I think its time that Weber State honor the greatest basketball player in school history! Where would Weber State basketball be without him and Motta?
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#35 - Willie Sojourner needs to be honored
- Thread starter n.ogdencat
- Start date
weberwildcat
Active member
talhadfoursteals said:
We would be UVU or Sac.
weberwildcat
Active member
It's unreal that no one can touch his stats and he hasn't even played in 38 years.
weberwildcat1
Active member
http://www.wsusignpost.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=5bd43963-94ea-4f9b-839f-8775a7107613
WSU fan wants respect for Willie
Proposal being reviewed for Wildcat basketball legend's jersey number to be retired
By: Berger, Jenalee
Posted: October 27 2006
Weber State University alumnus and lifetime WSU basketball fan Cody Olson would like to see WSU basketball hero Willie Sojourner's jersey number retired.
"I just think that they should retire his number out of respect for what an awesome player he was and what he did for Weber State's basketball program," Olson said.
Sojourner died in a car accident in Italy, just about one year ago, on October 19, 2005. He played at WSU from 1968-1971. His jersey number was 35.
During Sojourner's collegiate career, he helped his team win three Big Sky Conference titles and held records in rebounds and scoring. While at WSU, he was coached by Utah Jazz Assistant Coach Phil Johnson. After college, he went on to play in the NBA and also played professionally in Italy.
"I knew he was like one of the best players in the school history," Olson said. After doing some research on Sojourner, Olson wrote a detailed report about his basketball career.
He e-mailed the report to Ann Millner, WSU president; Jerry Graybeal, athletic director; Randy Rahe, men's head basketball coach; and Vivian Donaldson, assistant director of the Wildcat Club.
"He was so good that his statistics, like total points scored, total rebounds, is like some of the best in school history and conference history," Olson said.
[BTW, Jenna, thanks for the direct quotes, they make me sound very intellegent! LOL!!]
He learned that Sojourner scored 1,563 points and made 1,143 rebounds while at WSU.
"Back then, you couldn't even play as a freshman," Paige said, "so that's only in three years time."
Rahe and the athletic director responded to the e-mail. Olson said they both seemed to like the idea.
Brad Larsen is the director of media relations for WSU athletics and is on the WSU Hall of Fame Committee. He said over the years many people have suggested retiring Sojourner's number.
"If there is a person who's number deserves to be retired, Willie would certainly be in the top three, if not the top one," Larsen said. "It's something we need to look at."
Besides being an excellent player, Larsen said Sojourner was also a great person. Larsen actually played with him during the late 1980's.
"I don't know if the guy had any enemies," Larsen said. "He was just that kind of a guy."
Larsen also recalled how large Sojourner's hands were.
"Huge hands," he said, "I mean the biggest hands I've ever shaken in my life."
While Sojourner was playing at WSU, everyone in the community seemed to know about him. When WSU played Utah State University for the first time in men's basketball, Sojourner led his team to a 63-62 win.
"Anyone who was around at that time would know who he is," Olson said. "That's how good he was."
WSU has never retired an athlete's number.
"We don't have any policies or anything set to do that," Larsen said.
Number 44 in men's basketball is standing in the Dee Event Center in honor of men's basketball player Rob Thomas, who died in an accident during his time at WSU. Thomas' number however, was not retired.
Larsen said retiring jersey numbers is something the Hall of Fame Committee will have to look into because there is obvious interest.
"You don't just retire it and say it's retired, you know," Larsen said, "you have to decide what you are going to do."
They would need to decide if numbers that are retired would be able to be worn by other players or if the number would be retired permanently.
"Obviously you'd have to have some guidelines as to who got their numbers retired," Larsen said.
WSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Randy Rahe said he thinks it would be good for the university to retire Sojourner's jersey.
"He was tremendous," Rahe said. "I mean, he kind of put Weber State on the map, as far as the basketball program is concerned."
Rahe said retiring jersey numbers would be a good tradition for WSU to start.
"I think you need to recognize tradition and Weber State's got tremendous tradition," Rahe said. "I think it's something that you can kind of hang your hat on."Retiring numbers would be a way to recognize players.
"Honor those players who have made Weber State basketball what it is today," Rahe said.
Even if Sojourner's number isn't retired, Olson said people will always remember what he did for the WSU men's basketball program.
"If you're familiar with Weber State basketball," he said, "you know the legend of Willie Sojourner."
