Dec. 19, 2012
Blue Jay Jersey Countdown - #51
As we countdown to '13, a season Blue Jay faithful hope will end with a 10 on the 27th, HopkinsSports.com offers its own countdown … by jersey number … to the season-opener against Siena on February 8.
Today - #51
Did You Know: Tucker Durkin is the only Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse player since 1949 to earn First Team All-America honors while wearing #51.
Player Spotlight - Tucker Durkin
Rising senior defenseman Tucker Durkin is the latest Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse player to wear number 51. Durkin has already made a name for himself as one of the top defensive players in recent Johns Hopkins history.
Durkin earned the Schmeisser Award as the nation's top defenseman in 2012, when he also earned First Team All-America honors. He earned Second Team All-America as a sophomore in 2011 and has regularly drawn the assignment of marking the opposition's top offensive player in each of his three seasons.
Durkin will serve as a co-captain in 2013 - a role he seemed destined to assume from the day he arrived on campus.
Other Notable "51s" in JHU Lacrosse History
Fred Smith (1947-50) - A four-time All-American (once on defense and three times as a midfielder), Smith was a member of the famed class of 1950 at Johns Hopkins. The Class of '50 won four consecutive USILA National Championships, compiled a record of 31-4 and never lost a game to a collegiate opponent.
Smith's name is as revered as any in the long and storied history of Johns Hopkins lacrosse. After serving as the head coach in 1954, he spent years as an assistant coach with the program until he passed away shortly after the Blue Jays won the 1987 NCAA Championship. He was inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1979.
Famous "51s" in Other Sports
Dick Butkus - Chicago Bears (NFL)
Arguably the best middle linebacker in the history of professional football.
Randy Johnson - Several Teams (MLB)
Has there been a more intimidating presence on the mound than the hard-throwing left-hander in the last 25 years?
Bernie Williams - New York Yankees (MLB)
One of the top center fielders in recent memory and a key member of the recent Yankee dynasty that started in 1996. In case you didn't know, his daughter is a freshman on the 2012-13 Johns Hopkins women's basketball team.
Note: Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse rosters are generally available back to 1950. In many years after 1950, only an alphabetical list is available. The Blue Jay Jersey Countdown is intended to be an enjoyable way to count down to the 2013 season. It is not intended to rank in any way the players who wore a particular number.
