Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

That's what West Virginia University head coach Bill Stewart hears every time star quarterback Patrick White makes one of his patented spectacular plays.

Amazing grace, indeed.

I don't believe any player in NCAA football possesses grace that is more amazing than White's.

That's why even after coaching White during four seasons and even after watching him produce 98 career touchdowns, Stewart never ceases to be amazed by that grace.

"Every time he does it ... over and over," said Stewart. "He never ceases to amaze me."

It was more of the same during the Mountaineers' 35-21 win over Louisville last Saturday.

White rushed 21 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns, connected on 6 of 11 passes for 122 yards and two more TDs and, yes, again left Stewart amazed.

"Ohmigosh, Patrick," and WVU's first-year head coach. "The other day, I said, 'Is he in?' The play was toward their bench and toward their field house and away from our bench.

"And they said, 'Yeah, Coach, he's in.' And I didn't know how in the world he got in (the end zone). How in the world that guy got around ... blazing speed.

"I told the staff, 'Well, guys, here lately you've gotten to see Patrick as we've seen him.' Because he was nicked up a little bit ... his knee, his hip.

"But, now, he's fine and dandy."

That's not good news for Pitt. The Panthers host WVU (7-3, 4-1 Big East) at noon Friday in Heinz Field for the 101st edition of the "Backyard Brawl." The game will be televised by ABC.

Nobody realizes how dangerous a healthy White is better than Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt.

In fact, during the Big East coaches teleconference Monday, Wannstedt opined that he thinks WVU is putting the ball back in White's hands more now than the Mountaineers did earlier in the season.

"Our goal was to get Patrick through the season," replied Stewart, referring to Wannstedt's comment. "He carried the ball at times. We just did what we thought we had to do to win the football game.

"He carried it more Saturday than he has in the past (this season). Anybody can see the stats.

"So, if we've become more Pat White-oriented here lately, I guess that's what we've done. But I don't know that."

Me, either.

I believe White has carried the Mountaineers all season, not just lately. If a Most Valuable Player to his team award were given, White's victory would make Obama's look like a close race.

That's why -- stats or no stats -- I believe this has been White's greatest year at WVU.

Think about it. No Steve Slaton. No Owen Schmitt. No Darius Reynaud.

Just White and his amazing grace.

"Patrick White -- without saying boo all year -- has simply put this football team on his back," said Stewart. "He carried this football team and let these young guys grow and develop.

"And he did it without Owen and he did it without Stevie and he did it without Darius.

"Patrick White has done a whole lot for us. If we don't admire what No. 5 has done, I just don't know how people can go through life."

Admire his running. Admire his passing. Admire his leadership. But, most of all, admire his amazing grace.

That is what defines Patrick White.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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