You can leave a message for reporter Jenalee Berger by calling 626-7983.
WSU fan wants respect for Willie
Proposal being reviewed for Wildcat basketball legend's jersey number to be retired
By: Berger, Jenalee
Posted: October 27 2006
Weber State University alumnus and lifetime WSU basketball fan Cody Olson would like to see WSU basketball hero Willie Sojourner's jersey number retired.
"I just think that they should retire his number out of respect for what an awesome player he was and what he did for Weber State's basketball program," Olson said.
Sojourner died in a car accident in Italy, just about one year ago, on October 19, 2005. He played at WSU from 1968-1971. His jersey number was 35.
During Sojourner's collegiate career, he helped his team win three Big Sky Conference titles and held records in rebounds and scoring. While at WSU, he was coached by Utah Jazz Assistant Coach Phil Johnson. After college, he went on to play in the NBA and also played professionally in Italy.
"I knew he was like one of the best players in the school history," Olson said. After doing some research on Sojourner, Olson wrote a detailed report about his basketball career.
He e-mailed the report to Ann Millner, WSU president; Jerry Graybeal, athletic director; Randy Rahe, men's head basketball coach; and Vivian Donaldson, assistant director of the Wildcat Club.
"He was so good that his statistics, like total points scored, total rebounds, is like some of the best in school history and conference history," Olson said.
[BTW, Jenna, thanks for the direct quotes, they make me sound very intellegent! LOL!!]
He learned that Sojourner scored 1,563 points and made 1,143 rebounds while at WSU.
"Back then, you couldn't even play as a freshman," Paige said, "so that's only in three years time."
Rahe and the athletic director responded to the e-mail. Olson said they both seemed to like the idea.
Brad Larsen is the director of media relations for WSU athletics and is on the WSU Hall of Fame Committee. He said over the years many people have suggested retiring Sojourner's number.
"If there is a person who's number deserves to be retired, Willie would certainly be in the top three, if not the top one," Larsen said. "It's something we need to look at."
Besides being an excellent player, Larsen said Sojourner was also a great person. Larsen actually played with him during the late 1980's.
"I don't know if the guy had any enemies," Larsen said. "He was just that kind of a guy."
Larsen also recalled how large Sojourner's hands were.
"Huge hands," he said, "I mean the biggest hands I've ever shaken in my life."
While Sojourner was playing at WSU, everyone in the community seemed to know about him. When WSU played Utah State University for the first time in men's basketball, Sojourner led his team to a 63-62 win.
"Anyone who was around at that time would know who he is," Olson said. "That's how good he was."
WSU has never retired an athlete's number.
"We don't have any policies or anything set to do that," Larsen said.
Number 44 in men's basketball is standing in the Dee Event Center in honor of men's basketball player Rob Thomas, who died in an accident during his time at WSU. Thomas' number however, was not retired.
Larsen said retiring jersey numbers is something the Hall of Fame Committee will have to look into because there is obvious interest.
"You don't just retire it and say it's retired, you know," Larsen said, "you have to decide what you are going to do."
They would need to decide if numbers that are retired would be able to be worn by other players or if the number would be retired permanently.
"Obviously you'd have to have some guidelines as to who got their numbers retired," Larsen said.
WSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Randy Rahe said he thinks it would be good for the university to retire Sojourner's jersey.
"He was tremendous," Rahe said. "I mean, he kind of put Weber State on the map, as far as the basketball program is concerned."
Rahe said retiring jersey numbers would be a good tradition for WSU to start.
"I think you need to recognize tradition and Weber State's got tremendous tradition," Rahe said. "I think it's something that you can kind of hang your hat on."Retiring numbers would be a way to recognize players.
"Honor those players who have made Weber State basketball what it is today," Rahe said.
Even if Sojourner's number isn't retired, Olson said people will always remember what he did for the WSU men's basketball program.
"If you're familiar with Weber State basketball," he said, "you know the legend of Willie Sojourner."
You can leave a message for reporter Jenalee Berger by calling 626-7983.
weberwildcat1
Active member
Weber State beat Utah State the first 2 games they ever played, both were in Logan. The first one was led by Sojourner his senior year.
weberwildcat1
Active member
He was inducted into the WSU hall of fame in 1990. So it is not like he hasn't been honored. He just deserves to have his number retired.
I think if a stadium can be named after him, we can retire his number.
