Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Last week, I asked you to consider whether West Virginia quarterback Pat White is the best player in Big East history. (If you need a refresher course on White's accomplishments, check here).
That post generated a lot of interesting responses, many of which I will share with you now, with the occasional comment from me. A few things upfront: Lots of people suggested other excellent players, but remember that we're not putting together an all-star team here. We're looking for the greatest player in league history. The bar is set pretty high. And I think you really have to emphasize winning. The true greats prove themselves by winning big games. Finally, it doesn't really matter what happened in the player's pro career. We're simply talking about the best player during their Big East career.
On to your responses ...
Ryan from Columbus writes: In regards to your question on where Pat White stands in Big East history, he has to be considered the best of the conference. At a time when WVU was mired in mediocrity and the reputation of the Big East was shaky at best, White stepped onto the field and changed the WVU team and the nation's perception of the Big East. He managed to move both a program and a conference into the national spotlight. He had help from Steve Slaton to do this, but by the list of candidates you suggested, there was usually another player to augment every top candidate. In the games where Slaton was a non-factor, Pat White always stepped up. He also boasts a list of accolades that place him among the nation's elite, not just the best in the Big East. I only wish that WVU could have figured out how to play football at the beginning of this year so he might have had a shot at a national title and possibly one highly regarded stiff-arm statue. Regardless he will go out a winner and a champion.
Kris from Hollidaysburg, Penn., writes: I wanted to chime in about your recent blog entry discussing the best player all-time in the Big East. I'm an analytical kind of guy, for the most part, and that means that I believe in numbers. Numbers for one game might be deceptive, but career numbers don't lie. With that in mind, Pat White now has less than 300 yards before he will be the NCAA's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards. (Short of an injury, I'd bet the ranch that he makes it.) He's less than 900 total yards away from being the Big East's all-time leader in total yards. He's less than a full percentage point behind the Big East's all-time leader in completion percentage, Brian Brohm. With six more TDs, he'll be tied with Donovan McNabb as the all-time TD leader in the Big East. No other player in Big East history has ever won three New Year's Day bowls, so we know he's a proven winner and leader on the biggest stages against the stiffest competition. What more could a player POSSIBLY do to PROVE that they're the best player that their league has ever seen? I'd reserve full judgement until this season is over, but short of an injury, I don't think anybody can reasonably deny that Patrick White is the best player that ever came out of the Big East. It's too bad that he can't get any Heisman love; that is a major travesty.
Bill from Parts Unknown writes: I think you forgot a few to consider: Bryant McKinnie - Never allowed a sack! Donovan Darius - All American and Pro Bowler. Reggie Wayne - See Indy. DeAngelo Hall - Great cover and return man. Walter Reyes - Senior year he did it all for an overachieving SU squad. Johnathan Vilma - Underrated college LB and tackling machine. Keith Bulluck - See Titans. Made position switch at SU from Safety to LB and destroyed opposing offenses. Clinton Portis - great U running back. Frank Gore - possibly the best to run at the U in over a decade but injuries derailed him till he got to SF. Sean Taylor - best safety to ever man a secondary in the Big East. Mike Cloud - Another back who carried his squad in his senior year ... held Big East record that season. Dan Morgan - Another U tackling machine. Edgerrin James - first in line of recent great U running backs. Kevin Jones - Stud runner at VT, was tough to bring down and could run on defenses at will. Lee Suggs - another underrated back who did a lot with a QB who couldn't throw that well. Antonio Bryant - award-winning wideout who was lost to a bad attitude in the NFL.
Brian Bennett: Great players, all. Greatest player? Don't see him on that list.
Jason Talbott writes: Do you really think Pat White is the best player in the history of the Big East? I think when he goes to the pros he will wind up like Hines Ward. I also think the Steelers will draft him because half of their fans like WVU and he could put a lot of people the the seats. What do you think?
Brian Bennett: I do think he'll get a shot at wide receiver and could be a slash-type player that the Steelers have employed in recent years. But again, I don't think it matters what he does in the pros when we're considering his Big East career.
Albert Kyle writes: I'm a new reader and the other day I saw your blog on what Pat White might mean to the WVU program. We all know about Pat's great running and now throwing but not many think about Pat's ability to BLOCK! I am a season ticket holder and an amateur photographer and I shoot almost the entire game from my seat in the peanut gallery. At the Auburn game I shot some pics of Noel's run right and reverse left which was a big play for us and when editing my pics Noel picked up an unexpected blocker when the play went sour and he had to reverse his field. Yep, Pat White! Pat did a block on Etheridge that sprung Noel for a few extra yards and kept holding his block clear out of bounds!
