The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

November 25, 2008

West Virginia QB White excited just to be on field

By Mickey FurfariF

MORGANTOWN — Patrick White, West Virginia’s record-setting quarterback, admittedly doesn’t get charged up for any football game more than another.

“I get worked up just stepping onto the field,” the Heisman Trophy candidate said Monday night. “No matter the opponent, any time I get that opportunity, I’m excited.”

And that includes going out to practice or to play a game. To the 6-2, 192-pound senior from Daphne, Ala., one game is pretty much just important as another.

He said, “I have fun every time I step on the field.”

White obviously takes advantage of every shot at rolling up high numbers on game days for the Mountaineers (7-3, 4-1 Big East), who visit old rival Pitt (7-1, 3-2) Friday for the 101st meeting between the two schools.

In last Saturday’s 35-21 victory at Louisville, he became the all-time NCAA rushing yards leader by a quarterback. He now has 4,292 rushing yards. He also is No. 1 in the Big East with most touchdowns-responsible-for with 98.

White is looking forward to Friday’s game, naturally.

Asked about his team’s chances, he replied, “It comes down to the same thing and has since Day One: If we execute properly, I think it’s hard for them to stop us.”

The oddsmakers have installed WVU as a slight favorite.

White confirmed “in a way” that four or five games ago West Virginia went back to more of what it did on offense last season. That’s what Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt had noted earlier on the Big East’s weekly media teleconference.

“Our coaches made adjustments and pretty good ones,” White said. “And they started working.”

Told that Wannstedt also stated that White has had the ball more for option plays, the player replied. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m just out there playing ball.”

It was the Pitt mentor who also came up with the line, “As Pat White goes, so goes their offense.” To which White said, “Everybody is entitled to their thinking.”

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