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SPORTS
Chuck Landon: White should rest ailing thumb against Syracuse
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- You've got to love a football coach who can deliver a rim-shot.
Take it away, Bill Stewart.
"The thumb is fine," said West Virginia University's head coach when asked about star quarterback Pat White's bruised left thumb. "Well, I don't know if it's fine. I don't know if he could play the drums."
Wait for it.
"But," continued a smiling Stewart, "I don't know if he could play them before, either."
Henny Youngman meet Ginger Baker.
But, seriously, folks. ...
After White had to leave not one, not two, but the last three games with injuries, I don't expect him to play any longer than necessary when the Mountaineers host Syracuse at noon today here in Mountaineer Field.
I mean, with a nationally televised game against Auburn looming only 12 days away, what would be the point?
WVU isn't going to beat the Auburn Tigers without a 100 percent healthy White. So, let him get in, get the job done and get out today.
Let the bruised thumb on his throwing hand heal. Let the cobwebs from the head injury White suffered last Saturday get completely broomed.
That's why Stewart held White out of practices this week.
"Could he take a full blow to the head?" Stewart asked rhetorically. "Probably. Would that be smart? No.
"So, we're not going to do it. We will always err on the side of caution with a head injury. ... with any injury, really."
Stewart should err it out again today. The instant the Mountaineers have a comfortable lead, he should give White the rest of the day off.
That certainly wouldn't hurt Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson's feelings. White has led WVU to 41-17 and 55-14 victories respectively over the Orangemen during the last two seasons.
"This guy is 4.40 (40-yard dash time) every time," said Robinson.
He should know. Robinson was an assistant coach at Texas in 2004 when the remarkable Vince Young was the Longhorns' double-threat quarterback.
"White might not be a 4.3 runner, but when he gets to 60 yards he's faster than anybody on the field," he said. "Vince Young was fast, but this guy is faster."
For the record, White has rushed for 428 yards this season. The senior quarterback needs 356 yards more to break the NCAA Division I-A all-time career rushing record for quarterbacks (4,289 yards) set by Missouri's Brad Smith (2002-05).
That would be a distinctive honor. And I'm certain White eventually will break that record.
But what's more important? That record or White's health? That record or WVU victories?
That's why Stewart should pull the plug on White as soon as possible today. Besides, it's not like the Mountaineers don't have a more than capable substitute.
His name is Jarrett "All-Around" Brown.
And the 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior can play tailback, fullback, wideout, slot receiver and, yes, quarterback.
In fact, "All-Around" Brown has filled all those roles in the Mountaineers' last two games.
Against Marshall, he rushed for 78 yards on only eight carries for a 9.8-yard average; was 5-of-7 passing for 44 yards; and caught one pass for a 1-yard loss.
Talk about multi-tasking.
"That is why I'm so excited about Jarrett Brown and the new package we have for him," said Stewart. "It is tremendous."
So, let White start and Brown finish today.
That's what needs to happen.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
