WVU quarterback Patrick White, a Heisman Trophy front-runner, is known as a soft-spoken man who, early in his time at WVU, was a tough interview, thanks to his shy, one-word answers and refusal to fill awkward silences with glib chatter.
In the past year, he's become more confident and accumulated a great deal of political capital and clout because of his on-field exploits (29-4 as a starter) and off-field, straight-arrow, good-student demeanor.
In short, when he talks, people listen.
When he accepted the Fiesta Bowl trophy for offensive MVP in January, he told the Fox audience, "I think I speak for everyone on the team when I say Coach Stewart should be our next coach."
He essentially backed the WVU administration into a corner. Their star player, after engineering a big upset and leading a shell-shocked team to victory, had thrown his support behind the interim coach in a very public fashion. What else was WVU to do?
At the Big East media day in Newport, Rhode Island, something White said may end up costing another WVU coach his job—baseball coach Greg Van Zant.
White has been drafted multiple times by Major League Baseball teams. He was even urged to play for Van Zant's team in the offseason by Stewart, but declined. Now, we may know why. When asked about playing baseball at WVU, here's what White said on Tuesday:
"In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there's not been many players of my race on his team," White said. "Van Zant is "not too high on it."
White went on to say, "Every player I've talked to doesn't like him. He's not a well-liked coach, but I guess he has tenure so they never got rid of him. They're not successful at all."
Wow. Say, where's coach Van Zant? Oh, he's over there, under that bus.
Some facts: Van Zant has 413 victories in 15 seasons (a .545 percentage), but no NCAA tournament appearances since 1996. All 34 players on WVU's baseball squad last year are white; 11 from West Virginia, which is 97 percent white.
The percentage of black players in the big leagues has been slipping for years as young black athletes have moved to football and basketball. Latino players now make up the largest minority in the big leagues.
Further—and this is purely a guess—it seems logical to me that college baseball would be the province of white players. Very talented Latino players, many of whom speak no English, generally go straight to the minor leagues and never to college.
All that being said, it's important to note that White said he's done his research. He said he's talked to Van Zant's players. This is not just Pat White looking at a photo of the 2008 baseball team, seeing nothing but white faces and inferring that Van Zant is a racist.
There has been no comment from WVU yet other than a boilerplate response from athletic director Ed Pastilong about the school's commitment to diversity. That sound you're hearing from Morgantown right now is Pastilong's head exploding.
White's comments place Van Zant on a very, very hot seat. Frankly, I would be surprised if he's still coaching the baseball team next season. I could very easily see a "resignation" managed by the university in which Van Zant is thanked for his years of service and ushered out.
WVU knows there's no gain in siding against its biggest athletic moneymaker and best hope for a football national championship—Pat White.
25 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Shawn Withrow 11 months ago
WOW! If this is this is reality, and I don't have any reason to doubt Pat White, then WVU needs to take an investigative look into Coach Van Zandt and if racism is confirmed they should dismiss him.
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Josh Hall 11 months ago
Double wow!! If this is reality, then any popular collegiate athlete can make a judgement about someone's character, WITHOUT even knowing them, and action must happen. Accusations of racism are so serious. How does one defend oneself? Drag out some friends of a non-white race and have them speak on your behalf?
Pat White made a terrible error in judgement. There is no room for ANY student to publicly blast an employee of the University. Particularly a student who doesn't even know the accused.
The author of this piece is terrible misguided.
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Will Shelton 11 months ago
This is fascinating and the first I've heard of it, good job bringing it to light.
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Tyler Jones 11 months ago
Great article and the question is worth it, but Josh makes some really good points. And, as you mentioned, African Americans have been slipping away from the diamond as of late, usually on their own accord.
It's enough of an issue that Joe Carter wrote a book about it. It's enough of an issue that you can find all-white collegiate baseball teams around the country.
Also, White said he did his research, but never blatenly called Van Zant a racist. Plus, we don't know the validity of his research. "I talked to some guys.." could mean he talked to 2 people.
I haven't heard the interview, so i don't know how his voice sounded or what context surrounded it. I'd have to hear it until I made a decision of wether White was calling Van Zant racist, and if so, how exactly he came to that conclusion. Lastly, as Josh mentioned, White has still never met the man.
None-the-less, this is something great to write about and great job.
