May 8, 2008
Murph's Turf: Favre jersey finally comes off
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For his 12th birthday on April 23, David Witthoft got four shirts.
The new threads will come in handy. After nearly four and one-half years, he is finally wearing something else.
From Christmas Day 2003 until his most recent birthday, David had been dutifully pulling a green Brett Favre jersey over his head every morning. A Green Bay Packers fan, David wore the Favre jersey to honor his favorite player and set a Guinness Book record. Several years ago when the folks at Guinness said they wouldn’t recognize David’s attempt, he kept wearing the jersey anyway, hoping his perseverance might change their mind.
But when Favre announced his retirement earlier this year, David had a reason to discontinue his streak. There were other stylistic concerns as well.
“It was getting to the point where it was ridiculous,” he said. “It was barely reaching my waist.”
Repeated washings had long ago rubbed the white number four away from the both the front and back of the jersey. Favre’s name on the back was still there, but only because David’s mom, Carolyn, had done some repair work after it started peeling off.
David wore the shirt for 1,581 consecutive days. He wore it to school, to soccer and Little League games, to family functions, to bed. In the winter he wore it as a T-shirt under heavier garb such as sweaters. The only time he took it off was for church. He also removed it for two school photos a few years ago, then decided that wasn’t an accurate portrayal and kept it on for his most recent shots.
“It’s kind of odd seeing him without it,” said Chuck Witthoft, David’s father. “It’s been his calling card.”
David said his classmates were also surprised.
“They were like, Look, he’s not wearing the jersey,” he said. “They hadn’t really seen me in any other shirt.”
The family took some photos when David removed the shirt for the final time on his birthday. “His grandparents called to talk to him and he choked up a little,” said Chuck Witthoft. “It was the end of an era for him.”
David wore the jersey when he attended his first Packers game last December at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. This fall, he and his dad will return for a game on Sept. 8, when Favre’s jersey will be retired.
David said he plans to bring his own Favre jersey with him and ask the Packers if they want to display it in the fan’s section of the team’s Hall of Fame, located in an atrium at Lambeau Field.
“That would be great if they wanted it,” said David. “Otherwise I guess I’ll keep it and maybe hang it on the wall in my bedroom.”
With Favre gone, former first round draft choice Aaron Rodgers is expected to be the starting quarterback for Green Bay next season. And David Witthoft may have to recognize the transition.
“I might get one of his jerseys,” he said about Rodgers. “But no, I wouldn’t wear it every day.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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