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Heisman Candidate Suggests WVU Baseball Coach Has Issues With African Americans

7/30/2008 12:06 AM ET By Chas Rich

    • Chas Rich
    • Chas Rich is a College Sports Blogger for FanHouse
Pat White may be a Heisman Trophy candidate. He may well go down as the greatest QB in West Virginia history. Obviously an extremely talented athlete, he was also an excellent baseball player. As a high school senior he was drafted in the 4th round by the Anaheim Angels in the 2004 MLB Draft, but decided to play football at West Virginia. Even not having played baseball for the past few years, the Angels selected him once more in the 50th round this year.

White apparently toyed with playing baseball for West Virginia as well. Even getting permission to do so this past year from Coach Bill Stewart. The problem seems to be with the Mountaineer Baseball Coach Greg Van Zant and, uh, White.
Asked if he had spoken directly with Van Zant about playing for him, White said: "(No), he wasn't (excited). He wasn't interested."

Then he paused and added:

"In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there's not been many players of my race on his team. He's not too high on it.

"Every player I've talked to doesn't like him. He's not a well-liked coach but I guess he has tenure so they never got rid of him. They're not successful at all."

Asked if he might have played if there were a different baseball coach at West Virginia, White said, "Maybe."
Wow. That is something you don't get at most media days. White sounded off on this at the Big East Media Day in front of several reporters. This is not likely to go away soon.

Van Zant hasn't returned any calls for comments as of yet. It seems there is some dislike of Van Zant out there, yet he just finished his 14th season as coach.

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