Gerald White
Encyclopedia
Gerald Eugene White is a former American football
running back
. He played college football
at the University of Michigan
from 1983 to 1986 and professional football for the Dallas Cowboys
in 1987. In four years of college football, White totaled 1,864 yards of offense for the Wolverines
. He is the founder of Gerald White International, LLC, a marketing and events company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
.
, and spent one year at Orlando's William R. Boone High School
. He then moved to Titusville High School
for his junior and senior years. As a senior in 1982, White was selected as a Parade
High School All-American, and he led Titusville to the Florida High School Athletic Association
Class AAA football championship. After White dominated the Region 5 playoff game, the Lakeland Ledger wrote:
Two weeks later, White led Titusville to a 29–0 win over Homestead
in the Class AAA state semi-final game, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns and kicking a 27-yard field goal. In the state championship game, Titusville defeated Kissimmee Osceola
33-0 as White rushed 12 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. White later recalled playing football for coach Al Werneke at Titusville: "The closeness and camaraderie are what I remember most about our high school teams. We loved coach Werneke and enjoyed each other, and it was culminated by winning the state championship."
As a junior high and high school football player, White was known as "Stardust", a nickname that reportedly "evolved from his fascination for the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, where he lived before moving to Florida".
. He played football for the Michigan Wolverines football
team under head coach Bo Schembechler
from 1983 to 1986.
As a freshman in 1983, White appeared in three games for the Wolverines, gaining 64 yards in 20 carries. As a sophomore in 1984, White appeared in seven games and started two games at the tailback position. He gained 345 yards on 91 carries, including 89 yards in Michigan's 22–14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes
in the season opener. After the Miami game, Schembechler praised White's effort: "We did not block well. I thought (tailback Gerald) White, under the circumstances with no blocking, ran good. He made some tough yards."
As a junior in 1985, coach Bo Schembechler converted White from a tailback to a fullback
. Though White had previously resisted efforts to have him play fullback, White later recalled, "But it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because I learned more about the game." White started all 12 games for the Wolverines at the fullback position. The 1985 Michigan football team
, with White, Jamie Morris
and Jim Harbaugh
in the backfield, compiled a record of 10–1–1, outscored opponents 342 to 98 and finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and UPI polls. During the 1985 season, White gained 564 rushing yards on 133 carries and 123 receiving yards on 18 catches. He also totaled 11 touchdowns (seven rushing and four receiving) on the season. He had his career-best game in Michigan's 27–17 victory over Ohio State
, as he rushed for 110 yards on 29 carries and added 23 receiving yards on three catches. He also scored the go-ahead touchdown in Michigan's 27–23 victory over Nebraska
in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl
.
As a senior in 1986, White started 11 of 13 games for the Wolverines at fullback. With the same starting backfield of White, Morris and Harbaugh, the 1986 team finished 11–1 in the regular season and was ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 7 in the UPI poll. The team advanced to the 1987 Rose Bowl
, losing to Arizona State
by a score of 22–15. White totaled 323 rushing yards on 88 carries and 408 receiving yards on 38 catches. He scored eight touchdowns, five rushing and three receiving, during the 1986 season. In the 1987 Rose Bowl, White caught a pass from Mike Gillette in the end zone for a two-point conversion on a fake kick. At the end of the 1986 season, White also played in the 1987 Hula Bowl
.
In four years at Michigan, White totaled 1,864 yard of offense for the Wolverines. He rushed for 1,297 yards, caught 64 passes for 567 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. Interviewed in 1997, White said, "The highlight of playing at Michigan, more than rushing for 110 yards against Ohio State and going to the Rose Bowl, was playing for Bo Schembechler. You either loved or hated Bo, but I loved him. I loved him because he taught me so much about life."
during the 1987 NFL season
. At the beginning of September 1987, White was waived by the Cowboys, but he returned to the team and played in three games for them during the 1987 NFL players strike. On being named to the Cowboys' lineup, White called it a "dream". He had five receptions for 46 yards in three games, but he was waived by the Cowboys in late October 1987. White returned to the Cowboys' training camp in 1988 and played with the team in pre-season games, but he was cut at the end of August 1988. He had survived until the Cowboys trimmed the final roster to 47 players. In July 1989, White signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins
and played in pre-season games with the team. He was cut by the Dolphins in early September 1989.
