{{Short description|American football player (born 1964)}} {{for|the Canadian politician|Gerald Verner White}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Gerald White | image = frameless|center|Gerald White | caption = Gerald White in 2014 | number = 37 | position = Fullback | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|12|9}} | birth_place = Titusville, Florida, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 223 | high_school = Titusville | college = Michigan | undraftedyear = 1987 | pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1987}}) * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|1989}})* | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 5 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 46 | pfr = WhitGe22 }}

'''Gerald Eugene White''' (born December 9, 1964)<ref name=PFR/> is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.

==Early life== White began his football career at Memorial Junior High School, and spent two years at Orlando's William R. Boone High School.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bill Buchalter|title=INDUSTRY MAKES PLONK TOP DRAFT CHOICE MICHIGAN'S WHITE GIVES FIESTA BOWL WATCH TO HIS JUNIOR-HIGH COACH|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=January 5, 1986|page=C15|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/92778303.html?dids=92778303:92778303&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+05,+1986&author=Bill+Buchalter+of+The+Sentinel+Staff&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=INDUSTRY+MAKES+PLONK+TOP+DRAFT+CHOICE+MICHIGAN%27S+WHITE+GIVES+FIESTA+BOWL+WATCH+TO+HIS+JUNIOR-HIGH+COACH&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201053515/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/92778303.html?dids=92778303:92778303&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+05,+1986&author=Bill+Buchalter+of+The+Sentinel+Staff&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=INDUSTRY+MAKES+PLONK+TOP+DRAFT+CHOICE+MICHIGAN'S+WHITE+GIVES+FIESTA+BOWL+WATCH+TO+HIS+JUNIOR-HIGH+COACH&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013}}</ref> He then moved to Titusville High School for his junior and senior years. As a senior in 1982, White was selected as a Parade High School All-American.<ref name=Lake>{{cite news|author=Stan Wojciaczyk|title=Two Polk prep teams adavance|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date=November 27, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D5MsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nPsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4331,4515678&dq=gerald-white+titusville&hl=en|access-date=November 17, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402185632/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D5MsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nPsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4331,4515678&dq=gerald-white+titusville&hl=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a two-way player, he led Titusville to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class AAA football championship. After White dominated the Region 5 playoff game, the ''Lakeland Ledger'' wrote:<blockquote>The 6-foot-2, 205-pound White rumbled for 178 yards and two touchdowns as the Terriers blanked Lake Wales 33-0. White did it all. He even punted twice for a 46.5-yard average&nbsp;... He finished the first half with 138 yards.<ref name=Lake/></blockquote> Two weeks later, White led Titusville to a 29&ndash;0 win over Homestead in the Class AAA state semi-final game, rushing for 118 yards and two touchdowns and kicking a 27-yard field goal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Homestead's biggest year ends with a crash|newspaper=The Miami News|date=December 11, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g7kmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VAIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=869,3177971&dq=gerald-white+titusville&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In the state championship game, Titusville defeated Kissimmee Osceola 33–0 as White rushed 12 times for 139 yards and a touchdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Titusville 33, Kissimmmee Osceola 0|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=December 18, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J-ohAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T2gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2170,1555155&dq=gerald-white+titusville&hl=en}}</ref> White later recalled playing football for coach Al Werneke at Titusville: "The closeness and camaraderie are what I remember most about our high school teams. We loved coach Werneke and enjoyed each other, and it was culminated by winning the state championship."<ref name=Orlando/>

White rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons and was a two-time All-America. As a high school football player, he was known as "Stardust", a nickname that reportedly "evolved from his fascination for the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, where he lived before moving to Florida".<ref name=Orlando/>

==College career== In 1983, White accepted a football scholarship from the University of Michigan. He played for the Michigan Wolverines football team under head coach Bo Schembechler from 1983 to 1986.

