MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia retired Pat White's No. 5 jersey Saturday before the Mountaineers' season opener against Coastal Carolina. The ceremony came two decades after White's record-setting career, where he went 35-8 as a starter and became the only starting quarterback in NCAA history to win four bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl against Georgia after the 2005 season and the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma after the 2007 season.

Coach Rich Rodriguez, who recruited White from Daphne, Alabama, in 2004, praised his team-first mentality. Rodriguez returned for his second stint at his alma mater a year ago, with White now serving as assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant to Rodriguez. White amassed over 6,000 career passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards, with his 4,480 rushing yards ranking third all-time for an FBS quarterback. He was inducted into West Virginia's Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

White's breakthrough came seven games into his freshman year when he replaced an injured Adam Bednarik and led a 46-44 triple-overtime win over No. 19 Louisville. He is the seventh West Virginia football player to have his jersey number retired. White said the honor means showing "men from lower Alabama that there's more out there in this world than just Alabama and Auburn football."