Iowa athletic director Gary Barta apologized to the family of the great Hawkeyes basketball player, Roy Marble, on Tuesday, for any harsh feeling they had regarding the withdrawal of the number of the star player Luka Garza.
Last month, Garza broke Marble’s 32-year career record, is twice the Big Ten player of the year and is one of the first national players of the year. Iowa announced after Sunday’s home win against Wisconsin that no one in the basketball program will wear the number 55 after this season.
Marble led Iowa to his only 30-win season and an NCAA regional final in 1987 and Sweet 16 next year, and many consider him the best player on the show ever. His number 23 was not retired.
“I found out on Sunday that Roy Marble’s family was injured and they feel disrespectful from that day,” Barta said. “I just want to take a moment and absolutely share that the lack of respect was unintentional and apologize publicly for it.
Marble died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 48. He and Garza are the only male players in Iowa to score over 2,000 points.
His son, Roy Devyn Marble, wrote on Twitter that he would never watch another game in Iowa.
The younger Marble also played for the Hawkeyes. He scored more than 1,600 points and was selected to the Big Ten first team in 2014. The father and son had short careers in the NBA.
Barta said that since arriving in Iowa in 2006, three players have most often been raised for their numbers: Marble and Consensus All-Americans Murray Wier (1948) and Chuck Darling (1952).
Barta said none of the three met the university’s criteria for such an honor. The bar did not disclose the criteria.
“Iowa Athletics, along with the Iowa Varsity Club, have had different criteria over the years that involve achievement, All-America recognition, individual awards, etc.,” the athletics department said in a statement. “Gary Barta and the Iowa administration have worked on a more streamlined set of criteria, including accurate awards and recognition. The two top priorities are individual recognition of National Player of the Year and All-America Consensus Recognition. Gary and the Iowa Administration will continue to work for a more direct list of criteria that will be used in the future. “
Marble, Wier and Darling will be among the honored players in a permanent exhibition planned for the Carver Hawkeye Arena competition, Barta said. It is temporarily displayed until the school progresses with a competition renovation project.
Coach Fran McCaffery said he was involved in discussions with the Marble family because he coached Roy Devyn Marble.
“I thought it was important to do that,” McCaffery said, “and our conversations have been very positive and will remain as we move forward to honor Roy as he should be.”