Could it be the Jersey?

#1 ... it speaks for itself. The first, the best, etc. It's just about always been the most coveted number in sports.

The reason you don't see it more often is because it is the most commonly retired number in all of sports, #11 being the second most.

For those reasons, #1 is also the most visible, most noticed and most high profile number in all of sports. It's not really one of those numbers you can just request to wear ... you either get recruited with the promise of wearing that number, or you sign a contract guaranteeing that number or you are assigned that number with the understanding that great expectations are reserved for those allowed to wear the number.

I know all of my favorite players who have worn the #1 by heart.

NBA - Oscar Robinson (Alex English wore #2)
Baseball (MLB) - Pee Wee Reese and Billy Martin
NFL - Warren Moon - class act.

You've already listed my favorite Gamecocks.

Alshon wanted #2 of course, but that was Sterling's number so he had to settle for #1 and it has worked-out for him.

I remember Courtney Leavett, a kicker we got out of Memphis some years ago, telling me that Notre Dame was his coolest visit because when he went there they had lockers with jersey numbers hanging from each locker ... and they listed every All-American in their history that had worn that number. Anyways, Courtney wanted #1, I forget which number he ended up wearing and why, #7 maybe, but I remember he wanted #1 but it was retired at three of the schools he visited and was being worn by the other two including us if I remember correctly

And I forget the story I heard about why Deon Sanders wore #2 at FSU, but I remember him saying he wanted #1 but couldn't get it for some reason.