West Virginia officially retired Pat White’s No. 5 jersey before their season opener against Coastal Carolina this Saturday. This isn’t just any number getting pulled from circulation. White became only the seventh player in program history to get this kind of honor, marking his permanent place in Mountaineer legend. What a moment, right? They reunited White with the fans who watched him totally transform the Mountaineers into a national contender from 2005 through 2008. If you know college football, you know what kind of impact this dude had on the program.
The Numbers Tell a Story, But Not the Whole Story
You want stats? White finished his West Virginia career with a ridiculous 35-8 record as the starting quarterback. He also made history as the first college quarterback to start and win four bowl games, leading the Mountaineers to victories in the Sugar, Gator, Fiesta, and Meineke Car Care bowls. Talk about clutch! His 4,480 career rushing yards remain one of the greatest totals ever produced by a college quarterback, no doubt about it. By the end of his career, he held Big East records for total offense with an insane 10,529 yards and 103 touchdowns responsible for. And against ranked opponents? He went 7-2. Those numbers are why West Virginia retired his jersey. But they don’t even fully explain what White truly meant to that program.
The Heart of West Virginia’s Greatest Era
Pat White was the absolute heart of West Virginia’s greatest modern era. He represented everything that made those Mountaineer teams so dangerous. He was fast enough to turn an ordinary option play into a touchdown, composed enough to perform on the biggest stages, and tough enough to handle the punishment that came with carrying the football again and again. His partnership with coach Rich Rodriguez and running back Steve Slaton helped create one of the most explosive offenses of that entire era. And get this: White is now back in Morgantown as an assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant to the head coach under Rodriguez. What a reunion, right? That added another layer of emotion to Saturday’s ceremony, with West Virginia even wearing white uniforms and encouraging fans to do the same in White’s honor.
While the university won’t officially remove No. 5 from circulation until the end of the season to let fifth-year receiver Jaden Bray finish his college career with the number, it’s a done deal. White was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and while his professional career didn’t hit the heights many envisioned, that did absolutely nothing to diminish his place in West Virginia football history. For an entire generation of fans, White *was* West Virginia football. He gave them unforgettable victories, elevated the program nationally, and brought a style opponents just couldn’t replicate. That number, the one that defined an entire era, will now belong exclusively to West Virginia history forever. You love to see it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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