Sam Cassell, one of the greatest basketball players to ever don the Garnet and Gold, had his Florida State jersey retired on Thursday evening during halftime the FSU-Wake Forest game. The wildly successful college and NBA player spoke to the media before the game about his times at Florida State, what having his jersey retired means to him and more.



Q: When you first heard about this idea, were you surprised initially?



Cassell: Well, when Coach Hamilton called me and told me the news, I put him on hold. I told him to hold on a minute coach, and I screamed out. I was like 'Are you serious?' and he was like 'Yes, it is happening. The university wants to do this for you.' I swear that is the best honor that an individual can get to get his jersey retired at his alma mater. That is, for me, winning a NBA Championship by far to have your jersey retired where it is seen night in and night out by everybody who uses the Civic Center - from R&B singers, to rock and rollers, to country western - they will see that jersey in the rafters. So that is an honor that is irreplaceable.


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