When—and surely we’re talking when and not if at this stage—will Cam Newton’s blessed No. 2 jersey be retired? It took Auburn seven years to put holy No. 34 behind glass. It happened on Halloween 1992 at the Auburn-Arkansas game at Jordan-Hare, Auburn’s first SEC game against the Hogs. Here’s how the Glom described it:
With cheers of “Go, Bo, Go!” resounding in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Vincent ‘Bo’ Jackson’s jersey was retired. As a part of the Centennial Celebration, Jackson’s number 34 was permanently installed in AU football history, joining Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley as players with their jerseys retired.
“When I came to Auburn, I didn’t think I was in the same class as Pat Sullivan or Terry Beasley, and today I find myself in the same boat. This really hit me today as I was walking around campus. This honor means so much to me because it comes from Auburn people,” Jackson said.
Jackson was joined on the field with his wife and children during the halftime ceremony against Arkansas on October 31.
How the Glom actually heard Bo say this is anyone’s guess, because apparently he was also joined by interim Arkansas head coach Joe Kines and the entire Razorback team, who according to Austin Phillips—he’s never forgiven them—rudely ran back onto the field as Bo was speaking, which then lead the Arkansas band to start “Arkansas Fight.”
1993 Glom photo via @SuiteAuburn.
Related: Bo Jackson and Bobby Lowder at the 1986 A-Day game.
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I was sitting in the student section and recall as the Ark players started warming up on the field, a large mass of students started chanting in rhythmic unison to “Get off the d*mn field! Get off the d*mn field! Get off the….” It was Bo’s field that day and nobody was going to step on it until he said so!
If I remember correctly, Auburn gave out Bo posters at the gates that day. Of course I no longer have mine, so If some kind soul out there has one for sale please let me know.