West Virginia retires record-setting quarterback Pat White’s No. 5 jersey number

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Pat White, once a star quarterback at West Virginia, saw his No. 5 jersey retired by the school on Saturday, marking the close of a two-decade career. Prior to the Mountaineers' season opener against Coastal Carolina, a ceremony was held in White's honor, with the crowd adorned in white. White, known for his dual-threat abilities, went 35-8 as a starter and led the team to four bowl victories, including the Sugar Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.

"Twenty years later, they’re still talking about what he did and what his teammates did," said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who recruited White from Daphne, Alabama, in 2004. Rodriguez praised White's team-first mentality, stating that he always prioritized West Virginia's success above everything else.

Now serving as West Virginia's assistant quarterbacks coach, White reflects on his time at the university, stating that playing for West Virginia allowed him to show that opportunities exist beyond Alabama and Auburn. In his freshman year, White came in as a replacement, leading the team to a 46-44 overtime victory against Louisville.

Over his career, White amassed 6,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards and set the record for the third-most rushing yards ever by a Bowl Subdivision quarterback. He was inducted into West Virginia's Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.