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WGH grad joins YSU
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
After a three-year, 225-mile detour, Pat White discovered his college future was fewer than 20 miles away.
A former Warren Harding High basketball standout, White took a year off after graduating in 2006, then found himself at Alfred (N.Y.) State, a junior college located about two hours southeast of Buffalo.
He originally went there to play basketball, then ultimately quit the team and found himself staying on an extra semester. So, the 6-foot-6, 215-pounder joined the football team last fall.
“I’d been playing football my whole life, so I decided to see what happened,” said White, who didn’t play much in high school, admitting, “my heart wasn’t in it.”
The decision paid off immediately.
Playing wide receiver for the Pioneers, he caught 23 passes for 599 yards (26 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.
He was named the conference’s offensive player of the week on Nov. 16 after catching four passes for 88 yards and a TD in the Pioneers’ 21-15 win over Erie C.C.
Afterward, he sent his film around the country and caught the eye of several schools, including Youngstown State.
The Penguins wanted him to play tight end and wide receiver — the only school that wanted him to play both — and he ultimately chose them over full ride offers from Syracuse, Akron, Arkansas State, Delaware State and Robert Morris.
He plans to major in journalism.
“It was a work of God,” said White, who said he prayed about the decision every day. “God had a huge part in this.”
Dugan leaves team
In other news, former Poland High offensive lineman Bill Dugan has left the team. Dugan is the 15th player to leave the team since spring practice and by far the most surprising.
YSU’s coaches were disappointed and attempted to talk him out of the decision, according to a source.
The 6-5, 280-pounder played in eight games last season at offensive tackle, starting two, and would have been a sophomore this fall.