Brian Bennett: Yeah, and coach Bill Stewart said that block almost gave him a heart attack, as White was supposed to take it easy coming off a head injury. The guy's a gamer.
Joe from Follansbee, W. Va., writes: I think Pat White deserves to be mentioned as a great. However, I don't think you can truly evaluate him until his career is over. Throughout his career, he has put up the numbers to have his name mentioned, but there are five (now four) games left. If he and the Mounties lay an egg in the next five games, he will simply be remembered as a good player. However, if they run the table and Pat stays healthy, I think his name deserves to but put close if not at the top.
Ryan from Morgantown writes: Pat White should be tops on the list. Although some of those names have done great things in the NFL, we are talking about college and none of those players meant as much to their teams as White does to WVU. He is the most important player in WVU history and, baring injuries, will soon be tops in NCAA history as a rushing QB as well as all-time yards in the Big East.
Adam from Charleston, W. Va, writes: This one comes down to Donovan McNabb and White for first place. White gets it though because of what his role has done for the Big East. If not for him and the rest of the Mountaineers, the Big East might not be one of the BCS conferences anymore.
Matt from Louisville writes: Pat White certainly belongs among the Big East best players and after this year you can put him at QB No. 2 behind McNabb. Other notable players could also be Elvis Dumervil (Louisville) -- in 2005 he led NCAA and Big East with 20 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries. Also Adam "Pacman" Jones (WVU) and Devin Hester (Miami).
Brian Bennett: Notable, yes. Greatest? No. I doubt the Big East would want to make Pacman Jones its signature player.
Sutton from Columbus writes: It's difficult for me to step out of my die-hard love for the Mountaineers, but Pat White may well be the greatest Big East player of all time. My main argument is this: The man (especially with his newly honed passing skill) is an honest-to-God threat on any play, regardless of down, yards to go, or time left in the game. There is no defense on Earth that can set up for a play and legitimately say they aren't bracing for Pat White to scramble out of the pocket on a broken play or QB draw and take it all the way. Now take that frame of mind into every play and imagine the effect it has on the game. I believe it is this trait that makes White what Bill Stewart calls "The greatest winner in college football today". That being said, I don't think any other Big East player has been able to so seriously affect the game on every single play.
Conner from Louisville writes: Pat White may be the best dual-threat Big East player in the history of the Big East, but I don't think there's another quarterback that can measure up to what Brian Brohm has done. He led one of the most productive offenses in the country for 3 straight years, one of those years ending as a 6-6 season! Playing well against adversity is a sign of a truly great quarterback, and Brohm proved that he could. Pat White only truly shines when the whole team behind him plays well (which until this season they have done admirably well). Without a doubt, West Virginia would not be the Big East powerhouse they are now without Pat White leading the team. What will they do once he's finally gone?
Brian Bennett: I thought Brohm's legacy was on par with White's before last season began. Both had a BCS bowl championship under their belt and were perhaps the best quarterbacks in their school's history. But as you said, Brohm went 6-6 in his senior year and ended his career with one bowl victory. White went on to win the Fiesta Bowl as a junior and could add another this year. So I think White gets the nod.
Ryan from Charleston, W.Va., writes: There is no doubt Pat White should be the greatest Big East player of all. As you said, three New Year's Day Bowl games and a legitimate shot at a fourth, and chances are the winner of the Big East will play in the Orange Bowl. If the 'Eers could somehow rally and win that, he will have won 3 out of the 4 BCS games. I'm not sure if that's been done before but it's worth researching. Truth is, the WVU offensive machine over the past three years is as potent as any offense the Hurricanes had and it all starts/started with White. As we saw last year and this year, when he isn't playing the 'Eers just aren't the same. White is amazing and still when healthy among the top 5 players in the nation. He will be severly missed here, and remembered as one of the top two Mountaineers of all time along with Major Harris.
Brian Bennett: So what's our conclusion? It's far from a consensus, and of course we can't properly judge White's career until he finishes it this season. But I think, judging from your responses and my own thoughts, it's a two-man race between McNabb and White. Perhaps I'll do a comparison between their career numbers here soon. Unless someone can present a compelling argument for someone else. I haven't heard one yet.
