White Talking

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Senior linebacker Scott White spoke with the media Wednesday for the first time since he rejoined the team after skipping a practice.

White wasn’t supposed to talk about the incident in which he left the team for a day after voicing his displeasure over being demoted to the second team. But White talked about it anyway, though not in any great detail.

He said it was never about him being upset with coaches, and said instead that he did not want to become a distraction if he could not commit totally to the team, and said he took the day off to “get his head clear.”

He also said when he returned, he told coaches he would do whatever they needed him to do, and that meant starting on the third team and working his way up. He has clearly done that, as he is now the starter at inside linebacker.

It should also be noted that several younger linebackers, including Trenton Tuiasosopo and Donald Butler, have pointed to White as a guy who has helped them figure out how to play the position. White said that is a role he’s taken very seriously.