I’ve got to say something about this Jayden Daniels situation at LSU because I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Daniels’ attorney has sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter telling the school to stop using his name, image and likeness, apparently because LSU is allowing D.J. Pickett to wear No. 5 — the number Daniels wore when he won the Heisman Trophy.
Here’s my problem.
LSU DIDN’T RETIRE THE NUMBER.
Jayden Daniels was a hell of a football player at LSU. He won the Heisman Trophy. He had an incredible season and absolutely deserves to be remembered as one of the great players in LSU history.
But since when does that mean you get to decide who wears a jersey number after you leave?
If LSU wants to retire No. 5 someday, fine. Put his name up, have a ceremony and retire it. Until then, No. 5 belongs to LSU, not Jayden Daniels.
And apparently Pickett was promised the number when he was recruited. Lane Kiffin is simply honoring that commitment.
This is one of the things that bothers me about where sports have gone. Somewhere along the way, some athletes have started believing that everything associated with their college career belongs to them forever.
It doesn’t.
You wore the jersey. You represented the university. You accomplished great things wearing it. But unless they retire the damn thing, eventually somebody else is going to put it on.
Joe Burrow won a Heisman and a national championship at LSU. Billy Cannon won a Heisman at LSU. That program existed long before Jayden Daniels arrived and it will exist long after he’s gone.
Be proud of what you accomplished.
Be proud when another talented kid puts on No. 5.
But sending lawyers after your former university because somebody else is wearing your old number?
Come on.
That sounds a whole lot more like entitlement than disrespect to me.
