May 21, 2015 03:14 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Syracuse University (SU) athletic department learned quickly how much its football alumni care about the jersey number 44.

In a news release Tuesday, SU announced it would once again allow football players to wear the number 44, the only jersey number the team has ever retired. Shortly after, SU football alum Donovan McNabb posted a series of tweets criticizing the decision.

44 was retired in 2005 at SU to commemorate three of the greatest running backs in the history of the team and college football: Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little. The school stated in 2013 the number could be worn again, but only by a truly special player, making it more of a ceremonious honor rather than a retired number.

In a statement provided to Syracuse.com, SU Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Kevin Quinn said this year's news release was meant to reaffirm that.

"Yesterday's announcement was simply a reiteration of that commitment and another opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments of those who have worn the number with Syracuse pride and honor," Quinn said. "The retired #44 jersey will continue in its place of honor at Dome - as a symbol of past glories and future successes."

There will be a committee within the athletic department that will be tasked with bestowing the number 44 upon certain players. According to Syracuse.com, the only confirmed committee member is Little, who said last year he wanted to see the number back in play.

"Former Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross, who retired the number in 2005, had established a committee to oversee the number," Quinn said. "The committee which continues to exist, can in very special situations permit a student-athlete to wear the #44. As was reiterated by the Athletics Department in 2013, restoring the number would only be done in a 'special circumstance' for 'someone extraordinary given the honor it would be to wear 44.' To be clear, this is a high bar for any current or future student-athlete to reach."

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