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Dallas Wilson 11 months ago
Pat White is the next Dennis Dixon
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Chris Casto 11 months ago
Pat White has been doing for three years what Dixon couldn't do for a full season. You're on drugs.
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Chris Casto 11 months ago
Through Three Years of Starting:
Pat White
Passing Yards 4207
Rushing Yards 3506
Passing TDs 35
Rushing TDs 39
Dennis Dixon
Passing Yards 5056
Rushing Yards 1168
Passing TDs 38
Rushing TDs 12
Not. Even. Close.
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Frank Ahrens 11 months ago
Here's Dennis Dodd's column, in which he says Van Zant's reputation is hanging in the air until White issues some sort of statement/clarification/retraction:
http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270202/9632345
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Thomas Brown 11 months ago
Amazing stuff
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Justin Goar 11 months ago
triple wow, great read.
didn't know anything about this.
i do agree though that the number of african american players playing baseball is dropping.
that's part of it. LSU's football, basketball, track, etc teams are dominated by black players numbers wise.
there's two of them on the baseball team that i can recall(i could be wrong there but if i am i'm not far off).
anyway great stuff.
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Lanie Destefano 11 months ago
Racism accusations should NEVER be made without hard facts. And no, I don't call an all white team at a college in a mostly white state in a sport where blacks have been drifting away from in general, hard facts. Notre Dame got burned in the media after the Willingham firing without any hard facts. Same thing.
I just wonder how many other D-1 schools have all white baseball teams? Lacrosse? How many basketball teams are all or mostly black? Did Pat know that no black players had ever been recruited? Or did none chose to come to WVU?
Racism charges should be made when something blantant and proven has occured.
I am a huge Pat White fan but this was out of line in my opinion.
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Vincent Franco 11 months ago
This year my sons D-1 college baseball team had one black player... no one is crying racism nor should they.... I believe White owes the coach an apology... by the way, a college coach is paid to win games, not be liked by all the players. The idea that a coach can have a winning program and have everybody like him is a fantasy. Lets see, 34 players for nine starting positions... some kids will not be happy with the lack of playing time.
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Tim McGhee 11 months ago
Pat White said the coach is "not too high on blacks" where "players" is implied, correctly.
Pat White also said he had "talked with some of the players" about Van Zant and "they don't like him."
This all means that (my conjecture) Pat probably talked with the coach as well as some of the players. After talking with them, he probably felt uncomfortable, probably like he has before since he is a black man in a nation that at times is not tolerant of most things different.
This doesn't warrant any investigation of coach VanZant. His job should be safe. He has been a great ambassador for the univeristy and for the state of West Virginia and one man's comments should not determine the course of Greg Van Zant's career, although he will probably think twice about why one of the greatest athletes to attend West Virginia University is not playing outfield on his team.
As well, as a white man, I've seldom felt uncomfortable about my race, so I in no way can imagine how Pat White feels. Pat White's comments are valid because he is expressing his feelings, which are also valid. He should also feel empowered to call it as he sees it.
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Evan Wiley 11 months ago
I think this is just White's disgustin way of providing an excuse for choosing football over baseball...having already been drafted he knows it's an easy fall back and I'm certian he's confident in his skills to play pro baseball if it comes down to it
Would a coach really care about ethnicity as long as the player was good?
It just doesn't add up.
Winning=job security
racism=booted from job as coach
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Tim McGhee 11 months ago
Yes, Evan, a coach could care about ehtnicity even if the player was good. HIs intolerance could drive his decisions.
That's probably is not what happend in this case.
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bob thompson 11 months ago
wow pat white is officially an idiot. First of all, most baseball players are white and its no one's fault that there aren't a lot of black people playing it other than blacks themselves. Its just like basketball, most players are black, but you never see any white people complaining about a "lack of diversity" and that there need to be more white people. Do you know how much trouble a white guy would get in if this situation were reversed? If Tim Tebow was also a basketball player and he accused the Florida basketball team of not having enough blackwhite people everyone would be screaming for his head to be cut off. I am getting so tired of this double standard of racism in our society. It's only a problem if there arent enough black people in a sport. I mean seriously, when was the last time you heard anyone talking about the NBA or the NFL (predominantly black leagues) taking measures to make the league "more diverse" to include more white people???? Pat white needs to shut his mouth. He is really the one being racist by assuming that just because the baseball team has a lot of white people, the coach is a racist and only likes white people. this is disappointing because i really liked him before this.