Last week, I asked you to consider whether West Virginia quarterback Pat White is the best player in Big East history. (If you need a refresher course on White's accomplishments, check here).
That post generated a lot of interesting responses, many of which I will share with you now, with the occasional comment from me. A few things upfront: Lots of people suggested other excellent players, but remember that we're not putting together an all-star team here. We're looking for the greatest player in league history. The bar is set pretty high. And I think you really have to emphasize winning. The true greats prove themselves by winning big games. Finally, it doesn't really matter what happened in the player's pro career. We're simply talking about the best player during their Big East career.
On to your responses ...
Ryan from Columbus writes: In regards to your question on where Pat White stands in Big East history, he has to be considered the best of the conference. At a time when WVU was mired in mediocrity and the reputation of the Big East was shaky at best, White stepped onto the field and changed the WVU team and the nation's perception of the Big East. He managed to move both a program and a conference into the national spotlight. He had help from Steve Slaton to do this, but by the list of candidates you suggested, there was usually another player to augment every top candidate. In the games where Slaton was a non-factor, Pat White always stepped up. He also boasts a list of accolades that place him among the nation's elite, not just the best in the Big East. I only wish that WVU could have figured out how to play football at the beginning of this year so he might have had a shot at a national title and possibly one highly regarded stiff-arm statue. Regardless he will go out a winner and a champion.
Kris from Hollidaysburg, Penn., writes: I wanted to chime in about your recent blog entry discussing the best player all-time in the Big East. I'm an analytical kind of guy, for the most part, and that means that I believe in numbers. Numbers for one game might be deceptive, but career numbers don't lie. With that in mind, Pat White now has less than 300 yards before he will be the NCAA's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards. (Short of an injury, I'd bet the ranch that he makes it.) He's less than 900 total yards away from being the Big East's all-time leader in total yards. He's less than a full percentage point behind the Big East's all-time leader in completion percentage, Brian Brohm. With six more TDs, he'll be tied with Donovan McNabb as the all-time TD leader in the Big East. No other player in Big East history has ever won three New Year's Day bowls, so we know he's a proven winner and leader on the biggest stages against the stiffest competition. What more could a player POSSIBLY do to PROVE that they're the best player that their league has ever seen? I'd reserve full judgement until this season is over, but short of an injury, I don't think anybody can reasonably deny that Patrick White is the best player that ever came out of the Big East. It's too bad that he can't get any Heisman love; that is a major travesty.
Bill from Parts Unknown writes: I think you forgot a few to consider: Bryant McKinnie - Never allowed a sack! Donovan Darius - All American and Pro Bowler. Reggie Wayne - See Indy. DeAngelo Hall - Great cover and return man. Walter Reyes - Senior year he did it all for an overachieving SU squad. Johnathan Vilma - Underrated college LB and tackling machine. Keith Bulluck - See Titans. Made position switch at SU from Safety to LB and destroyed opposing offenses. Clinton Portis - great U running back. Frank Gore - possibly the best to run at the U in over a decade but injuries derailed him till he got to SF. Sean Taylor - best safety to ever man a secondary in the Big East. Mike Cloud - Another back who carried his squad in his senior year ... held Big East record that season. Dan Morgan - Another U tackling machine. Edgerrin James - first in line of recent great U running backs. Kevin Jones - Stud runner at VT, was tough to bring down and could run on defenses at will. Lee Suggs - another underrated back who did a lot with a QB who couldn't throw that well. Antonio Bryant - award-winning wideout who was lost to a bad attitude in the NFL.
Brian Bennett: Great players, all. Greatest player? Don't see him on that list.
Jason Talbott writes: Do you really think Pat White is the best player in the history of the Big East? I think when he goes to the pros he will wind up like Hines Ward. I also think the Steelers will draft him because half of their fans like WVU and he could put a lot of people the the seats. What do you think?
Brian Bennett: I do think he'll get a shot at wide receiver and could be a slash-type player that the Steelers have employed in recent years. But again, I don't think it matters what he does in the pros when we're considering his Big East career.
Albert Kyle writes: I'm a new reader and the other day I saw your blog on what Pat White might mean to the WVU program. We all know about Pat's great running and now throwing but not many think about Pat's ability to BLOCK! I am a season ticket holder and an amateur photographer and I shoot almost the entire game from my seat in the peanut gallery. At the Auburn game I shot some pics of Noel's run right and reverse left which was a big play for us and when editing my pics Noel picked up an unexpected blocker when the play went sour and he had to reverse his field. Yep, Pat White! Pat did a block on Etheridge that sprung Noel for a few extra yards and kept holding his block clear out of bounds!
