By Euclid 419er

 @cjfair: I made my decision to wear #5 next year at Syracuse..I got a lot of reason behind it!

So let it be tweeted.  So let it be done. With an announcement to his virtual minions last week that he would don #5, Syracuse incoming freshman C.J. Fair has not only chosen an identity, he has chosen to pursue a Syracuse legacy.  

Fast forward to Syracuse’s football Spring Game on Saturday, where junior wide receiver, and wearer of the #5, Marcus Sales chose to make a different kind of announcement.  Eight catches.  158 yards.  

It was a couple of exciting days for a number with quite a recent history.

Much has been made about Syracuse retiring #44, including right here at Otto’s Army.  Opponents of the decision (which include yours truly) see it as retiring a tradition rather than honoring it.  But over the last fifteen years, in the absence of any stud recruit worthy of the tradition of Brown, Davis and Little, #5 has emerged as the new number of tradition, and has begun a legacy unto its own. Since the Donovan McNabb era, #5 may have been worn more frequently by high-profile SU football and basketball players than any other. I do not assert that #5 will ever replace #44 in Syracuse lore.  But the kids sure do seem to like the cinco. Some of those players have panned out and had great careers.  But unlike #44, the legacy of #5 is a mixed bag of success and failure, and those who have worn it have earned both admiration and contempt from the Orange faithful.

The standard-bearer for the legacy is, of course, McNabb, who wore #5 for football but not his short basketball stint (he wore #24).  My apparel of choice when attending Syracuse football games is a replica McNabb jersey – blue with orange trim.  Despite no name on the back, fellow revelers and foes alike know who the homage is for (no offense R.J. Anderson).  

Those on the football side of things who have worn #5 post-McNabb have to carry that weight.  The aforementioned R.J. Anderson came in with high expectations. After Anderson’s first career start – a victory over West Virginia – Syracuse Post-Standard columnist, Bud Polquin wrote, “for some, that’s good enough to fancy that this isn’t an heir to McNabb, but a clone of him.”  At least R.J. had the good sense to downplay that nonsense.

“Nah, it’s not even close,” said Anderson the other day. “It feels good when people mention my name in the same sentence with his, but you can’t make that comparison. You just can’t. I mean, Donovan McNabb plays in the NFL. I’m nowhere close.”

R.J. went on to a career record of 18-14 – downright respectable by today’s standards, but well short of McNabb-clone status. 

The shadow of McNabb was cast over R.J.’s #5 successor, Joe Fields, as well. Excitement was high, as suggested by an AP story in the spring of 2004:

“The number that freshman Joe Fields wears pretty much tells his story – he wants to be the next quarterback of the Syracuse Orangemen.

…

Fields grew up in Texas idolizing McNabb, who also wore No. 5 at Syracuse. With the departure of last year’s starter at quarterback, R.J. Anderson, the number was available, and since Fields also wore it in high school, it was only natural to give him the chance to wear it again. 

“If people want to compare me to Donovan McNabb, that’s fine with me. I’m not going to say I’m scared of it,” he said.

Nice. Confidence.  A quarterback needs that.  No way, he would go on to eat those words, right? RIGHT?!?!? 

September 5th, 2004. Fields’ debut. Syracuse.  Purdue.  National television.  51-0.

Sigh. That about summed up Field’s career under center. Six games started over two seasons. Fields did, however, go on to have a pretty darn good career as a safety, his natural position and the one that earned him high rankings as a college recruit and spent a season on the Carolina Panthers practice squad. 

Basketball was a bit kinder to #5.  Jason Hart tops the list. All-time steals leader.  Second all-time in assists.  Enough said. Josh Pace was the next to wear #5.  While he doesn’t have any records, he’s got a ring and our unwavering admiration and respect.

Then there is that charlatan, Donté Green.  I would love for some researcher with more time on their hands than me find a more highly-rated prospect who led his team to the swamps of the NIT and then went pro.  Even though he’s in the NBA and may be doing well (he plays for Sacramento so who the hell knows), he will forever be branded as an underachiever, emblematic of the doldrums of recent Syracuse hoops history.  

Which brings us to last week.  Fair’s announcement that he’ll be the next to wear #5 is exciting but we should proceed with caution. As Tom Sullivan noted, with an injury to bounce back from and a niche to find, Fair has his work cut out for him. We’ll likely have a year before we find out which path this #5 will take.  Sales, on the other hand, could be on the verge of a breakout season. If the spring game is any indication, the product of Christian Brothers Academy could shine in the revamped offense. While lessons about lofty expectations have been learned, the legacy of 5 seems to be in capable hands.