AUBURN — Fifteen years after cementing his status as one of the best players in Auburn football history, Cam Newton will become immortalized in the confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 11, as the program retires his jersey number at halftime of the Tigers’ contest against No. 9 Georgia.
Newton spent a season on the Plains, and his presence correlated with one of the best years in program history.
Advertisement
Auburn was 14-0 with Newton at quarterback, going undefeated for the ninth time in its 123-year history. The Tigers finished the 2010 season ranked No. 1 in the country, beating Oregon 22-19 in the national title game for, what was at the time, its second national championship ever. Newton subsequently won the Heisman Trophy, beating out Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James.
It’s certainly résumé deserving of the incoming honor, but Newton’s name going in the rafters marks an uncommon occurrence. The last time Auburn retired a jersey number was 33 years ago, in 1992, and Newton’s retirement is just the fourth in program history.
Here’s a look at the Auburn legends Newton will join with his number’s retiring.
Auburn football quarterback Pat Sullivan (No. 7)
Year of jersey number retirement: 1972
Auburn career stats (1969-71): 452-819 (55.2%) passing, 6,284 pass yards (7.7 YPA), 53 touchdown passes, 39 interceptions; 559 rush yards, 155 attempts (3.6 YPC), 18 rushing touchdowns
Accolades: All-American (1971); All-SEC (1969, 1970, 1971); Heisman Trophy (1971); SEC Player of the Year (1970); Walter Camp Award (1971)
Advertisement
Auburn’s historically succeeded with a run-first offense, but Sullivan broke the mold in his three seasons on the Plains — and broke school and NCAA passing records along the way, as the Tigers went 26-7.
Samford coach and Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan waves to the crowd before the Auburn vs. Samford game in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday November 19, 2011.(Montgomery Advertiser, Mickey Welsh)
Sullivan led the NCAA in total offense in 1970, with a record-setting 8.57 yards per play. His career 72 total touchdowns tied an NCAA record, and he still holds a program record for career touchdown passes, with 53.
Auburn football running back Bo Jackson (No. 34)
Nov 1983; Auburn, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Auburn Tigers running back Bo Jackson (34) sitting on the bench during the 1983 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Year of jersey number retirement: 1992
Auburn career stats (1982-85): 4,303 rush yards, 650 attempts (6.6 YPC), 43 receiving touchdowns; 272 receiving yards, 26 receptions (10.5 YPR), 2 receiving touchdowns
Accolades: All-American (1983, 1985); All-SEC (1982, 1983, 1985); Heisman Trophy (1985); SEC Player of the Year (1985); SEC Male Athlete of the Year (1986); Walter Camp Award (1985)
Jackson’s lore goes well beyond his time on the Plains. One of the most legendary athletes in the history of sport, Jackson played baseball, football and briefly ran track at Auburn between 1982 and 1986.
Advertisement
On the gridiron, Jackson made his mark at running back and still holds the program record for career rushing yards. Auburn was 37-12 during Jackson’s stint with the program. He helped it snap a nine-game losing streak in the Iron Bowl with a game-sealing touchdown, and he won Auburn’s second-ever Heisman Trophy in 1985.
Auburn football wide receiver Terry Beasley (No. 88)
Year of jersey number retirement: 1972
Auburn career stats (1969-71): 2,507 receiving yards, 141 receptions (17.8 YPR), 29 receiving touchdowns; 133 rush yards, 14 attempts (9.5 YPC), 1 rushing touchdown
Accolades: All-American (1970, 1971); All-SEC (1969, 1970, 1971)
While Sullivan directed Auburn’s high-flying offense of the early 1970s, Beasley was his right-hand man. He still leads the program in career receiving yards and touchdowns, doing so as an explosive target, with a whopping 17.8 yards per reception.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter. To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Which Auburn football players have retired jersey numbers?