Can DJ be honorary starter against Syracuse?

[MonsterWebWarrior]

Seeing that DJ can't officially play, I hope we can at least honor him as an honorary starter.  Let him dress one last time, be introduced as a starter, go out on the court for one of those ceremonial jump balls, and then "take him out of the game" to a standing ovation.  For as good as DJ has been for MU, I think he deserves it. 

I'd love for him to get a standing ovation from the whole entire sold-out crowd, and not just from the fans who stick around for post-game ceremonies.  Can we get the athletic department behind this?  Apologies if this has already been discussed.  I've been away from the board a couple days.

[Ahoya06]

I don't think making him an official starter is feasible, I've never heard of that being done anywhere. I do think they'll introduce 6 "starters", like they did with Travis.

[gjreda]

It'd be cool to see DJ get announced and go out there for the jump, only to have Buzz or Boeheim immediately call a TO after the jump and let DJ go out to the ovation he deserves.  I obviously don't see this happening though.

[bilsu]

I think it would be really classly, if he was annouced as the honory head coach for the game.

[LovinCrowder]

He will most certainly get a standing ovation -

I would think this would be the biggest crowd ever to stay after and pay tribute to our seniors.  I can't wait...

[rugbydrummer]

*Sigh*

Can someone make sure a video of intros and post game is posted? 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I don't think making him an official starter is feasible, I've never heard of that being done anywhere. I do think they'll introduce 6 "starters", like they did with Travis.

The UConn women's team did something like this a few years ago.  Jamelle Elliot (I believe) was one (1) basket short of setting the all-time UConn scoring record before being lost for the season and career with a major injury.  I think it was Senior night and with the blessing of the other team, "UConn won the tip-off" where the ball was then passed to Jamelle who was standing under the basket with crutches who then promptly put the ball in.  Timeout was called.  She left the court with a standing ovation and then the game resumed.

[MU_Warrior44]

I think letting James start would be great, but I just don't see it happening.

Hmm that UConn thing gave me an idea - maybe they could get james 25 quick and uncontested points so he could pass Thompson on the scoring list. 

[NavinRJohnson]

It'd be cool to see DJ get announced and go out there for the jump, only to have Buzz or Boeheim immediately call a TO after the jump and let DJ go out to the ovation he deserves. 

Timeouts are way to precious to Buzz. No way he could afford to waste one doing this.

[MU_Warrior44]

They wouldn't even need to use a TO. Just win the tip and then chuck the ball out of bounds or something and make a substitution then. Yes i realize this is unlikely, but i'm just saying how it could happen.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Navin....post of the season right there!

[Brewtown Andy]

I think it would be really classly, if he was annouced as the honory head coach for the game.

This seems like a good way to go.

[rugbydrummer]

They wouldn't even need to use a TO. Just win the tip and then chuck the ball out of bounds or something and make a substitution then. Yes i realize this is unlikely, but i'm just saying how it could happen.

Agreed -- no MU TO needed--Let's ask the carrying TV network to make the first media timeout at, oh, 19:30??

well you guys will just have to relay what happens to those of us left out

[MUSF]

The UConn women's team did something like this a few years ago.  Jamelle Elliot (I believe) was one (1) basket short of setting the all-time UConn scoring record before being lost for the season and career with a major injury.  I think it was Senior night and with the blessing of the other team, "UConn won the tip-off" where the ball was then passed to Jamelle who was standing under the basket with crutches who then promptly put the ball in.  Timeout was called.  She left the court with a standing ovation and then the game resumed.

That was absolute BS and completely undermines the essence of elite physical competition.  Triumph and failure are what make sport compelling and relevent and what a guy like DJ does from the moment he broke his foot on will be a lot more important in determining what kind of man he becomes than any game he played prior to being injured. If DJ is as true a competitor as I hope he is, he will have nothing to do with patronizing BS at the expense of the game.

[dbwarriors]

I don't think making him an official starter is feasible, I've never heard of that being done anywhere. I do think they'll introduce 6 "starters", like they did with Travis.

DePaul did the honorary starter thing last Sat vs. St. John's.  DPU let SJU win the tip, then the officials stopped the game right after the tip so DPU guy could come out of the game.

[chapman]

Timeouts are way to precious to Buzz. No way he could afford to waste one doing this.

Perhaps he thinks you can trade unused timeouts in for points at the end of the game?