Anthony White with former UK teammates Anwar Stewart, left, and Dennis Johnson. (Larry Vaught Photo)
He would never be one to even mention it or think he does belong in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame, but it sure seems to me that my WLAP Sunday Morning Sports co-host Anthony White has to merit serious consideration for induction soon.
Two of his former UK teammates, quarterback Tim Couch and receiver Craig Yeast who were part of the record-setting offenses under coach Hal Mumme, are in the Hall of Fame and should be. But look at White did after Mumme arrived and he escaped the doghouse he had been in with previous coach Bill Curry — who also had Couch run the option and Yeast not featured in the offense.
White ran for 1,758 yards and 11 touchdowns from 1997-99 and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. He still ranks 13th on UK’s all-time rushing list.
During those same three years with Tim Couch and Dusty Bonner at quarterback, he caught 194 passes for 1,520 yards and eight scores while averaging 7.8 yards per catch. The only UK players with more catches are Yeast (208) and Derek Abney (197). Abney, a dynamic kick/punt returner, is also in the Hall of Fame.
White is also ninth on UK’s all-time career receiving yardage list with his 1,520 yards and two of those ahead of him — Yeast and Quentin McCord — were his UK teammates in the Air Raid offense. White’s 78 catches in 1998 are the fourth-best mark at UK behind James Whalen (90), Yeast (85) and Randall Cobb (84). Cobb is also in the Hall of Fame.
Overall, White left UK with 3,278 yards rushing and receiving — an average of 5.9 yards on the 558 touches he had — and 19 touchdowns.
Former teammate Anwar Stewart, who is now UK’s defensive line coach, has no doubts his friend/former teammate should be in the UK Hall of Fame.
“He did some things that had never been done with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving. At that time nobody was putting up numbers like that in the SEC and especially at Kentucky,” Stewart said. “I think he should be in by now but it is not up to me.
“Anthony had a really great career. He started out with a little adversity but took advantage of his second opportunity and was a big focus point of our offense. I do believe in the future he will be in the Hall of Fame.”
Tony Franklin, White’s position coach at UK, says if White does not belong in the Hall of Fame then no one does.
“You think about what he did. I think at the time he finished at UK only three running backs in the history of college football had more yards rushing and receiving combined. He was phenomenal,” Franklin said.
“He was a trendsetter. I thought I was a good coach but turns out I just had the best option route runner I ever coached. He was unique and special and a really good team player. Everything you heard about him before we got there was not true. He was as good a player as I ever coached.”
5 Responses
And what a considerate and humble man!
yes he is
The best that ever done it!!
I had the distinct pleasure to work with Anthony White on Sunday mornings for many years. I found him to be humble, considerate, a moderator of sorts between personalities on the sports talk show he was cohost of. He was truly surprised when he found that there was a Mural of him at the football center or the stadium. He mentioned once that he never got a game ball. Considering all he had done for the football programs he has been with I thought that a shame. I bought him a football and wrote his accomplishments on it. I honestly think he was genuinely and positively affected by my gift. Time and time again Kentucky, Lexington specifically, honors the wrong things, saves the wrong buildings, and doesn’t appreciate what we have. What a nice gesture to add Anthony to the Hall of Fame. He richly deserves it.
Great insights John. thanks so much for sharing that