Rutgers, the oldest football program in the United States of America, has never retired a number in it's program's history. Of course you could argue that's because no one has really be worthy of such an honor, but that all changes this year as the Scarlet Knights will honor former player Eric LeGrand by retiring his number.
.@EricLeGrand52's #52 will be the first jersey retired in 144 years of #RFootball. #bELieve pic.twitter.com/IrroZQsnNP
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) July 30, 2013
LeGrand was a player for Rutgers from but his time in a Scarlet Knights uniform was cut short as he was paralyzed from the neck down while making a tackle during a game against Army on Oct. 15, 2010. Since then LeGrand has been an inspirational story for the program, even earning a symbolic contract from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Greg Schiano left RU for the Bucs before the 2012 season.
He has since been able to regain motion in his shoulders and has felt sensation throughout his body and has never given up his focus on walking one day.
His No. 52 will be retired in a ceremony during the Sept. 14th game against Eastern Michigan.