From Deseret News archives:

Utah Blaze didn't meet goal; White has no excuses

Published: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 12:16 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
The only head coach in Utah Blaze history resigned Monday in what was slightly less than, well, a blaze of glory. Danny White said it himself, two days earlier: "6-and-11 isn't acceptable at all."

And it wasn't.

He left, he said, to take a break.

It could be he was also told to resign. Or maybe he simply didn't see things improving. The reasons really aren't all that important. He's gone, the victim of his own expectations, which were precariously high.

White said in his first year that the Blaze could be a contender. Same the second year. At the start of this season, he said there was no reason whatsoever they couldn't win a championship.

Clearly, this was a man in a hurry.

"We're to the point — with the core of players we have, the leadership and everything else — that a reasonable goal now becomes a championship," said White in February. "The last two years, that probably wasn't a reasonable goal, but this year anything less than a championship is not going to be acceptable."

Instead, the Blaze lost 11 games and were defeated in the first round of the playoffs.

That's what he gets for being so doggone candid.

Couldn't he have gone with the old "that's-what-I-said-but-not-what-I-meant" excuse?

Story continues below
In harsh reality, White failed — at least by his standards. In 13 AFL seasons in Arizona, his teams went to the ArenaBowl five times, winning two titles. He won 68 percent of his games, second-best in AFL history. He's in the league hall of fame.

A former Arizona State and Dallas Cowboys quarterback, he still holds eight Dallas records.

As a coach, he has been as plain spoken as a parole officer. Which may have been his downfall. He said there weren't any excuses, and darned if there weren't. So he recused himself from the bench, so to speak. A three-year, 21-30 record wasn't good enough.

The highest-paid coach/GM in the league fired himself for not following through on his promises.

If only politicians had such principles.

"I am grateful for everyone in the organization," said White of his time with the Blaze. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."

While the Blaze didn't exactly blossom under White, he did some nice things. He gave the new franchise instant credibility and represented it superbly. He saw the team through the difficult 2007 season, when receiver Justin Skaggs died of a brain tumor. This year he steadied the team after its 0-9 start, guiding it to the playoffs.

It's not like he had become complacent. Insiders say he worked harder than ever after firing defensive coordinator Hunkie Cooper and taking on added responsibilities.

Recent comments

its good to see this throwball guy taking responsibility. Mr. White,...

throwball | July 1, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Letters: Science prostituted

NO ONE has been taught that science is pure and only seeks for truth, in...

I'm not going anywhere. I like it here. You Utah-BYU fans are more...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

...but I will take this weekend every weekend. I love it. I love to see ute...

You guys are in a class of your own. I think it will be called 3rd grade...

54-21. Ouch. How many did they score against BYU again? Only 38 I think.

RSL looking to ride hot hand

YEEEEHAAAWWWW!!! See you in Seattle!

We got Maynor baby!!! And Matthews too!!! ( did I get his name right?) ...

Hey silly one. Today we can compare our bad win against your really bad,...

I will be the first to admit that I an a Utah FAN hater. I have learned well...

My deepest condolences to those he left behind. May God be with you in your...

Advertisements
Advertisement