During his career in football, White played for Bo Schembechler at Michigan, Tom Landry
at Dallas and Don Shula
at Miami.
restaurant organization. He later formed G-Sport Management and Marketing, a sports marketing company in Orlando.
In 1997, White was the manager of promotions for Champion sportswear
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. At the time, White recalled, "I played for some of the best coaches ever. I don't want to coach because of the attitudes of some of today's players, but I apply what I learned to the business world. Sacrifice, trust and perfecting what you do are important, no matter what you do."
In 2005, White formed Gerald White International, LLC, a marketing and events company. He is also the managing partner of LudaJuice, Inc. In April 2010, Gerald White International moved its headquarters from Miami Beach, Florida
, to Ann Arbor, Michigan
. The firm's clients include the National Athletic Association, The Ludacris Foundation, Beliza Design and Tequila Don Modesto.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1983 to 1986 and professional football for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in 1987. In four years of college football, White totaled 1,864 yards of offense for the Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
. He is the founder of Gerald White International, LLC, a marketing and events company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
Early years
White began his football career at Memorial Junior High School in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, and spent one year at Orlando's William R. Boone High School
William R. Boone High School
William R. Boone High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida, United States. Built in 1952, the school is one of twenty high schools in the Orange County Public Schools system, created to accommodate the growing number of students at Orlando High School...
. He then moved to Titusville High School
Titusville High School
Titusville High School is part of the Brevard Public Schools System. It is located at 150 Terrier Trail South, Titusville, Florida.-History:...
for his junior and senior years. As a senior in 1982, White was selected as a Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
High School All-American, and he led Titusville to the Florida High School Athletic Association
Florida High School Athletic Association
The Florida High School Athletic Association is an organization whose purpose is to organize sports competition for high school It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations ....
Class AAA football championship. After White dominated the Region 5 playoff game, the Lakeland Ledger wrote:
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound White rumbled for 178 yards and two touchdowns as the Terriers blanked Lake Wales 33-0. White did it all. He even punted twice for a 46.5-yard average ... He finished the first half with 138 yards.
Two weeks later, White led Titusville to a 29–0 win over Homestead
Homestead High School (Homestead, Florida)
Homestead High School is a secondary school located at 2351 SE 12 Avenue in Homestead, Florida. It is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district. The principal is Ms. Cory R. Rodriguez....
in the Class AAA state semi-final game, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns and kicking a 27-yard field goal. In the state championship game, Titusville defeated Kissimmee Osceola
Osceola High School (Kissimmee, Florida)
Osceola High School, "An International School," is located in Kissimmee, Florida, and is one of 79 schools in Osceola School District. It is a public school that serves 2569 students in grades PK, 9-12...
33-0 as White rushed 12 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. White later recalled playing football for coach Al Werneke at Titusville: "The closeness and camaraderie are what I remember most about our high school teams. We loved coach Werneke and enjoyed each other, and it was culminated by winning the state championship."
As a junior high and high school football player, White was known as "Stardust", a nickname that reportedly "evolved from his fascination for the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, where he lived before moving to Florida".
University of Michigan
In 1983, White enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He played football for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
team under head coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
from 1983 to 1986.
As a freshman in 1983, White appeared in three games for the Wolverines, gaining 64 yards in 20 carries. As a sophomore in 1984, White appeared in seven games and started two games at the tailback position. He gained 345 yards on 91 carries, including 89 yards in Michigan's 22–14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the season opener. After the Miami game, Schembechler praised White's effort: "We did not block well. I thought (tailback Gerald) White, under the circumstances with no blocking, ran good. He made some tough yards."
