Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/752868
season training. It did not go well. "The offer wasn't reflective of a sixth- round choice," White said. "I played in a couple of preseason games before they released me, and then I went to Cleve- land's preseason camp. It was there that I came to the conclusion that [pro foot- ball] wasn't going to work for me, and I walked away from it." While he was back in State College working odd jobs and contemplating his future, Penn State came up with another offer. A position had opened up handling alumni relations in the undergraduate admissions office, and he was soon working on a master's degree in educa- tion. That was the beginning of his life- time career at Penn State and included four years in governmental affairs in Washington, nearly five years in the ath- letic department's student services of- fice, and one year (2000) as an assistant football coach. Then in 2001, he found what he terms "a very welcomed chal- lenge in my life" as director of marketing and operations for suites and club seats at Beaver Stadium. "It's been great," he said. Most important, it keeps him con- nected with Penn State and football. He also enjoys working with people, even the sometimes stressful challenges of dealing with all the big and minute problems one can encounter in such a high-profile position. There's been one major stumble along the way. White is a dedicated health en- thusiast who works out regularly, watches his diet and doesn't drink alco- hol or smoke. One spring morning in 2015, he was finishing up his hour-long three- to five-times-weekly exercise routine at his health club when he passed out. He didn't know it, but he was having a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, several people saw what was happening. They got his heart pounding, and within minutes White was in the emergency room at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Less than an hour later, he had a stent inserted and is now fully recovered. In fact, the hospital has made him its "poster child," and his photo and a short narrative are appearing in advertise- ments in the local printed and online media. As White reflects back on his football career, he thinks about his teammates and their success from 1982-86, not about himself. "I've thought about that stretch in the '80s, if it could have been bottled in terms of the harmony," he said. "There was something about how that whole thing played itself out. It just seemed effortless because of the harmony that existed. Having everybody on the same page, pushing in the same direction and none of this selfish stuff going on. We were a bunch of guys that got along and cared about each other. That made it easy. Stop and think about it: Three national championship runs. I don't care what conference you're playing in or who you're playing, that's remark- able." ■ Sandwiches • Salads • Spuds • Soups • Sweet Tea HUB-Robeson Center • On-Campus mcalistersdeli.com he ic w nd a S • s ad al S • s u o S • s ud Sp T t ee w S • s p u a e T