Pretty much everybody likes the idea of honoring Tennessee's football heroes. The devil is in the detail of how to do it.

A rousing ovation on the 50-yard line at halftime? Everybody can get behind that one.

A plaque or a photo on the wall somewhere? The bigger the better.

A full-sized wax likeness in the lobby of the Neyland-Thompson Center? It's a bit overboard, but what the heck.

Renaming a street? Unless the campus expands, that idea has pretty much hit a ceiling. What's left? Al Wilson Sidewalk.

But what about retiring a number? Not just a jersey, but a number never to be worn again?

Up until Tuesday, that was a line UT football had not crossed. It was sacred ground.

Maybe you never heard of Clyde Fuson (No. 62), Willis Tucker (No. 61), Bill Nowling (No. 32) or Rudy Klarer (No. 49).

Those four Vols died fighting in World War II. That was the beginning and the end of the criteria for retiring a number.

In reality the four numbers were un-retired and worn by various players up until the late 1980s, when UT locked them away forever.

Now, UT athletic director Mike Hamilton has opened a can of worms.

He announced Tuesday that three UT greats will have their numbers retired in separate ceremonies this fall: Peyton Manning's No. 16; Doug Atkins' No. 91; Reggie White's No. 92.

White, "The Minister of Defense," died at 43 unexpectedly last December. Atkins is retired in Knoxville. Manning is in his heyday with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

No one should disparage Hamilton's intent. When he took over two years ago, one of his missions was to reach out to UT's lettermen.

"An absolute priority,'' he said. "They're the lifeblood of our tradition.''

Scheduling reunions in the various sports has been an emphasis. Last year's football reunion was a rousing success. A basketball reunion set for the UAB weekend has drawn a big response. In October, the 1985 football team will be feted.

But Hamilton -- and others -- wanted to take it farther.

Short of renaming Neyland Stadium, retiring a number is the ultimate tribute.

It's a step not to be taken lightly. At Tennessee, only the Lady Vols basketball program has retired numbers (five of them) based on performance.

As far as SEC football goes, five schools have no retired numbers. As for the other seven schools, there are 11 retired numbers based on merit and eight (counting UT's four) done in memoriam.

I was curious how UT's fans would react to tampering with a tradition (even if it's done in the name of enhancing tradition). Taking out pen and paper I was prepared to make a "pro" and "con" scorecard based on three popular Internet message boards.

I soon realized no scorecard was necessary. The "cons" were overwhelming.

"I'm sure General Neyland is rolling over in his grave right about now.''

Or ...

"It's an outrage to those who gave their lives in service to their country.''

Or ...

"This idea is as idiotic as the naming of streets after has-been athletes.''

Not exactly a big orange group hug.

There are issues. Some feel changing the policy disrespects the four Vols who died fighting in the war.

Others anticipate a glut of retired numbers or, the opposite, a glut of hurt feelings. One of the criteria UT announced virtually eliminates former coach Johnny Majors from future consideration because he "achieved greater fame or identity from another university.''

Hamilton and his panel knew this would come.

"There will always be 'What about this guy?' and 'What about that guy?' That's the danger in doing something like this,'' he said.

"But I don't think the fear of something like that should prevent you from doing what's right.''

Doing what's right. If only everyone could agree on what exactly that is.