Pat White’s name is about to take its place among the most honored in West Virginia history, and the man himself still can’t quite believe it.
This Saturday, WVU will retire White’s No. 5 jersey ahead of the Mountaineers’ season opener against Coastal Carolina. The jersey won’t be officially retired until the end of the season, when senior wide receiver Jaden Bray runs out of eligibility, but the celebration and ceremony this weekend will mark a major moment for one of the most iconic players ever to wear Old Gold and Blue.
White said the news initially caught him off guard in the funniest way possible.
“First thought was how much money did Pat Mac (McAfee) pay to make this happen? I know that’s not the case," White joked during his appearance on the Rich Rodriguez show on Monday night.
"What happened in that moment was me thinking about (Jaden) Bray and him wearing number five and wanting him to have an excellent season, finishing his career as a Mountaineer wearing that number. And then a few other thoughts; most importantly was me thinking that this would never be the case.
I thought it was impossible for that to happen, but it did, and I’m glad that my family can experience the Mountaineer greatness.”
West Virginia’s decision didn’t come out of nowhere. For years, the school had tight restrictions on what it took to retire a number, including the requirement that a player be a consensus first-team All-American. That standard had kept a lot of names out, even for players whose impact was impossible to ignore.
But White’s place in WVU football eventually forced the conversation. Athletic director Wren Baker recommended that the WVU Athletic Council revisit the policy, and the council voted unanimously to change the rules, clearing the way for White’s No. 5 to be retired.
White’s path to that moment wasn’t exactly smooth either. At one point, he was frustrated with not getting the chance to play and thought baseball might be the better move. He talked it through with his father, James, who kept him grounded.
“My father told me to show up every day like I was the starter, every play. At the end of the week, if I still felt the same that he would bring my glove, and lo and behold, that was the Louisville game.
I was this close to becoming an Anaheim Angel. It says a lot about my father and the leadership he showed."
Now, 18 years later, White is on the other side of it all, helping shape the next generation of Mountaineer quarterbacks and offering advice he hopes will stick with them long after their days in Morgantown are done.
In Other News...
Rich Rodriguez Just Made West Virginias QB Situation Even More Intriguing
Rich Rodriguez used the first Coaches Show of the new season to lay out where West Virginia stands after a busy roster reset, and the biggest takeaway was how much the staff is leaning on experience to steady things up front. He touched on the additions the Mountaineers brought in through high school recruiting and the transfer portal, then quickly turned to the offensive line, where continuity figures to matter a great deal as the team tries to settle into a faster rhythm.
The quarterback picture, though, is the part that will keep drawing attention. Rodriguez named Scotty Fox and Michael Hawkins as possible starters, which only adds another layer to a room that still has to define itself while the rest of the offense takes shape around it. He also gave updates on Cam Cook, Amari Latimer, DJ Epps and Jaden Bray, all while making it clear the up-tempo approach remains the plan, so the pressure to identify the right pieces and get them moving together is already building. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rodriguez Is Bringing Back A WVU Feel Fans Will Debate
Rich Rodriguez is already putting his stamp back on the Mountaineers, and one of the first visible changes will be at the start of the game. On his radio show, Rodriguez said West Virginia will not revive the inflatable helmet entrance that became a calling card in the early 2000s. Instead, the team is headed back to a more familiar setup, entering through the tunnel with smoke and a tunnel camera feeding the big screen for fans.
It is a small detail, but in Morgantown these kinds of details matter because they help shape the feel of game day. Last years entrance from the weight room was a notable departure, and now the program is leaning back toward a look that feels more connected to its past. Whether fans embrace the change or argue for the old spectacle, Rodriguez has made clear the first impression at home will have a different flavor this time around. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Awaits Eligibility Ruling With Early Season Stakes Rising
The eligibility fight involving Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan has widened into a cross-sport issue for West Virginia, with football player Jason Chambers and baseball pitcher Ben McDougal later added to the lawsuit against the NCAA. What began as an effort to secure an additional collegiate year for the two basketball players now carries broader implications for the Mountaineers, whose rosters in multiple sports are waiting on the same legal clock.
A hearing is set for Sept. 24, and the timing matters most for Chambers, whose status could affect the opening stretch of the football season. For West Virginia, the case is another reminder of how eligibility disputes can ripple beyond one locker room, especially when an early-season schedule leaves little margin for delay. [Read more 🡒]