If we retire his number, this doesn't mean we need to retire every player and their dogs' numbers too...we aren't the Utah Jazz.
And when I say retire his number I mean retire his number not his jersey like BYU does.
I think if a stadium can be named after him, we can retire his number.
If we retire his number, this doesn't mean we need to retire every player and their dogs' numbers too...we aren't the Utah Jazz.
And when I say retire his number I mean retire his number not his jersey like BYU does.
weberwildcat1
Active member
Numbers retired in our state:
UofU: 8
USU: 5
BYU: 2
SUU: 1
WSU: 0
UofU: 8
USU: 5
BYU: 2
SUU: 1
WSU: 0
weberwildcat1
Active member
Willie Sojourner 1968-71:
WSU records
Career Points 1563 - #4 in WSU history
(only played 3 yrs)
Career Rebounds 1143 - #1 in WSU history *#2 Big Sky history
Career Rebounding Average 14.1 - #1 in WSU history *#1 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounds 411 - #1 in WSU history **#2 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounds 392 - #2 in WSU history **#3 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounding Average 15.8 - #1 in WSU history
Single Game Points 39 - #3 in WSU history
Single Game Rebounds 25 - #1 in WSU history
(also had 3 other games with 24 which is #2 in WSU history)
3 time Big Sky Conference 1st team
1 of 4 in WSU history
1 of 16 in Big Sky history
Willie played on the 1969, 1970, & 1971 teams, record: 68-16 (39-5 in Big Sky) and won 3 Big Sky titles, and went to the NCAA tournament all 3 years and won 2 of 5 games.
The 1969 team (15-0 in Big Sky, 27-3 overall, best overall record in Big Sky history) ended the season ranked 17th in the AP Poll, and the 1971 team ended ranked 20th.
Willie was on the 1971 team, which was our first to play Utah State, the game was in Logan and Weber won.
Willie was drafted in 1971 to the NBA
WSU had three 20 win seasons with Willie.
WSU records
Career Points 1563 - #4 in WSU history
(only played 3 yrs)
Career Rebounds 1143 - #1 in WSU history *#2 Big Sky history
Career Rebounding Average 14.1 - #1 in WSU history *#1 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounds 411 - #1 in WSU history **#2 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounds 392 - #2 in WSU history **#3 Big Sky history
Single Season Rebounding Average 15.8 - #1 in WSU history
Single Game Points 39 - #3 in WSU history
Single Game Rebounds 25 - #1 in WSU history
(also had 3 other games with 24 which is #2 in WSU history)
3 time Big Sky Conference 1st team
1 of 4 in WSU history
1 of 16 in Big Sky history
Willie played on the 1969, 1970, & 1971 teams, record: 68-16 (39-5 in Big Sky) and won 3 Big Sky titles, and went to the NCAA tournament all 3 years and won 2 of 5 games.
The 1969 team (15-0 in Big Sky, 27-3 overall, best overall record in Big Sky history) ended the season ranked 17th in the AP Poll, and the 1971 team ended ranked 20th.
Willie was on the 1971 team, which was our first to play Utah State, the game was in Logan and Weber won.
Willie was drafted in 1971 to the NBA
WSU had three 20 win seasons with Willie.
Here's a little known tidbit about Willie Sojourner. He played with a guy named Julius Erving on the Virginia Squires of the ABA. While watching Erving play one day, he made a remark about how "the doctor" was pulling another trick out of his bag. From that day on, Erving would be known as "Dr. J."
This is documented in a fabulous book called "Loose Balls: The Short Wild Life of the ABA" by Terry Pluto. Highly recommended!
This is documented in a fabulous book called "Loose Balls: The Short Wild Life of the ABA" by Terry Pluto. Highly recommended!
PURPLEFORLIFE
Active member
I really think its time for the school, administration, alumni, and Wildcat Club to push for Willie's number to be retired. Lets stop all the talking and actually get something done.
weberwildcat
Active member
the day has come!!!!!!
:rockon: :rockon:
:rockon: :rockon:
SWWeatherCat
Active member
I didn't realize with Sojourner (and Martin) that they were retiring the "jersey" not the number. I guess the answers what happens with Hill currently wearing #35. I thought numbers were retired, not jerseys.
PURPLEFORLIFE
Active member
What an event!! I was really happy to see such support for Willie at halftime. The crowd was on their feet virtually for the entire presentation. #35 Thank You!!
