Whatever it ends up being, the 2020 college football season hasn’t even kicked off yet but Notre Dame wide receiver Braden Lenzy has already become the first player in recent school history to accomplish something.
Or perhaps, be assigned something is the more accurate way of putting that.
I’ve had trouble finding the exact history of this both in the history of college football and at Notre Dame, but with number 0 being allowed to be issued to players this year, Lenzy will wear the number for the Fighting Irish.
According to the always-reliable Wikipedia, “Players could formerly use the numbers 0 and 00, numbers that were phased out in the 1970s” but I haven’t been able to find a list I trust on those who have worn the number.
Whatever the exact history, Braden Lenzy will become the first Notre Dame player to wear No. 0 in a long, long time.
Lenzy averaged almost 19 yards each time he touched the ball on offense last year, four times going for a touchdown. The hope is that he’ll become an even bigger weapon in new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’s offense this season.
If you’re looking for a connection perhaps it’s the fact he’s from Oregon that makes the big “0” on his chest and back so appealing for this season?
Or maybe it’s just a way to be different?
Or maybe Lenzy is sick of being compared to Rocket Ismail because both guys showed off Olympic type speed while wearing jersey number 25 at Notre Dame.
Whatever the case, Lenzy is the first player in Notre Dame history to be assigned jersey number zero.
Now here’s to hoping he actually gets to wear it in a game this fall.
