As many of you know I have been a big advocate for many of the current guys who have recently been inducted into the TAMUC-HOF. We here at the Wire have a few guys who we feel are worthy of nomination and this is my first guy.
HOF spotlight: Jim White, 1991
Jim White was an undersized and underrated kid out of Rockwall Texas. His senior year he helped lead his team to the Texas class 4A state championship game where they succumbed to defending champ West Orange Stark. Few had given them a chance to go that far (including myself until they put a whooping on us) but much like Jim they were better than what they looked.
Jim spent a year at Tyler Junior College before arriving in Commerce in ’89. Upon arrival he spent a year fine tuning his skill set under the tutelage of the great John Varnell.
Jim was a tough hard working kid who when called upon in 1990 was the leader of the O-line which was one of the most talented and decorated ones in years. Being on the o-line though, they were not as recognized as the Bobby Bounds and Gary Compton’s from that year but were definitely just as important. Without Jim the records of Bounds and Compton would not be there. 10 win seasons may not seem like that big of a deal nowadays but at that time we had not seen one in some time. Dewayne Phorne who was posthumously nominated 2 years ago was on that line also along with David Gaskamp, Don Madden, Jim Crow and Joe Showell which helped to form what was in my opinion one of the all time great o-lines in our history. In 1991 we added Earl Bell and Eric Herrick and even though we dropped to 8 wins, the offense put up even bigger numbers.
Jim was a unanimous 1st team All LSC center in both 90 and 91. This is a prestigious honor that not many Lions have accomplished. He was also a 2nd team Don Hansen Football Gazette all-American which was the bible for DII football during that time.
Jim has spent most of his time after college back in Rockwall being a family man and working tirelessly for Bridgestone for 19 years while also giving back to his community as an elected official to the Rockwall ISD. He is my top nominee for HOF and I feel deservedly so. Of course I may be a little biased because he is one of my very good friends but his body of work he accomplished is unprecedented and speaks for itself.
Nominations can be submitted online at https://lionathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=6
Deadline is May 8 and forms can also be printed off online and mailed in also.
Let us know who you feel may be worthy. We may do a write up on them as well. Spring game is March 30. #golions #seeyouatthehawk