Brian Bennett: Yeah, and coach Bill Stewart said that block almost gave him a heart attack, as White was supposed to take it easy coming off a head injury. The guy's a gamer.
Joe from Follansbee, W. Va., writes: I think Pat White deserves to be mentioned as a great. However, I don't think you can truly evaluate him until his career is over. Throughout his career, he has put up the numbers to have his name mentioned, but there are five (now four) games left. If he and the Mounties lay an egg in the next five games, he will simply be remembered as a good player. However, if they run the table and Pat stays healthy, I think his name deserves to but put close if not at the top.
Ryan from Morgantown writes: Pat White should be tops on the list. Although some of those names have done great things in the NFL, we are talking about college and none of those players meant as much to their teams as White does to WVU. He is the most important player in WVU history and, baring injuries, will soon be tops in NCAA history as a rushing QB as well as all-time yards in the Big East.
Adam from Charleston, W. Va, writes: This one comes down to Donovan McNabb and White for first place. White gets it though because of what his role has done for the Big East. If not for him and the rest of the Mountaineers, the Big East might not be one of the BCS conferences anymore.
Matt from Louisville writes: Pat White certainly belongs among the Big East best players and after this year you can put him at QB No. 2 behind McNabb. Other notable players could also be Elvis Dumervil (Louisville) -- in 2005 he led NCAA and Big East with 20 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries. Also Adam "Pacman" Jones (WVU) and Devin Hester (Miami).
Brian Bennett: Notable, yes. Greatest? No. I doubt the Big East would want to make Pacman Jones its signature player.
Sutton from Columbus writes: It's difficult for me to step out of my die-hard love for the Mountaineers, but Pat White may well be the greatest Big East player of all time. My main argument is this: The man (especially with his newly honed passing skill) is an honest-to-God threat on any play, regardless of down, yards to go, or time left in the game. There is no defense on Earth that can set up for a play and legitimately say they aren't bracing for Pat White to scramble out of the pocket on a broken play or QB draw and take it all the way. Now take that frame of mind into every play and imagine the effect it has on the game. I believe it is this trait that makes White what Bill Stewart calls "The greatest winner in college football today". That being said, I don't think any other Big East player has been able to so seriously affect the game on every single play.
Conner from Louisville writes: Pat White may be the best dual-threat Big East player in the history of the Big East, but I don't think there's another quarterback that can measure up to what Brian Brohm has done. He led one of the most productive offenses in the country for 3 straight years, one of those years ending as a 6-6 season! Playing well against adversity is a sign of a truly great quarterback, and Brohm proved that he could. Pat White only truly shines when the whole team behind him plays well (which until this season they have done admirably well). Without a doubt, West Virginia would not be the Big East powerhouse they are now without Pat White leading the team. What will they do once he's finally gone?
Brian Bennett: I thought Brohm's legacy was on par with White's before last season began. Both had a BCS bowl championship under their belt and were perhaps the best quarterbacks in their school's history. But as you said, Brohm went 6-6 in his senior year and ended his career with one bowl victory. White went on to win the Fiesta Bowl as a junior and could add another this year. So I think White gets the nod.
Ryan from Charleston, W.Va., writes: There is no doubt Pat White should be the greatest Big East player of all. As you said, three New Year's Day Bowl games and a legitimate shot at a fourth, and chances are the winner of the Big East will play in the Orange Bowl. If the 'Eers could somehow rally and win that, he will have won 3 out of the 4 BCS games. I'm not sure if that's been done before but it's worth researching. Truth is, the WVU offensive machine over the past three years is as potent as any offense the Hurricanes had and it all starts/started with White. As we saw last year and this year, when he isn't playing the 'Eers just aren't the same. White is amazing and still when healthy among the top 5 players in the nation. He will be severly missed here, and remembered as one of the top two Mountaineers of all time along with Major Harris.
Brian Bennett: So what's our conclusion? It's far from a consensus, and of course we can't properly judge White's career until he finishes it this season. But I think, judging from your responses and my own thoughts, it's a two-man race between McNabb and White. Perhaps I'll do a comparison between their career numbers here soon. Unless someone can present a compelling argument for someone else. I haven't heard one yet.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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