THE GREAT WHITE

By Matt Whitfield

“Dude is unbelievable. I mean, he can do it all. He's fast, he's stronger than he looks and he can throw it. Yeah, I love watching him -- as long as he's not doing it to us.” “He's probably the fastest guy on the field at any time. And he's the quarterback." "We'll need the whole FBI for Pat White."

With quotes like this coming from opposing coaches and players it seems Pat White’s talent isn’t just respected and admired by the Mountaineers and their fans but by perhaps anyone who ever stepped foot on the football field.

Football is a brutal game where respect is earned and talent is lauded. As a freshman Pat White burst onto the scene leading West Virginia to a come from behind win versus Louisville. This past Saturday White played Louisville for the last time and this time the victorious Mountaineers didn’t need a 4th Quarter comeback. In the win White did however shatter two milestones and spark a college football debate about who’s the best QB in the Big East EVER.

This past Saturday Pat White didn’t just run for 200 yards and three TD’s and pass for 122 yards and 2 TD's. He did something more. White broke former Iowa Hawkeye Brad Smith’s NCAA all-time QB rushing record of 4,289 yards. White eclipsed the mark in the 4th quarter and now has 4,292 career yards.

White also took another record away from a famous Syracuse alum. Donovan McNabb held the record for TD’s in the Big East with 96. With five TD’s Saturday White didn’t just tie the record he made it his own now holding the record with 98 TD’s.

White has three more games to pay including a likely bowl game. Breaking more records is always a possibility for White. But according to Coach Bill Stewart this much is certain, “If we don’t admire what number five has done I just don’t know how people can go through life. It’s a tremendous honor for him, for his offensive line and for his coaching staff."

White and the Mountaineers seem to be returning to the team of old. They return to the field this Friday to take on Pittsburgh in the 101st edition of the Backyard Brawl. Look for tensions to be high and play to be fierce as West Virginia looks to avenge it's crushing defeat to the Panthers last year.