The Univ. of Miami beginning this year will adopt a new retail-jersey number policy whereby the school will "only produce one jersey with the current year and another with No. 1," according to Susan Miller Degnan of the MIAMI HERALD. That means the school for this season "will offer just No. 1 and No. 15," which happens to be the number QB Brad Kaaya wears. UM AD Blake James said, "This year is odd in that Brad Kaaya, obviously one of our most recognized names and players, is No. 15. But it's 15 for 2015 and No. 1 because we're No. 1. Next year will be 16 and 1, the year after that will be 17 and 1. The progression will continue for as far out in the future as you can see." He said the "right thing to do is not to pick particular numbers of your stars." James added that using numbers "worn by current players as well as former stars would 'complicate the situation.'" Degnan notes UM in the past has "used jersey numbers of higher profile players." James said that the school "did not change to generic jerseys because of last summer's landmark antitrust court decision that would allow athletes to be paid for using their likeness or images." The new adidas jerseys, which will be unveiled Saturday night at Club Liv, are "expected to go on sale sometime in mid-to-late August" (MIAMI HERALD 7/16).
