Darren McFadden looks on the football field these days at Arkansas games and hopes whoever is wearing No. 5 does well but then they will put the number in the rafters.
“I would love to see that number hung up in the rafters,” he told Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft (The Morning Rush) on ESPN Arkansas Friday morning. “I’m not the type guy to go out and make a big scene out of it but I would love to see that number hung up.”
McFadden played three seasons and he knows what he accomplished.
“Just for what I did and the history,” he said. “I own just about every school rushing record, College Football Hall of Fame, two-time Heisman runner-up, two-time Doak Walker award. I think that’s a jersey that definitely should be hung up.”
The current wearer of the number is Rakeem Boyd and he’s fully aware of the significance of having that number on his back. He’s talked about the honor of wearing it at Arkansas.
“It’s always mixed emotions when I see it,” D-Mac said. “I always want them to do their best but at the same time it’s not a number I want to see out there really. It’s part of football and not something you can just take with you.”
The only numbers retired at Arkansas is Clyde Scott’s 12 and Brandon Burlsworth’s 77. Scott’s number was briefly brought back (with his permission) for All-American kicker and punter Steve Little to wear from 1974-77.
It’s just a hunch but D-Mac would probably be okay with Sam Pittman needing it to land a potential All-American every couple of decades or so.
“As time goes on, the right people will make the right decisions and it will eventually be hung up,” he said.
McFadden is also frustrated with the results on the field the last few years … and it cost him a little bit of money.
“It’s been brutal,” he said. “Especially being in the locker room (while with the Raiders and Cowboys) with guys you played against in college. Guys make friendly bets and things. I used to meet with the quarterbacks in Oakland and every week I’d pick Arkansas.
“I don’t care who they were playing I was picking Arkansas. Eventually it got to the point where I’d just bring in my $10, lay it on the desk and told ’em to let me know if we end up winning.”
