University of Arkansas to Retire #42 in Honor of Bill Clinton

The University of Arkansas will retire basketball jersey #42 in honor of Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, as being the “sixth man” as part of the celebration of the 1994 Arkansas Razorback National Championship squad.  The ceremony is believed to occur at the Arkansas v. LSU game on February 15, 2014 at Bud Walton. The other possibility is versus South Carolina on February 19, 2014.

In the interview below, former President Clinton confirms the jersey retiring to an ESPN reporter. ESPNU is televising the Arkansas v. LSU game on February 15.

The University of Arkansas rarely retires player jerseys for either basketball or football if that is, in fact, what is to occur.

For what it’s worth, not figuring that anyone from UA would return my email request for confirmation, I did tweet two of UA’s major accounts asking for confirmation more than an hour before this post and before I found the video.

@ArkRazorbacks @RazorbackMBB Any truth to rumor that UA is retiring Jersey #42 on 2/15 (LSU) in honor of Bill Clinton related to ’94 Champs?

— Sharp Williams (@SharpTusk) February 6, 2014

Former President Clinton discusses the honor starting around the 1 minute mark.

Update:

Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News Bureau, ArkansasNews.com asked Arkansas Associate AD Kevin Trainor and Scotty Thurman about the retiring of a jersey in honor of former President Clinton.  The tweets as he reported follow.  Follow Robbie Neiswanger on Twitter @NWARobbie …

Arkansas associate AD Kevin Trainor confirms the program is working with Clinton Foundation on a date to honor the former President in BWA.

— Robbie Neiswanger (@NWARobbie) February 6, 2014

Trainor said he didn’t have a lot of details (like retiring a jersey, etc.) at this point, however.

— Robbie Neiswanger (@NWARobbie) February 6, 2014

Scotty Thurman said it would be “pretty cool” to have President Clinton back in the building to have a number retired for him. Also …

— Robbie Neiswanger (@NWARobbie) February 6, 2014

Thurman added it would be “much more exciting” to start having “former greats to be able to have their names put in the rafters as well.”

— Robbie Neiswanger (@NWARobbie) February 6, 2014

Thurman hopes it will jump start that movement. “I mean, I love the former President and all, but he never scored any baskets here.”

— Robbie Neiswanger (@NWARobbie) February 6, 2014