Most Mississippi State fans seem in favor of keeping the late Keffer McGee‘s No. 21 jersey retired permanently. As I wrote about yesterday – and will write about further in tomorrow’s Daily Journal – MSU was considering giving McGee’s number to an incoming freshman, but McGee’s mother, Matilda, does not want that to happen.

A team spokesman said the program will respect the McGee family’s wishes, so it appears the number will stay out of circulation at MSU. But it has raised the question among some of you: Is this the best way to honor McGee and his memory?

I spoke with Nakia Greer, McGee’s former teammate and roommate, yesterday. He said he wouldn’t have a problem with someone else wearing 21, as long as Ms. McGee consented. By the way, the jersey no longer resides at Mississippi State; it’s at Greer’s house. He gained possession of it nearly two years ago when MSU’s locker room was renovated.

There are other ways McGee could be honored. Some have suggested awarding his jersey number each year to a senior who best exemplifies the qualities McGee possessed. He was an outstanding athlete, a hard-working student, and to use Greer’s word, a “humanitarian.”

Ole Miss has for years given the Chucky Mullins Courage Award to a senior player, honoring the former Rebel who was paralyzed during a game (Mullins eventually died from the injury). The honored player wore Mullins’ No. 38 until recently, when it was retired. Now the winner of the award wears a patch.

A tree was planted in McGee’s honor in front of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building, but what about some sort of memorial inside Davis Wade Stadium? A bust, or a placard with his number on it?

Let me know your ideas.