Published: December 02, 2008 11:03 pm      

Stewart calling for a ‘White-Out’

Mountaineers to wear white to honor seniors

MORGANTOWN — A “White-Out” is going to be observed by West Virginia University in honor of Patrick White and its other 18 seniors at Saturday night’s regular-season finale with South Florida at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium.

The Mountaineers will wear white jerseys, and WVU fans attending the Big East game are encouraged to wear white rather than the customary gold.

In making that announcement Tuesday, coach Bill Stewart asked to go on record and give a great expression of gratitude to the visiting Bulls. Athletic director Doug Woolard and head coach Jim Leavitt gave approval for the Mountaineers to wear white jerseys.

“This senior class has done much more than any other senior class, and we just happened to be led by a guy named White,” Stewart told the media. “Pat White, No. 5, the greatest winner in college football, would not be one iota without 18 brothers who have helped him along the journey.

“Those 19 seniors are why we’re having a ‘White-Out.’ Pat White isn’t the reason. It’s Pat White who is at the head of the class, and the entire pyramid that has helped him become what he has become.

“So our senior class would not want it any other way. This is not a one-man show. This is not a one-man outfit. It is not a one-man story. This is a story about 18 brothers who are lifting up a 19th who happens to have the last name of White.

“Our senior class absolutely loves No. 5, and this is for all of them.”

Heading the Alabama native’s long list of achievements is the fact he has become the all-time NCAA leader in most rushing yards by a quarterback.

He also leads the Big East in career touchdowns-responsible-for.

While pleased with the Mountaineers’ effort in last week’s 19-15 loss to old rival Pitt, Stewart said he was not pleased one bit with the penalties and mistakes they made.

“That was very unlike the Mountaineers,” he noted.

“We’ve been pretty much penalty-free, and let me assure you I’m not pleased with that at all. Bill Stewart has not been a happy camper, and the players know that and the staff knows that.

“I started with myself first, staff second and then the players third. We’ve strongly voiced what needed to be said, very strongly. Now it’s on to the next game, which is the great thing about football.”

Like WVU, South Florida is 7-4 overall. But the Mountaineers are 4-2 in the Big East standings while the Bulls are only 2-4. But both teams are assured of bowl invitations, with who’s going where to be determined Sunday.

Stewart admittedly has been impressed with the Bulls.

“They are explosive,” he said. “It’s going to be a battle between us and the Bulls. We’re 1-2 against them and all I remember are the last two (both defeats). I know this: We are going to give the Bulls everything we’ve got.”