As a freshman in 1983, White appeared in three games for the Wolverines, gaining 64 yards in 20 carries.<ref name=Stat/> As a sophomore in 1984, White appeared in seven games and started two games at the tailback position.<ref name=Stat/><ref name=t84>{{cite web|title=1984 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1984fbt.htm|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref> He gained 345 yards on 91 carries, including 89 yards in Michigan's 22&ndash;14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the season opener.<ref name=Stat/> After the Miami game, Schembechler praised White's effort: "We did not block well. I thought (tailback Gerald) White, under the circumstances with no blocking, ran good. He made some tough yards."<ref>{{cite news|title=Saturday's Victory a Good Start|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=September 10, 1984|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3WAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RgYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5438,4952971&dq=gerald-white+michigan&hl=en|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref>

As a junior in 1985, coach Bo Schembechler converted White from a tailback to a fullback. Though White had previously resisted efforts to have him play fullback, White later recalled, "But it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because I learned more about the game."<ref name=Orlando/> White started all 12 games for the Wolverines at the fullback position. The 1985 Michigan football team, with White, Jamie Morris and Jim Harbaugh in the backfield, compiled a record of 10&ndash;1&ndash;1, outscored opponents 342 to 98 and finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and UPI polls.<ref name=t85>{{cite web|title=1985 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1985fbt.htm|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref> During the 1985 season, White gained 564 rushing yards on 133 carries and 123 receiving yards on 18 catches. He also led the team with 11 total touchdowns (seven rushing and four receiving) on the season. He had his career-best game in Michigan's 27&ndash;17 victory over Ohio State, as he rushed for 110 yards on 29 carries and added 23 receiving yards on three catches.<ref name=Stat/> He also scored the go-ahead touchdown in Michigan's 27&ndash;23 victory over Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl.<ref>{{cite news|author=Julie Cart|title=Schembechler, Michigan have last word|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=January 2, 1986|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KhwhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=02IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7176,204375&dq=gerald-white+michigan&hl=en|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref>

As a senior in 1986, White started 11 of 13 games for the Wolverines at fullback. With the same starting backfield of White, Morris and Harbaugh, the 1986 team finished 11&ndash;1 in the regular season and was ranked No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 7 in the UPI poll. The team advanced to the 1987 Rose Bowl, losing to Arizona State by a score of 22&ndash;15.<ref name=t86>{{cite web|title=1986 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1986fbt.htm|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref> White totaled 323 rushing yards (fourth on the team) on 88 carries and 408 receiving yards (third on the team) on 38 catches (led the team). He scored eight touchdowns (tied for the team lead), five rushing and three receiving, during the 1986 season.<ref name=Stat>{{cite web |title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archivedate=2007-11-12 }}</ref> In the 1987 Rose Bowl, White caught a pass from Mike Gillette in the end zone for a two-point conversion on a fake kick.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bob Ryan|title=ASU SHOVES MICHIGAN ASIDE, 22-15|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=January 2, 1987}}</ref> At the end of the 1986 season, White also played in the 1987 Hula Bowl.<ref name=Orlando/>

In four years at Michigan, White totaled 1,864 yard of offense for the Wolverines.<ref name=Stat/> He rushed for 1,297 yards, caught 64 passes for 567 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.<ref name=Orlando/> Interviewed in 1997, White said, "The highlight of playing at Michigan, more than rushing for 110 yards against Ohio State and going to the Rose Bowl, was playing for Bo Schembechler. You either loved or hated Bo, but I loved him. I loved him because he taught me so much about life."<ref name=Orlando/>

