Randy White

By Allyson Turner

With the second overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys chose defensive lineman Randy White from the University of Maryland. In 1977, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound "Manster" won co-Most Valuable Player honors with Harvey Martin in Super Bowl XII. In 1978, White was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. White played in three Super Bowls, six NFC championships and only missed one game during his 14-year career. Playing in nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977-1985, and an All-Pro for eight years, White is among the best defensive tackles of his era. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

At Maryland, White earned All-America honors as a defensive lineman and won the Outland and Lombardi awards his senior year. He currently resides in Dallas.

 

Randy White was nicknamed, "Manster" (half-man, half monster). (Allsport)

What intimidates you?
Actually a lot of things used to. When I first went to college it wasn't bad, but when I first came to the Cowboys I was intimidated by everything -- the city, the people, the players. But in time I grew out of that. A guy with a knife would intimidate me.

I used to train dogs, and a mean dog when there's nobody between you and him ... he's smiling at you and you know if he's smiling, he's gonna get you -- that intimidates me. And a horse that bucks. And a mean bull.

What is one word or phrase that you live by?
Do the best you can everyday.

What was the highlight of your career?
Playing on a team that won a world championship and the Super Bowl. Of anything that ever happened in sports, it would be that. In life, watching my daughter get born, that was the best feeling.

What was the low point?
Losing the Super Bowl and the year they had the strike. The lowest point is when I went in and had to cross the picket line when my teammates were outside. Even though I had to explain to them the reason why I had to go across, that still was the low point. That was the only time that I didn't like playing football. That was no fun and I loved to play the game.

Who was your greatest influence?
My father. Growing up, he drilled into us, 'When you're gonna do something, do it right. If you're gonna do something half-assed, don't do it all. If you start something, you finish it. You never quit.' I had that drilled into me since I was a kid. My dad was a paratrooper in World War II, a drill sergeant, a no-nonsense kind of guy.

I was fortunate throughout my career when I look back at my coaches. My Little League football coach, Warren Shuler, was the head of the Delaware state police. He was a real discipline guy, a real tough guy. Blaine Tanner, my high school football coach, was the same kind of guy. Jerry Claiborne, my college coach, was a real stickler for discipline and detail. Then I went to the Cowboys and played for Tom Landry, a real disciplinarian; a real stickler for detail. Ernie Stautner my line coach, he wasn't only my coach but we got to be real close friends. At different points of my life, I've been fortunate through playing sports to be around some real fine people that have really influenced my life and made me more serious.

How much would you have liked to play along side Ernie Stautner?
I would've loved to play next to Ernie. Ernie is one of the toughest guys that you'll ever meet, but on the same hand, he's one of the best-hearted people you'll ever meet in your life. Everything I went through he had done. He played for 13 years and played in nine pro bowls. Being a rookie and through retirement, he had been there and he guided me not only through football, but in my life. On the field and off. He did that for all the guys, not just me. He and I just got to be good friends. When I first starting playing he was hard on me. He worked me before and after practice. He demanded a lot out of me, which was good because I always performed better when somebody was hard on me.

Which opposing lineman got your juices flowing the most?
I got fired up for all of them. When I played, I had a personal battle with whoever I was playing against. I enjoyed competing. I enjoyed the challenge. That's what made football fun for me. Sundays. The feeling right before a football game where every emotion in your body gets alive.

In the Pro Bowl, I used have to play against John Hannah and Mike Webster. They double-teamed me in the Pro Bowl. I remember saying, 'Go double team someone else. Leave me alone in the Pro Bowl.'

How much did martial arts help you?
Martial arts took me to a different level, especially when the guys started getting bigger and they started to hold and grab you. You needed to change your techniques if you were gonna rush the passer. I needed to use my hands more efficiently. That really helped me be successful in playing football. I get little kids that want to learn and I think it's a very valuable thing to know. As far as athletes go on the football field, it'll help make you better.

Randy White had four sacks in the three Super Bowls that he played in. (Allsport)

Describe your emotions when you were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
It was a very humbling experience to be up there. You walk in and it dawns on you that your being inducted. You walk into that room that has Ray Nitschke, Doug Atkins, Ernie Stautner, Dick Butkus, all of them. As far as sports and personal honors, that was the greatest feeling that I ever had. Playing on a world championship was great but being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was a great, great honor.

What was the greatest lesson you learned from football?
A million things. From being a little kid playing football and sports, you learn to handle losses. When things are not going your way, you learn how to handle winning and being successful. The most important thing I learned from sports and being around the people I was around was the example Tom Landry, Ernie Stautner and Jerry Claiborne set. I learned things about life and how you should live. When I was playing it didn't really sink in. As you got older those things start to mean more. I'm glad I had the opportunity to be around those people not just for sports but for life.

Do you follow the game today?
Of course. I stay glued to the games. I watched every play last week.

Who were you rooting for?
I was pulling for Dan Reeves. He was with Dallas when I first got there. I'm really pulling for Atlanta. That's my team. Dan Reeves is a super guy, a super person. He really helped me out when I first came to Texas. That's the one thing with the Cowboy guys that were there; they might have been characters but they were good good guys.

What happened to your family in the stands at RFK during a Redskins game?
My family always rooted for the Cowboys. They would travel to Philly, Washington and New York. Philly is one of the toughest places for a fan to go and cheer for their team but Washington can get bad. My mother is a pretty vocal lady and she would always wear Cowboys stuff. I always worried about my family rooting for me. It was a Monday night game and my mother and sister were cheering. This guy dumped a beer on my sister's head. My brother was seated behind them and came across two rows of seats and decked this guy. Before the guy hit the ground my mother started hitting him with a black jack. My mother was not averse to getting into a squabble. She was a Cowboy fan.

What makes you cry?
I don't cry that much. I've never been a big crier. When my dad died, I went to his funeral and they played that military music. I cried then.

What is a perfect day for Randy White?
Get up early in the morning and go fishing. Catch a bunch of fish, and in the afternoon, saddle my horses and rope steers. In the evening eat a rib-eye steak.

At the dinner of rib-eye steak, who would you invite?
I was doing a radio show recently and I got to invite the guests. I invited the guys I played football with -- Ed Jones, Harvey Martin, John Dutton and Ernie Stautner. We did the radio show and ate dinner after. I really enjoyed that evening. It really was fun. That is who I would invite.

For each of the following sports figures, what is the first thought that comes to mind?