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Cody London 11 months ago
Have you people not considered the possibility that Pat White just doesn't want to play baseball. Seriously... Baseball is a white sport to simply put it. I'm sure he would be an awesome centerfielder with a cannon for an arm. I'd want him on my team too. Football is predominately a black sport and he feels more comfortable there. I don't blame him. Look at Jeff Samardzija, he would have made lots of money as a possesion receiver in the NFL. But he doesn't have the speed like Bolden or any other decent receiver in the NFL. He wouldn't fit in. Plus I don't think many NFL teams were interested in someone who benefited extemely from playing with Brady Quinn at ND. I would also like point out that we are talking about West Virginia. Which if any of you have not realized it yet West Virginians have a tendency to be slightly racist. Not saying every mountaineer in WV is racist but just see 2008 Democratic Primaries Clinton(75%) blowout over Obama. And that was after the fact that Clinton was basically already beat. So I also would not be surprised if the coach were racist. But remember we wont have to worry about this racial divide when OBAMA gets elected. He inspires everyone to forget and move past the divide even when he brings it up again. Come on everyone don't make a big deal about it. O yeah i would like to thank the entire state of W. Virginia for powering everyone's homes with their effecient coal.
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bob thompson 11 months ago
are you kidding me? we are all so screwed if Obama wins. McCain isnt that much better be he is still 1000X better than obama. Obama is going to disarm America and tax the Sh!t out of everybody! He himself is also racist to relate to this article (as is his pastor who he is now "disassociated" with simply because he could no longer have him around as a political liability). all of you obama supporters are such robots who are being controlled by his good speeches. He can do no wrong in your eyes and it really is pathetic.
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Cody London 11 months ago
If it's any consolation to you... I'm a big McCain supporter.
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Shawn Withrow 11 months ago
Looks like this has become about more than the article. I would like to add to / amend my previous comments. I don't know whether Van Zandt is practicing any racism or not. It would definitely not be confirmed simply by looking at the makeup of the team members alone, especially given the lack of diversity overall in the sport of baseball. All I meant to say is that it after White's comments it may be prudent for members of the WVU athletic department to simply do some basic fact gathering to see if further investigation is warranted. More likely than not, there is nothing going on that will lead to a reprimand or dismissal of the current baseball coach, but given the nature and sensitivity of this matter it would be prudent to carefully examine the program. It is important to remember that Pat White has not filed any formal complaint or grievance against any member of the baseball program, therefore it is completely at the discretion of the leadership to determine what, if any, action should be taken.
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bob thompson 11 months ago
oh and cody that is the weakest argument I have ever heard. If your gonna say "Not saying every mountaineer in WV is racist but just see 2008 Democratic Primaries Clinton(75%) blowout over Obama" then I could just as easily tell you to look at the black vote and the fact that 92% of blacks are supporting Obama. I guess that means that they are all racist too huh?
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Cody London 11 months ago
Oh and Bob my arguments are never weak on the basis that if you look at the demographics of the african americans that voted and are going to vote this election cycle... many of them are voting for the first time on the basis that a black candidate is running for president. I don't know about you that just seems a little racist to me. Huh? bob? They never cared about politics until he came around? It seems kinda bullshitty to me. Besides the last couple of elections have been a lesser of two evil's elections. Basically two dumass candidates. So lack of choice. Hence why Bush was elected. McCain would have won in 2000. The democrats could have won against Bush both times if they wouldve brought forth a decent moderate non-liberal cooky candidate that didn't agree with Karl Marx on ever government issue. Maybe its just me. Now Obama the Machiavellian will breed racism and make white people feel guilty for being white.
Pat White is just a regular guy who should have kept his mouth shut.
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Brendan Krooker 11 months ago
Racism is alive and well everywhere in America and the world.
White made a porr decision to make those comments public though.
Go beat Pitt and USF before throwing someone under the bus.
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Chris Townsend 11 months ago
Greg Van Zant is a terrible coach and an awful human. Check out gvz-sucks.com, you'll see.
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bob thompson 11 months ago
Cody, I am sorry for bitching at you.
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