Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Football: Top 10 players that should have their jerseys retired

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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  • Played at Syracuse from 1976, 78-80.
  • Voted an All-American twice as an honorable mention (1978, 1980).

We learned in the press release regarding Tim Green and his jersey retirement, that he would become the first defensive player in Syracuse history to have his jersey retired. While there’s no argument that Green shouldn’t have his jersey retired, there is an argument for another defender who deserves to share that honor with Tim and that’s Jim Collins.

Jim as a linebacker led the Orange in interceptions in 1979 (three). Sadly some of his heroics in pass coverage weren’t recorded by the Syracuse football media guide, for example, pass breakups have only been recorded since 1987.

But that’s okay because Collins did most of his work in the tackling department, which is arguably the most important attribute for a linebacker: 

  • Jim Collins owns three of the top five single-game tackling records:
    • 42 tackles vs Penn State in 1979 (best mark all time).
    • 28 tackles vs West Virginia in 1979 (second best mark all time).
    • 25 tackles vs Kansas in 1980 (fourth-best mark all time).
  • Collins owns two of the top three single tackling seasons in program history:
    • 229 tackles in 1979.
    • 189 tackles in 1978.
  • Jim has the most tackles by any Orange defender in history with 624 tackles, the next closest player is 46 tackles behind. For context Tim Green’s career tackle numbers at Syracuse (341), Collins had 67 percent of that in one season on the hill (229 tackles).
  • Jim has four of the best six most solo tackle single-game performances in Syracuse history. He also has the top-two most solo tackles seasons in Orange history.

On top of all his statistical achievements, Jim Collins also played in the NFL for around a decade floating between the LA Rams and the San Diego Chargers. During his time with the Rams, he was featured in the 1986 Los Angeles Rams promotional video, “Let’s Ram It!”

"Jim Collins goes by the nickname “Babyface”, here’s the lyrics to his appearance: “This is Babyface and I don’t yield, I’m a tackling fool on the football field. From the Jersey shore to the Malibu Bay, if you run at me you’ll have a bad day.”"

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