Randy White (American football)

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Randy White
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Position(s): Defensive Tackle	Jersey #(s): 54
Born: January 15, 1953 (1953-01-15) (age 55) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Career Information
Year(s): 1975–1988
NFL Draft: 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2
College: Maryland
Professional Teams
Dallas Cowboys (1975-1988)
Career Stats
Tackles	1,104
Sacks	111
Interception (football)Interceptions	1
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
9x Pro Bowl selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) 9x All-Pro selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) 1x Super Bowl champion (XII) 1978 Co-Super Bowl MVP 1974 Outland Trophy 1974 Lombardi Award NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Randy Lee White (born January 15, 1953 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American football player. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971-1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975-1988. He is a member of both the college and professional football halls of fame.

[edit] College career

Randy was recruited by Maryland out of Thomas McKean High School in Wilmington, Delaware and played as a fullback during his freshman year. While Maryland finished the year with only 2 wins, White did little worth noting during that year. During his sophomore season, new head coach Jerry Claiborne moved Randy to defensive end, noting that he had the skill to be "one of the best five linemen in the U.S.". The move was a natural fit, as by his senior year, he was, as Claiborne put it, "as fast as some of the offensive backs I had coached." In that senior year (1974), he won numerous awards and honors, including the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, and the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. Though Maryland lost in the Liberty Bowl that season to Tennessee, Randy was named the game's Most Valuable Player. In 1994, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2000 was named to ABC sports All-time All-America Team. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Professional career

Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975, he was moved to middle linebacker, where he was a backup to Cowboy legend Lee Roy Jordan, playing mostly on special teams his first two seasons, including his rookie season when Dallas lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X. During his third season (1977), he was moved to defensive tackle, the same position formerly occupied by "Mr. Cowboy", Bob Lilly, from 1961 through 1974. That year would prove to be his breakout year, he was named to his first All-Pro team, his first Pro Bowl, and was named co-MVP(with Harvey Martin) of Super Bowl XII, making him one of only seven defensive players to win that honor. He would continue that success, being named to nine consecutive All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams. He would retire in 1988 (coincidentally, also the last season on the sidelines for original Cowboys coach Tom Landry), having played 209 games in 14 seasons, only missing one game during that span. At the time of his retirement, he had played the second most of any Dallas Cowboy in history. During those 14 years, he played in three Super Bowls, six NFC Championship Games, and accumlated 1,104 tackles (701 solo) and 111 sacks.^[3] His highest single season sack total was 16 in 1978.^[4] He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.^[3]

[edit] Awards and Honors

• Associated Press All-America team - 1973, 1974^[2]
• Outland Trophy - 1974^[2]
• Lombardi Award - 1974^[2]
• ACC Player of the Year - 1974^[2]
• State of Delaware Athlete of the Year - 1974^[2]
• Amateur Athlete of the Year (Philadelphia sports writers) - 1974^[2]
• UPI Lineman of the Year - 1974^[2]
• Liberty Bowl Most Valuable Player - 1975^[2]
• Super Bowl Co-Most Valuable Player - 1978^[3]
• NFC Defensive Player of the Year - 1978^[3]
• All-Pro team - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985^[3]
• Pro Bowl selection - 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985^[3]
• College Football Hall of Fame inductee - 1994^[2]
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee - 1994^[3]
• Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor inductee - 1994^[5]
• 51st best player on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players - 1999^[6]
• ABC sports All-time All-America Team. - 2000 ^[1]

[edit] Notes

• Nicknamed "The Manster", half man, half monster. ^[2]
• He studied Thai Boxing under Chai Sirisute, the founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the USA. White's round kick reportedly registered 400 psi on a gauge after two months of training.^[7]
• Owns Randy White's Hall of Fame Barbecue restaurant in Frisco, Texas. ^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• football.about.com NFL Legends entry for Randy White
• Blue Star Boys Entry for Randy White
• Randy White's Hall of Fame Barbeque Located at 9225 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75034-3916