Sharpe denies Jeffery; he'll wear No. 1 for Gamecocks

South Carolina's great jersey flap is over.

Alshon Jeffery, a receiver who signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday, had asked to wear No. 2 in college. Unfortunately for Jeffery that number was worn by former South Carolina great Sterling Sharpe and has been retired by the school.

Coach Steve Spurrier asked Sharpe if the No. 2 could be brought out of retirement, for Jeffery, but Sharpe wouldn't allow it. So Jeffery will wear No. 1.

“I recently learned of the athletics department policy regarding retired numbers and jerseys,” Spurrier said in a statement Sunday. “The policy states that the four previously retired numbers would stay retired unless approval was granted from the player whose number was retired. In this instance, permission was sought to use a retired number and permission was denied. It is now a dead issue. I talked to Alshon and he is ready and excited to wear number 1 for the Carolina Gamecocks.”
-- David Scott