PROVO — Three former BYU All-Americans — Marc Wilson, Robbie Bosco and Luke Staley — will have their No. 6 jersey retired Saturday during a halftime ceremony at the Wisconsin game.
“Having your jersey retired at BYU is the ultimate honor reserved for the elite student-athletes who distinguished themselves in athletic competition, in the classroom and in the community,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. “Marc, Robbie and Luke were tremendous athletes who were instrumental in establishing and adding to the great tradition of BYU football. They have also been true ambassadors for the university.”
BYU will unveil and permanently display individual banners with each player’s name, and the No. 6, on the LaVell Edwards Stadium press box.
“I’ve looked up to these guys,” Bosco said of Wilson and Staley. “Marc Wilson is the first thing that popped out about why I wanted to come to BYU, what he did on the field. Luke, I was able to coach and see what a special player he was. I don’t know that Luke gets enough credit. He was as good a running back as you’ll ever see in college football. It’s awesome to be with both of those guys.”
BYU has retired the jerseys/numbers of six other players in its football history: Eldon "The Phantom" Fortie (No. 40), Marion Probert (No. 81), Steve Young (No. 8); Gifford Nielsen and Ty Detmer (both No. 14); Jim McMahon (No. 9).
“It’s a complete honor,” Staley said. “Growing up, it’s nothing I would have ever expected. I just wanted to come to BYU and be a part of something and (hope) that you could contribute something. I didn’t expect to start. I just wanted to be part of this program that I grew up idolizing. That speaks to our teammates and what we were able to accomplish.”