==Professional career== ===Dallas Cowboys=== White was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1987 NFL draft.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Gerald White|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitGe22.htm}}</ref> He was released on September 1.<ref>{{cite news|title=Transactions|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 2, 1987|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40710F83D540C718CDDA00894DF484D81}}</ref> After the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the 1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. He was re-signed to be a part of the Dallas replacement team that was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media.<ref>{{cite news|title=Who's playing today and for whom|newspaper=Lakeland Ledger|date=October 4, 1987|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DpYsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6_sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4138,1522199&dq=gerald-white+dallas&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> On being named to the Cowboys' lineup, White called it a "dream".<ref>{{cite news|author=Tim Cowlishaw|title=COWBOYS STRIKE A NEW COURSE: Cast of unknowns meet makeshift Jets as NFL season resumes|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=October 4, 1987}}</ref> He started all 3 games at fullback, making five receptions for 46 yards. He was waived at the end of the strike on October 26.<ref>{{cite news|title=DEALS|newspaper=USA TODAY|date=October 27, 1987|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55757623.html?dids=55757623:55757623&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+27,+1987&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=DEALS&pqatl=google|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=November 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104050925/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55757623.html?dids=55757623:55757623&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+27,+1987&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=DEALS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1988, White was signed by the Cowboys as a free agent. He was cut at the end of training camp on August 29.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mike Zizzo|title=FORMER TITUSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS FAIL IN THEIR BIDS TO MAKE NFL|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=August 31, 1988|page=C6|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/89202357.html?dids=89202357:89202357&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+31,+1988&author=Mike+Zizzo+of+the+Sentinel+Staff&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=FORMER+TITUSVILLE+HIGH+SCHOOL+PLAYERS+FAIL+IN+THEIR+BIDS+TO+MAKE+NFL&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713044422/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/89202357.html?dids=89202357:89202357&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+31,+1988&author=Mike+Zizzo+of+the+Sentinel+Staff&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=FORMER+TITUSVILLE+HIGH+SCHOOL+PLAYERS+FAIL+IN+THEIR+BIDS+TO+MAKE+NFL&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Miami Dolphins=== In May 1989, White signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He was cut on September 4.<ref>{{cite news|author=Randy Cremer|title=Dolphins drop McNeal, Brudzinski and Stout|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=September 5, 1989|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tPINAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WHcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6649,7584104&dq=gerald-white+miami&hl=en}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> During his career in football, White played for Bo Schembechler at Michigan, Tom Landry at Dallas and Don Shula at Miami.<ref name=Orlando/>

==Personal life== After White retired from football, he moved to Atlanta, where he worked for two years for the Hooters restaurant organization.<ref name=Orlando/> He later formed G-Sport Management and Marketing, a sports marketing company in Orlando.<ref name=Orlando/>

In 1997, White was the manager of promotions for Champion sportswear in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At the time, White recalled, "I played for some of the best coaches ever. I don't want to coach because of the attitudes of some of today's players, but I apply what I learned to the business world. Sacrifice, trust and perfecting what you do are important, no matter what you do."<ref name=Orlando>{{cite news|author=Steve Kornacki |title=White Builds Future On 'Stardust': The Ex-football Star At Michigan And Titusville High Did Not Shine In The Nfl But Works With Those Who Did At Champion.|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=July 24, 1997|page=C6|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/07/24/white-builds-future-on-stardust/}}</ref>

In 2005, White formed Gerald White International, LLC, a marketing and events company. He is also the managing partner of LudaJuice, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gerald White|publisher=LinkedIn.com|url=http://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldwhite}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home Page|publisher=Gerald White International|url=http://www.geraldwhiteintl.com/}}</ref> In April 2010, Gerald White International moved its headquarters from Miami Beach, Florida, to Ann Arbor, Michigan.<ref name=Crain/> The firm's clients include the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110109094705/http://www.naasportszone.com/ National Athletic Association] and The [https://web.archive.org/web/20100820162835/http://www.theludacrisfoundation.org/ Ludacris Foundation].<ref name=Crain>{{cite news|title=Gerald White International moves HQ to Ann Arbor|newspaper=Crain's Detroit Business|date=April 28, 2010|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100428/GEO01/100429834#}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [http://www.geraldwhiteintl.com/ Gerald White International website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Gerald}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Titusville, Florida Category:Players of American football from Brevard County, Florida Category:American football running backs Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:NFL replacement players Category:Titusville High School alumni Category:20th-century American sportsmen