Gamecocks Announce Four Jersey Retirements for Spring 2019 Season

The University of South Carolina Athletics Department will retire four jerseys in four different sports during the Spring 2019 athletic season, announced Gamecock Athletics Director Ray Tanner.
 
Softball pitcher Trinity Johnson (1995-97) will have her jersey retired in a ceremony prior to the Gamecocks’ April 6 game against Alabama at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field. Track and field stars Terrence Trammell (1998-2000) and Miki Barber (1999-2003) will be recognized during the USC Outdoor Open at the Cregger Track on April 13. Baseball pitcher Earl Bass (1972-75) will have his jersey retired posthumously prior to the Gamecocks’ May 4 game against Vanderbilt at Founders Park.
 
“These outstanding individuals deserve to be recognized by having their jersey’s retired at the University of South Carolina,” said Tanner. “When athletes, coaches and fans walk into our venues, they’ll know who set the stage for Gamecock successes. Honoring our history is something I feel strongly about, and I look forward to having more jersey retirements for years to come.”
 
By policy, there is a five-year waiting period after a former Gamecock student-athlete’s last final season of participation before their jersey can be considered for retirement. As part of the policy, the University will retire jerseys, but will not retire numbers. Those numbers previously retired will continue to be in a retired state. There is a limit of six jersey retirements per academic year, with no more than one per sport per year.
 
Johnson was a three-time NFCA All-American, earning the Honda Award, Fastpitch World and U.S. Olympic Committee National Softball Player of the Year in 1996-97. During the 1997 season, she was also the SEC Female Athlete of the Year, the SEC Softball Pitcher of the Year, unanimous First-Team All-SEC selection, three-time SEC Pitcher of the Week and two-time NFCA National Player of the Week. She continues to hold 11 school records and was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2004.
 
Trammell was a 13-time All-American, six-time NCAA champion and an eight-time SEC champion during his Gamecock career. He was a silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2000 and the 2004 Olympics and a seven-time World Championships medalist, including two gold medals. He was voted the 1999 SEC Athlete of the Year and won the 1999 Cliff Harper Trophy as the SEC Championships leader in points scored.  He was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
 
Barber was a 20-time All-American, five-time NCAA champion and an eight-time SEC champion during her time at South Carolina. She was a 2000 Olympian and a gold medalist in the 100 meters at the 2007 Pan American Games and as part of the 4×100 meter relay in the 2007 World Championships. She is part of the Carolina school record setting indoor 4x400m relay and the 4x200m relay. She has competed in 19 USATF Championships and was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
 
Bass was a two-time ABCA First-Team All-American (1974-75) and holds the school record with a career win-loss record of 34-3. He also has the school record for career shutouts (10) and earned run average (1.34). He set a then-national record by winning 23 consecutive games over two seasons. He set a school freshman record with a 1.50 ERA. He was inducted into the USC Lettermen’s Hall of Fame in 1989 and was an SEC Legend at the 2017 SEC Baseball Tournament.  He lost his battle with cancer on Feb. 4, 2018, at the age of 65.
 
In order for a former student-athlete to be considered to have their jersey retired at Carolina, the recipient must have been either a University record holder, consensus All-American, consensus National Player of the Year, an Olympic medalist while a student-athlete at USC, an All-SEC first- or second-team member for three years, conference player of the year, team MVP of a national championship team, or a post-season MVP leading to a national championship.
 
A committee of current Gamecock coaches and staff members, as well as representatives from the Intercollegiate Activities Committee of the Board of Trustees, USC Lettermen’s Association and a past retired jersey retirement recipient selected this year’s slate of retired jerseys. 
 
“This is the first time that we’ve retired a former student-athlete’s jersey since 2005 (B.J. McKie),” added Tanner. “I applaud the committee’s work and the vast amount of research that went in to determining this year’s slate of honorees. This is a process that will continue to honor our great history and outstanding former student-athletes and coaches.”
 
Jersey retirements at South Carolina prior to this year include:
 
FOOTBALL
#2 Sterling Sharpe (1983, 85-87)
#37 Steve Wadiak (1948-51)
#38 George Rogers (1977-80)
#56 Mike Johnson (1964)
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
#3 B.J. McKie (1996-99)
#11 John Roche (1968-71)
#22 Alex English (1972-76)
#42 Grady Wallace (1955-57)
#43 Kevin Joyce (1970-71)
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
#13 Martha Parker (1985-89)
#14 Shannon Johnson (1992-96)
#53 Sheila Foster (1978-82)
 
BASEBALL
#1 Ray Tanner (1997-2012)

FAQs / JERSEY RETIREMENT PROCESS
 
Q.         What are the criteria for being considered to have a former student-athletes jersey retired?
 
A.         A former student-athlete must have attained at least one of these achievements:

• University record holder
• A consensus All-American
• A consensus National Player of the Year
• An Olympic medalist while a student at USC
• An All-SEC 1^st or 2^nd team for 3 years
• Conference Player of the Year
• Team MVP of National Championship Team
• Post-season MVP, leading to National Championship

 
            A former head coach can be considered if he/she has attained at least one of these achievements:

• A conference championship win(s)
• A NCAA national championship win(s)
• Coach for NCAA national championship record holder(s)
• Iconic status within the South Carolina University community and with the general public.

 
Q.         How are jersey-retirements selected?
 
A.         Nominations are encouraged by head coaches to the selection committee.  The selection committee can also act on any candidate meeting the criteria with the approval of current head coaches.  There is a five-year waiting period, which begins at the conclusion of the student-  athlete’s final season of collegiate competition. The selection committee should include:

• The athletics director or designee
• Both a male and female head coach
• A former recipient (if available)
• A member of the Lettermen’s Association
• Board member of Intercollegiate Activities Committee of the Board of Trustees

 
            There should be a limit of six total jersey retirements in one year, with no more than one for each sport, as not to dilute any one year of commemorations. 
 
Q.         Are there any non-USC athletics activities considered?
 
A.         Non-USC athletics activities are part of the balloting process, such as post-graduate athletics success and Olympics success as a student athlete. Other factors considered are whether the nominee is a graduate or at least in good academic standing, with a reasonable opportunity to graduate.
 
Q.         How will the jersey retirements be honored?
 
A.         A recognition of the jersey retirement will be in the honorees’ venue, if applicable.  In other sports, the recognition should be in a practice facility, locker room, etc. A day/game should be designated to honor the recipient.