Packers' White Was Larger Than Life

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think that players don't go in as a member of any specific team. I think this happened with UFA and all the movement that goes with it. I might be wrong on this but I thought I read this last year.

You are correct--although I believe it's always been like that.

[b bulldog]

The '96 teams D is grossly overlooked.

[woodbuck27]

I just watched parts of each inductee's ceremony on the LOCAL Montral TV stations Late Night Sports Report.

Sara White chalenged people to live life the way that Reggie did outside of football. She is an attractive Lady.

John Madden was as cool as always.

[b bulldog]

mADDEN WAS WAY COOL BUT Mr Davis looks real old!!!!! How bout those raaaiiidas!

[woodbuck27]

AP Story: White Leads Inductees Into NFL Hall

posted 08/05/2006

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/08/05/3/

REG GIE ! REG GIE ! REG GIE !

[woodbuck27]

Reggie's legacy goes outside the sidelines

By Mike Vandermause

William Henderson summed it up best earlier this week when he said the legacy of Reggie White, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, carried far beyond the field.

Henderson, who played with White in Green Bay for four seasons, including on the 1996 Super Bowl championship team, remembered how as a rookie he was taken under White's wing. Henderson said he looked up to White as both a mentor and spiritual adviser.

To a man, White's former Packers teammates reiterated the point that while White was great on the field, he was even better off it.

Henderson is one of three current Packers, along with Brett Favre and Rob Davis, who played with White. Two other current Packers assistant coaches — Edgar Bennett and James Campen — also can claim White as a former teammate.

"The impact he made on my life, he was even better off the field away from the game, touching our lives and kind of pushing us in the right direction," said Bennett, who played with White from 1993 to 1996 and serves as the team's running backs coach.

Bennett especially appreciated how White would take time to get to know his teammates. "Reggie was the type of person, you could sit down and talk to him about anything," Bennett said. "There were no barriers."

The memory of White hoisting the Super Bowl trophy following the Packers' victory over New England in January 1997 remains vivid for Henderson and Bennett. Henderson describes White's victory trot around the Superdome in New Orleans as similar to a little child who was just handed an ice cream cone.

"You could just tell how excited he was and the emotions and energy he put in as far as helping us win the Super Bowl," Bennett said.

Campen, who played with White for one season in 1993 and serves as the Packers' assistant offensive line coach, had an unforgettable run-in with White in 1990. At the time, White was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Campen was the Packers' starting center.

"He taught me a very good lesson — to play football the correct way and keep your mouth shut," Campen said. "It was my first year as a starter, and I spouted off to him. He reminded me very hard, let's say, that you don't do that. Just play with pads and let everything else take care of itself."

White didn't hold a grudge against Campen. In fact, following his NFL career, when Campen served as a high school football coach at his alma mater in California, he used to get encouraging phone calls from White after tough losses.

White's sense of humor in the locker room was legendary. He constantly was bantering with teammates, and Davis remembers that fondly.

"He used to always make fun of me, because he swears up and down that I was the first black long snapper in the NFL," Davis said. "That was his first ongoing joke with me."

That mischievous quality made White popular among his teammates. Whether a player agreed with White's political, religious or social views didn't matter, according to Bennett. He was approachable and genuinely cared for those around him.

The mark of a great football player is someone who makes everyone around him better. White's positive influence stretched into all areas of life.

"A lot of other guys learned to become leaders because of him," Campen said.

White died about 19 months ago, yet he remains alive and well in the hearts and minds of those who knew him best.

Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.

[woodbuck27]

Then there's this fella:

Fr.PFT



After being caught "digging for gold" on live TV during Saturday's HOF induction ceremony, the Playmaker shops for models of his eventual bronze bust.

Can't wait for his silly anti - BRETT FAVRE rants. Riiiggghhhtt !!

GO PACK GO !! HOLD THE FAITH !!