West Virginia Honors Record-Setting Quarterback Pat White by Retiring His No. 5 Jersey

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University paid tribute to Pat White on Saturday, retiring his No. 5 jersey in recognition of his storied career with the Mountaineers that began two decades ago.

The ceremony took place prior to the Mountaineers’ season-opening clash with Coastal Carolina. Fans arrived wearing white T‑shirts and jerseys, while West Virginia’s players sported white road uniforms—an outfit reminiscent of the one used 18 years earlier when the school celebrated White during his final home game on a snowy December evening.

White compiled a 35‑8 record as the starter and became one of the nation’s premier dual‑threat quarterbacks. He remains the only starting quarterback in NCAA history to secure four bowl victories, including the Sugar Bowl versus Georgia following the 2005 campaign and the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma after the 2007 season.

“Twenty years later, people are still discussing what he accomplished and what his teammates achieved,” West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez told reporters earlier in the week.

Rodriguez recruited White from Daphne, Alabama, in 2004, offering him the opportunity to play quarterback—a role many other programs had suggested he abandon for a different position.

“To this day, he has always prioritized the team and asked what he can do to help West Virginia succeed,” Rodriguez noted. “I’m extremely proud of him.”

White now serves as West Virginia’s assistant quarterbacks coach and as an aide to Rodriguez, who returned a year ago for his second tenure at his alma mater.

Reflecting on his time at West Virginia, White said, “It means I helped show many young men from lower Alabama that there is more to the world than just Alabama and Auburn football.”

White becomes the seventh Mountaineer football player to have his jersey number retired.

He made his debut seven games into his freshman year, stepping in for injured quarterback Adam Bednarik in the fourth quarter with West Virginia down 24‑7 against No. 19 Louisville. White orchestrated a dramatic 46‑44 triple‑overtime victory, cementing his role as the starter thereafter.

White achieved the rare distinction of surpassing 6,000 career passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards. He recorded four games with at least 200 rushing yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry throughout his career. His 4,480 rushing yards rank third all‑time among Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks.

White was enshrined in West Virginia’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

“Personally, it will be wonderful to have my parents return to Morgantown and experience Mountaineer Madness again,” White said. “It’s been a long time since they’ve been in that stadium.”

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