Courtesy photo)

Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.

SPORTS

Richey repeats at IFYR

Published

2 days ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

(Courtesy photo)

Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.

SPORTS

Youth rodeo awards presented

Published

2 days ago

07/20/2024

bowienews

The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo presented awards for its summer season this week. Tess Egenbacher won the top cowgirl buckle for the 13-18 age division, which was presented to her by Kyle Bishop. (Courtesy photo)

The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.

To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.