White Was Right
November 01, 2003 11:30 PM | General
November 2, 2003
White's punt block to start the fourth quarter was the turning point of the game. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Jerry White just had a feeling that he was going to block a punt Saturday against Central Florida.
With West Virginia holding on to a 19-11 lead and its starting quarterback on the sidelines with a concussion, Central Florida was poised to get back into the game with 14 minutes left in the game.
Even though the Golden Knights were looking at a fourth and 30 from its own 25, another good punt by Mike Prater would have put West Virginia deep in its own territory with backup Charles Hales running the Mountaineer offense.
Prater had already kicked one punt 67 yards and another one like that could have dramatically changed field position in Central Florida’s favor.
Simply put, all Central Florida had to do was get off another clean punt. UCF had had success using its rugby style kick on occasion, but this time the Golden Knights decided to kick conventionally.
Mountaineer coaches instructed the punt return team to go after it if Central Florida lined up in the right formation.
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| Hunter chases the football to the end zone where he recovered it for a tide-turning touchdown. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
“When we came out the coaches gave us double calls,” said White.
All week White studied UCF’s punts and noticed that sometimes their guards flew out too quickly to get downfield in an effort to cover the punt returner.
“I was like we can get one of these the way their guys jump out,” said White.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez admitted after the game that the Mountaineers tried several times to go for the block.
“They run a crazy punt and it really kind of keeps you on your toes when they spread out four people. We tried six or seven other times to block it but we couldn’t,” he said.
However, this time White detected an opening.
“Usually I was getting kicked out by the guard but I didn’t get kicked out this time,” he said. “I came free and I was like if I don’t get this one I should be fired,” said White.
White went for the ball and nearly took it off Prater’s foot.
“I seen it pop up and then I saw a couple of our jerseys around it so I was like, ‘You can have it.’” said White.
The West Virginia player that ultimately fell on the football was redshirt freshman defensive back Joe Hunter.
“I have to give all of the credit to Jerry White because he blocked the punt,” said Hunter. “Basically the whole came he was coming free so we kind of knew it was coming and the coaches did, too.”
Even though White would have liked to have been the one to recover the ball for the touchdown, he was simply happy it was a player wearing a blue jersey.
“As soon as I saw Joe fall on the ball I knew it was a huge momentum swing and we got the extra score we needed,” he said. “I could see it on (Central Florida player’s) faces too.”
“I was really proud of our special teams,” added Rodriguez. “It was the first time we scored all year on defense or special teams.”
White, a junior defensive back from Rockville, Md., has gained a reputation for being a hard hitter in practice. Now he’s got his name permanently etched in the WVU record book.
“I did my job,” White reasoned. “I did what I was supposed to do and I’ve got another year to try and get another one.”
Briefly ...
Stustill is now a high school teacher and coach back in Florida, Longino is coaching and teaching back in Clevleand, Emanuel is completing his law degree and Smith is selling real estate.
"Larry Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver in the country and Chris has some of those skills as far as running and jumping and catching the ball," said Rodriguez. "Chris is still just a young guy, though."
