Mick Shots: Danny understands what quarterbacks endure
Texas’s Frisco It seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry has an opinion about Dak Prescott. What he accomplished or failed to do throughout the 2023 season, as well as what he can and cannot do in the future. In addition to what the Cowboys ought to and ought not do as we approach the second-to-last year of his contract.
In light of this, we reasoned that rather than listening to these self-anointed know-it-alls who are always trying to get clicks, perhaps we should hear from a quarterback expert—someone who has both played and coached at the highest levels.
Hello, Danny White.
Attending the 47th annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at the Fort Worth Club, home of the Davey O’Brien Hall of Fame, on Monday night was something I had never done before. The 2023 Most Outstanding Quarterback was named after this year’s champion, LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Daniels follows in the footsteps of other great college quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, and Vinny Testaverde, to mention a few.
The 2023 Legends Award, which is given to a former collegiate and/or professional quarterback who makes a major contribution to the game, will thereafter be given to former Cowboys quarterback Danny White. Former champions Joe Montana, Jim McMahon, Doug Williams, Terry Bradshaw, Bart Starr, and former quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron, Craig Morton, and Roger Staubach are among others in that category.
In case one needs a reminder, White went 32-4 in his three years as an Arizona State starter, captured three crowns in the Western Athletic Conference and three Fiesta Bowls, and concluded his career with the Sun Devils as the highest passer in the country at the time. As a result, he was inducted as the first member of the ASU Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the State of Arizona All-Hall of Fame. Additionally, Danny was selected the Arizona Athlete of the Century in 2000 by the Arizona Republic newspaper.
All of this occurred prior to his 13-year tenure with the Cowboys (1976–88), during which he started out as the team’s punter and Staubach’s backup for the first four seasons before taking over in 1980 and leading the Cowboys to three straight NFC Championship Games. After that, White was hired as an Arena Football League head coach for 16 seasons. He spent 13 of those seasons guiding the Arizona Rattlers (1992–2004), helping the team to five postseason berths and two AFL titles. He then spent three more seasons leading the Utah Blaze.
Yes, having spent the last 11 seasons as the radio commentator for Cowboys games on the Compass Media Network, Danny is well-versed in the areas of quarterback performance, quarterback coaching, and Dak. He has therefore seen every game played by Rayne Dakota Prescott, dating back to his debut year in 2016.
So, Danny, what are your thoughts on Dak? Regarding Dak, what counsel would you give the Cowboys?
Danny starts out his vocal diatribe with, “If you had a list of 10 things a quarterback has to be, he’s a five star on everything.” Simply carry on with what he’s doing. Hold on, things will get better. As a quarterback, the individuals in your immediate vicinity have a huge influence on your performance. No position in all of sports is more reliant on its teammates than the pitcher in baseball (a pitcher may play the entire game by himself, a point guard in basketball, etc.). However, a quarterback is nothing without the other ten players. You may then focus on doing your task if everyone else completes theirs.
