Pat White is finding his way back into the game of football, the L.A. Chargers just hired him as their Offensive Assistant. West Virginia Mountaineer fans across the country rejoice and have sent there congratulations to White since news broke. At 36 years old, Pat is now on the coaching side of football. Most recently, White was on the coaching staff at Campbell University assisting with the Quarterbacks. Additionally, Pat White has also coached at Alcorn State, South Florida, and Alabama State.
The Miami Dolphins drafted Pat White in the second round of the 2009 draft. Passing up a six figure contract with the L.A. Angels (MLB), Pat White decided to play college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. White created several big moments for the Mountaineers and is considered one of their best quarterbacks ever.
WVU 2005
Pat White started his career at West Virginia in 2005 as a co-starter for the team, along with Adam Badnarik. Sharing starting time until the seventh game of the 2005 season, Pat was quickly proving to be QB1 for the Mountaineers. In the seventh game of the 2005 season; Pat White had to step up and fill in for an injured Badnarik. White and the Mountaineers were down 24-7 when Badnarik was injured. Pat White was able to lead the Mountaineers into a triple overtime victory, beating Louisville 46-44. White earned the starting job after that and was able to earn the Mountaineers a big into the Sugar Bowl against Georgia later that season. Rushing for 77 yards and throwing for 120 yards; including a touchdown, Pat White and WVU beat Georgia 38-35.
WVU 2006
After a successful 2005 campaign, the country learned how dominant Pat White could be. Earning a preseason watchlist spot for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year award, WVU fans expected big things from Pat White. A leader of the Mountaineer team, Pat White passed for 1,655 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 1,219 yards and 18 TDs. One of Whites most memorable games of the season came in the Backyard Brawl as West Virginia took on Pitt in their rivalry game. White threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns in WVU’s 45-27 win over Pitt.
White rushed for a career-high later that season, against Syracuse he was able to rush for 247 yards and scored four touchdowns.With a neck, ankle, and wrist injury, White gave it all he could against Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. Being down 35-17 in the third quarter, WVU and White were able to rally back and win the game 38-35.
WVU 2007
White had national attention at this point, and the WVU football team was a force to be reckoned with. The 2007 season marked the 100th addition of the Backyard Brawl between Pitt and WVU. White and WVU entered the game as 28 point favorites, a win would earn a berth into the BCS Championship game. Struggling to establish a strong offensive strategy, the Mountaineers found themselves trailing by one possession late in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineer offense was only able to get the ball in Pitt territory twice during the game. The final possession saw Pitt running the ball out the back of the end zone for a safety, winning Pitt the game and costing WVU their championship chances.
The Mountaineers and White earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. White earned MVP in the 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Pat White passed for 176 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards, earning MVP for the game. ESPN ranked White’s performance in the Fiesta Bowl as the #9 best in BCS bowl game history.
WVU 2008
White earned a spot on the 2008 Preseason All-American Team. In the season opener against Villanova, white finished the day with a stadium-record five touchdowns. A sold out crowd was able to see White and the Mountaineers start strong coming into the season. White was on top of the world and continuing his time as a dominant force. However; prior to their game against Syracuse, White suffered a head injury and was forced to sit out and losing his streak of starting in 19 games.
Pat White set an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a career with 4,480 yards. Also in the 2008 season, White passed Donovan McNabb and became the most prolific scorer in Big East History. Pitt was able to win in the 2008 addition of the Backyard Brawl, beating White for his last time participating in the rivalry.The Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina was Pat Whites final collegiate game. West Virginia beat North Carolina 31-30, Making white the first player in college football history to win four consecutive bowl games.
During his time at WVU, Pat White was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the country. White finished his career with the sixth most career victories as a starting quarterback. Unfortunately; no matter how talented White was, he was never an NCAA All-American and is not eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. His time as a starting quarterback is long over with, now Mountaineer fans can rejoice and see how he performs as an assistant at the NFL level.