University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers To Retire Jersey Of Isaac Bruce
Oct 02, 2003 | Football
Oct. 2, 2003
The University of Memphis will officially retire the number 83 football jersey of former Tiger great and current St. Louis Rams' All-Pro receiver Isaac Bruce in a ceremony to be held during halftime of this weekend's homecoming football game with UAB.
"It is indeed a pleasure for our staff to be able to honor Isaac Bruce by retiring his jersey," said Memphis head coach Tommy West. "He has had such an incredible career both as a collegiate player and in the NFL but has never forgotten that he is a Memphis Tiger.
"Throughout his professional life, Isaac has continued to promote the University of Memphis, not only as an athlete, but as a student as well. I can tell you that we are very proud of him at the University of Memphis. He exemplifies the term "student-athlete."
Bruce, who came to the Tigers as a junior college transfer, played for the U of M from 1992 through the 1993 season. He caught 39 passes for 532 yards and five touchdowns in his first season as a Tiger, averaging 13.9 yards per reception.
As a senior, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native caught 74 balls for a school record 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 74 pass receptions still stands as a single season record and he is the only player in Memphis football history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards in a season.
He was taken in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and has remained with the Rams organization for the past ten-years. Last week Bruce, already the Rams record holder for career receptions and for career touchdown receptions, became the team's all-time leader in receiving yards when he caught a 30-yard pass in the second quarter and moved past former Ram receiver Henry Ellard with 9,768 yards. He also holds the Rams' career record for touchdown receptions with 64 and for career receptions with 642.
