Dan White (UA quarterback)
Encyclopedia
Dan White was the starting quarterback for the University of Arizona
football team from 1993–1995, a span which included the Wildcats'
only PAC 10 championship to date, as well as a record-setting Fiesta Bowl
victory.
in San Diego, CA, where he was the starting quarterback for a powerhouse team that included gifted wide-receiver Brett Callan, as well as future NFL
stars J. J. Stokes
and La'Roi Glover
. The team was coached throughout White's four years by local legend Bennie Edens
. In 1990, during White's senior year, the Pointers captured the CIF
championship.
, hoping to play for hall-of-fame
coach Joe Paterno
, but he never saw significant playing time. After one season, he transferred to the University of Arizona
, where he spent a redshirt
year before winning the starting quarterback role in 1993.
That season, with White at the helm, the Wildcats
rolled to a 10-2 record and broke a 15-year drought to tie for their first (and, to date, only) share of the PAC 10 championship. The Wildcats wrapped up the season in the Fiesta Bowl
, where White threw for 2 touchdowns en route to a 29-0 drubbing of 10th-ranked
Miami
, still the only shutout in Fiesta Bowl history.
White would continue as starting quarterback until 1995, finishing with 40 touchdown passes for his career and, perhaps more importantly, an unbeaten 3-0 record against the Wildcats' arch-rival ASU
Sun Devils
, throwing 7 touchdowns and only one interception in those three games. A 2008 editorial in the Arizona Daily Star ranked him as one of the Wildcats' 10 best quarterbacks of all time.
, but signed with the Houston Oilers as a free agent immediately following the draft. He was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Falcons
before finishing his pro career in the Arena Football League
, where he played for the Tampa Bay Storm
during the 1997 season.
. Against Washington State, he looked like Dan Quayle
."
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
football team from 1993–1995, a span which included the Wildcats'
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
only PAC 10 championship to date, as well as a record-setting Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
victory.
High school
White began his football career at Point Loma High SchoolPoint Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in the San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, California. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may...
in San Diego, CA, where he was the starting quarterback for a powerhouse team that included gifted wide-receiver Brett Callan, as well as future NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
stars J. J. Stokes
J. J. Stokes
Jeral Jamal Stokes is a retired American football wide receiver. Stokes played in the National Football League from 1995 to 2003 with the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots.-High school:...
and La'Roi Glover
La'Roi Glover
La'Roi Damon Glover ; born July 4, 1974) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who ended his career with the St. Louis Rams. Glover retired from the NFL on June 22, 2009...
. The team was coached throughout White's four years by local legend Bennie Edens
Bennie Edens
Bennie Edens was the head football coach at Point Loma High School from 1950 to 1998. He received many individual coaching awards , coached the team to 5 CIF championships, and finished his career with the most wins at a single school of any coach in section history...
. In 1990, during White's senior year, the Pointers captured the CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
championship.
College career
After high school, White attended Penn StatePennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, hoping to play for hall-of-fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
coach Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
, but he never saw significant playing time. After one season, he transferred to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, where he spent a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
year before winning the starting quarterback role in 1993.
That season, with White at the helm, the Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
rolled to a 10-2 record and broke a 15-year drought to tie for their first (and, to date, only) share of the PAC 10 championship. The Wildcats wrapped up the season in the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, where White threw for 2 touchdowns en route to a 29-0 drubbing of 10th-ranked
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, still the only shutout in Fiesta Bowl history.
White would continue as starting quarterback until 1995, finishing with 40 touchdown passes for his career and, perhaps more importantly, an unbeaten 3-0 record against the Wildcats' arch-rival ASU
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
Sun Devils
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
, throwing 7 touchdowns and only one interception in those three games. A 2008 editorial in the Arizona Daily Star ranked him as one of the Wildcats' 10 best quarterbacks of all time.
Pro Career
After college, White was not taken in the NFL draftNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
, but signed with the Houston Oilers as a free agent immediately following the draft. He was subsequently traded to the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
before finishing his pro career in the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
, where he played for the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
during the 1997 season.
Quotes
White's inconsistent play inspired this memorable quote by ABC announcer Mark Jones: "Against USC, he looked like Dan MarinoDan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
. Against Washington State, he looked like Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
."