As a junior in 1985, coach Bo Schembechler converted White from a tailback to a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. Though White had previously resisted efforts to have him play fullback, White later recalled, "But it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because I learned more about the game." White started all 12 games for the Wolverines at the fullback position. The 1985 Michigan football team
1985 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1985 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
, with White, Jamie Morris
Jamie Morris
James Walter "Jamie" Morris is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and a record-setting running back in college for the University of Michigan Wolverines...
and Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
in the backfield, compiled a record of 10–1–1, outscored opponents 342 to 98 and finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and UPI polls. During the 1985 season, White gained 564 rushing yards on 133 carries and 123 receiving yards on 18 catches. He also totaled 11 touchdowns (seven rushing and four receiving) on the season. He had his career-best game in Michigan's 27–17 victory over Ohio State
1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1985-1986. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where they won 10–7 against the Brigham Young...
, as he rushed for 110 yards on 29 carries and added 23 receiving yards on three catches. He also scored the go-ahead touchdown in Michigan's 27–23 victory over Nebraska
1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl
1986 Fiesta Bowl
The 1986 Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1986 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. It was the 15th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. In the game, the Michigan Wolverines, second place finishers in the Big Ten Conference, defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, runners up...
.
As a senior in 1986, White started 11 of 13 games for the Wolverines at fullback. With the same starting backfield of White, Morris and Harbaugh, the 1986 team finished 11–1 in the regular season and was ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 7 in the UPI poll. The team advanced to the 1987 Rose Bowl
1987 Rose Bowl
The 1987 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was the 73rd Rose Bowl Game. The Arizona State Sun Devils, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 22-15....
, losing to Arizona State
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
by a score of 22–15. White totaled 323 rushing yards on 88 carries and 408 receiving yards on 38 catches. He scored eight touchdowns, five rushing and three receiving, during the 1986 season. In the 1987 Rose Bowl, White caught a pass from Mike Gillette in the end zone for a two-point conversion on a fake kick. At the end of the 1986 season, White also played in the 1987 Hula Bowl
Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
.
In four years at Michigan, White totaled 1,864 yard of offense for the Wolverines. He rushed for 1,297 yards, caught 64 passes for 567 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. Interviewed in 1997, White said, "The highlight of playing at Michigan, more than rushing for 110 yards against Ohio State and going to the Rose Bowl, was playing for Bo Schembechler. You either loved or hated Bo, but I loved him. I loved him because he taught me so much about life."
Professional football
White played for the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
during the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
. At the beginning of September 1987, White was waived by the Cowboys, but he returned to the team and played in three games for them during the 1987 NFL players strike. On being named to the Cowboys' lineup, White called it a "dream". He had five receptions for 46 yards in three games, but he was waived by the Cowboys in late October 1987. White returned to the Cowboys' training camp in 1988 and played with the team in pre-season games, but he was cut at the end of August 1988. He had survived until the Cowboys trimmed the final roster to 47 players. In July 1989, White signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and played in pre-season games with the team. He was cut by the Dolphins in early September 1989.
During his career in football, White played for Bo Schembechler at Michigan, Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
at Dallas and Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
at Miami.
Later years
After White retired from football, he moved to Atlanta, where he worked for two years for the HootersHooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
restaurant organization. He later formed G-Sport Management and Marketing, a sports marketing company in Orlando.
In 1997, White was the manager of promotions for Champion sportswear
Champion (sportswear)
Champion is a manufacturer of clothing, specializing in sportswear. The brand is a subsidiary of HanesBrands Inc. , which was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation....
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. At the time, White recalled, "I played for some of the best coaches ever. I don't want to coach because of the attitudes of some of today's players, but I apply what I learned to the business world. Sacrifice, trust and perfecting what you do are important, no matter what you do."
In 2005, White formed Gerald White International, LLC, a marketing and events company. He is also the managing partner of LudaJuice, Inc. In April 2010, Gerald White International moved its headquarters from Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. The firm's clients include the National Athletic Association, The Ludacris Foundation, Beliza Design and Tequila Don Modesto.