Soap Box Talk

Jermaine Taylor’s number should hang from the rafters on Senior Knight.

Jermaine Taylor is the truest definition of a student athlete. When all is said and done, Jermaine will solidify himself as one of the greatest athletes to step on to UCF’s campus, but more importantly, he will graduate with a degree he has worked so hard for. That is the purpose of college, is it not? In fact, Jermaine Taylor’s number should be hanging up well before #24 ever receives immortal status. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ll love Kevin Smith for all he did for UCF, but he does not represent what a student athlete is. He dropped out. Plain and simple.

Jermaine, more than likely, will win the CUSA Player of The Year Award, and he will graduate as UCF’s #1 career scoring leader at the Division I level, and may pass Bo Clarks DII record before the season ends. He’ll be on an NBA roster next year, and he’ll have his college education; one that he earned. Kevin Smith can’t say that. Call me crazy. I probably am. But that doesn’t change the fact that Jermaine Taylor, and his jersey number, should be immortalized at UCF. Put it next to NCAA Tournament banners, or better yet, place a giant banner on that eyesore of a wall behind the student section.

The UCF Arena will always be known as the house that Kirk built, but somewhere inside, the legend of #1 should live on forever.

Make it happen, UCF.