Joique Bell Talks Jersey Retirement, Michigan-Michigan State Rivalry
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Joique Bell was standing near the Wayne State football field, waiting for a Homecoming presentation in his honor, but had no idea his number was about to be retired.
He saw his No. 5 jersey in a frame during the ceremony last week, but didn't know it would be something as serious as a jersey retirement celebration.
"I kind of had an assumption and I turned to the AD and said, 'Are you guys about to retire my number?'" Bell said. "He just gave me that look and smirked and (was) like, 'What are you talking about? We're about to give you your jersey.' I kind of gave him the 'yeah, all right' look."
Bell won what is essentially the Division II Heisman Trophy (the Harlon Hill Trophy) during his time at Wayne State, in 2006-09. When he graduated, he was fourth all-time in Division II with 8,055 all-purpose yards. His 6,727 rushing yards were sixth in Division II history, and he ranks in the top 25 across all divisions in his rushing yards per game average (152.91).
But none of those numbers were quite as special as No. 5 – the one that no other Wayne State football player will ever wear.
"Definitely a stepping stone in my life, very monumental," he said. "Very blessed and very humbled by the experience."
And although he went to Wayne State, Bell said he considered himself a Michigan football fan and Michigan State basketball fan growing up. In preparation for the in-state rivals' game on Saturday, he said he was just ready for an entertaining game.
"People who don't go to either school can do that," he said. "If you went to MSU you have to be all MSU. You go to U of M, you got to be all U of M. But if you go to Wayne State, I can go for whoever I want to go for. Just the history of U of M football – it's amazing there. So this weekend, MSU is actually playing good ball. … When they play each other, whether it's basketball or football, I just want to see a good game. It's hard to win at the Big House, especially when you're playing good ball."
