50 GREATEST GOLDEN BEARS - #21 - ED WHITE

#21 - ED WHITE - MIDDLE GUARD (1966-1968)
The Goose (#70 above, against Washington) led the stingiest defense in modern Cal football history. The 1968 "Bear Minimum" defense held opponents to 10 points and 252 yards per game, recorded three shutouts, and allowed only five rushing touchdowns all year. White and his mates announced their presence in the season's first week and shocked the college football world with a 21-7 win at Michigan. Ironically, White missed most of Cal's most lopsided win that year, when he was ejected in the 1st half of Cal's 43-0 home shellacking of Syracuse (a game that was noted in a Sports Illustrated feature article).

For his efforts White was a consensus choice as a 1st team All-American in 1968 (selected by the AP, Football Writers, and Kodak/Football Coaches). He was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1969 and switched to offensive guard. White made five Pro Bowls in a seventeen-year career with the Vikings and San Diego Chargers. Since retiring, White has coached for the Chargers and Rams, as well as San Diego State and his alma mater (during the tail end of the Holmoe era). White became the 20th Golden Bear player or coach to be inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.