CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -Rich Rodriguez doesn’t want to tip off Syracuse about what’s going on with injured quarterback Pat White.
White is undergoing daily treatments for a thigh bruise and his status for No. 13 West Virginia (4-1, 0-1 Big East) on Saturday against the Orange (1-4, 1-0) remains uncertain.
White was hit by a helmet Friday night at the end of an 18-yard run late in the second quarter of a 21-13 loss at South Florida. He limped off the field and did not return, although he marched the sideline trying to keep his teammates’ spirits up.
Rodriguez indicated Tuesday that White, who is taking part in practices, could be a game-time decision.
“If it’s (at) noon on Saturday, I’ll decide at noon on Saturday,” Rodriguez said. “If I decide earlier than that, he won’t know until noon on Saturday. And nobody else will, either.”
If White can’t play, backup Jarrett Brown would get his second career start and Adam Bednarik, who went 5-1 as a starter in 2005 but missed last season following shoulder surgery, would be No. 2.
When White sat out the 2006 regular-season finale with a sore ankle, Brown led the Mountaineers to a triple-overtime win over Rutgers in his first start.
Against South Florida, Brown led West Virginia to its only touchdown but he was intercepted twice. He completed 11-of-20 passes for 149 yards.
“Jarrett competed pretty well. We played very poorly, had six turnovers, still had 400-some yards of offense and still had a chance to win,” Rodriguez said. “And the Big East player of the year wasn’t in the game in the second half.”
Rodriguez was quick to come to his players’ aid in dealing with a defeat, his fourth since the start of the 2005 season.
He defended center Mike Dent, whose awkward snap in shotgun formation led to a botched handoff against South Florida, while another snap went over Brown’s head.
“There wasn’t anybody on offense who played championship-caliber football in that game,” Rodriguez said. I ain’t going to jump off ship, and I ain’t going to jump off my players’ ship, either. I’m not going to discard them. I’d rather have my guys than anybody right now.”
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