Major Harris vs Pat White??? That is a tough call (especially since I never really saw Major play.) That said, and forgive my arrogance on Major, but based on his accomplishments my vote goes with White. While Major got us to the National Title, and if he doesn't get hurt, we probably win, he still never won a bowl game, the Heisman, and doesn't hold any NCAA records. He was a winner through and through, but...
Meanwhile White has a record that can never be broken, only (improbably)matched. 4-0 in bowl games as a starting QB. Never done before, and probably be a long time if it is ever to be equaled. White also set the mark for all time Big East yardage and the NCAA record for rushing by a QB.
Also to me, I think there is something to be said for their accomplishments after WVU (small part at least since college success and NFL success are obviously completely different stories.) Pat White Drafted in the Second round by the Dolphins, contributing slightly. Harris, drafted in the 12th round by the Rams, never played a down in the NFL.
Harris paved the way for QBs like Charlie Ward, Donavan Mcnabb, Michael Vick and Pat White. But at the end of the day all things being equal, you put White head to head against Harris, I think White wins 7 out of 10.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
As much as I love debating Wayne, I'm going to have to agree with him here. If Major had not been hurt in the National Title game and WV did pull out a victory (very debatable of course), then perhaps I would give Harris the sentimental vote. Harris' stats may be hurt by the fact that the offense wasn't as creative in his day, but the win/loss record doesn't lie. Harris was a solid 25-10-1, but White was 40-9. As for the stats, White was a much better running quarterback while Harris was a better thrower. Oddly enough when you combine passing yards and rushing yards, Harris averaged 215.7 while White averaged 214.9, eerily close. However, Harris' td/int ratio was a respectable 1.5 while White's was a very impressive 2.4. 4-0 in bowls wouldn't mean anything to me if they were all in the International Bowl, but two of those bowls won by White were BCS bowls. After a 9-4 freshmen year, the Mountaineers won 11 games each of the next three seasons. Harris' Mountaineers went 6-6, 11-1, and 8-3-1, which brings me to his senior season. Perhaps if Harris had stayed for his senior season and had a great year this debate would be tighter, but he left for the NFL. The careers of these two fine athletes in the NFL have no impact on how well they played at WV, so that part is a non-issue. However, Harris' decision (a dumb one as it turned out) to play only three seasons at WVU really hurts his argument, especially stacked up against the better winning percentage and slightly better stats of White. Harris is now in the College Football Hall of Fame and is one of the great Mountaineers, but I must agree with Wayne. Pat White is greatest WV quarterback of all time.
ReplyDelete