Zanolini A Hit 
With Cougars 
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File Photo 
Corey Zanolini 
Hazleton Areqa Lineman 
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Hush Hush Stuff 
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Photo 
Times Leader/don Carey 
The View From

Thursday, November 26, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C/5C QUICK WORDS: WHITE EAGLES
FOOTBALL 





Eagles should pause, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 give thanks to White &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to play San Francisco on Sunday in a key
game in the NFC playoff race, they should give thanks today that, nearly a
decade ago, they were able to secure the services of defensive end Reggie &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 White from the USFLThe Eagles are 7-4 going into Sunday's game and in good
position to get back into the playoffs after a year's absence. That they are
in that position is due in no small part to White, whose play on the field and
leadership off the field has kept the team from a total collapse. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When the Eagles lost to Green Bay on Nov. 15 and players and coaches began
sniping at one another in the media, it was White who took charge of the
situation and virtually handled both sides. He told the players to keep their
troubles in the locker room, then told the media that the problem was a team
matter and would be resolved by the team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was resolved to the extent that the Eagles beat the New York Giants this
past Sunday, their biggest victory of the season and one that was due, in very
large measure, to White's calming influence in the days leading up to the
game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I wish it didn't have to be like this," White said afterwards, referring
to the fact that the Eagles seemingly have to fall hard before they can rise
up again and score a big victory. "I hate that it happens this way, but
usually we have to fight ourselves out of a hole." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The first hole the Eagles found themselves in this year was the result of
the death, in an off-season automobile accident, of White's close friend and
defensive linemate Jerome Brown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That the Eagles would miss Brown's ability to stop the run was obvious. But
they would also miss his outgoing personality, his presence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was left to White, an ordained minister, to get the team to overcome
their loss and get the season off to a good start. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Eagles did just that, winning their first four games. They were rated
the best team in the NFL by many power-rating services and were virtually
pencilled in as Super Bowl participants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fans, the media, even players, were talking openly about a trip to Pasadena
in January. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lest you think that Reggie White was the conservative voice of reason and
caution, think again. He got on television one night and, looking into the
camera, told free agent tight end Keith Jackson he should re-sign with the
Eagles because "we're going to the Super Bowl." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, as it always does, humility hit back -- hard. The Eagles got slapped
around pretty convincingly by Kansas City, Washington, Dallas and, amazingly,
Green Bay. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After that Green Bay game, people were talking about how bad the Eagles
were, about how they might not even make the playoffs. People thought the
Eagles had blown their last shot at the Super Bowl. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Forget people," White said after Sunday's win over the Giants. "People
don't watch the film." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Later on, somebody made a remark about his own performance and White sort
of snapped back, "Everybody says, `He's 30 years old.' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "My answer to that is, `Ask the people I play against if I've slowed down.'
" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When you hear Reggie White say things like "We're going to the Super Bowl"
or "Forget people," or when you hear him bragging about how good he still is,
it might give cause to wonder if he really is the classy, consumate
professional he is made out to be. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But realize that, above all else, Reggie White is human. And like the rest
of us he gets frustrated at times. He and his teammates have had plenty of
reasons to be frustrated over the past few years -- quarterback controversies,
failure to win in the playoffs, the firing of popular coach Buddy Ryan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So often, the burden of leading the team through those tough times has
fallen on White, and the burden has not been easy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 During the off-season, Reggie White and his wife, also a minister, run a
home for teenage mothers in Tennessee. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Football should serve as a diversion, a source of relief, from that sort of
work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But for nearly every one of his eight seasons with the Eagles, White has
had to shoulder the yoke of his team's problems in addition to sacking
quarterbacks and fighting off offensive tackles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After Sunday's Giants game, White's uniform was virtually soaked with
sweat, his brow furrowed and his eyes looked tired. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At one point, after answering a few questions, he politely asked if he
could get undressed and take a shower before answering anymore. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When the TV cameras and microphones receded, Reggie White put his hand to
his brow and put his head down. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maybe he was resting. Maybe he was praying. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Or, maybe having thought about all that's gone before for his teammates and
him and all that may yet come, perhaps he was doing what the rest of the
Eagles should do. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maybe he was giving thanks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bill Savage is a Times Leader sports writer. His column appears Tuesday and
Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ************ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 FILE PHOTO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 REGGIE WHITE

Eagles Should Pause, 
Give Thanks To White 
As The Philadelphia Eagles Prepare To Play San Francisco On Sunday In A Key 
Game In The Nfc Playoff Race, They Should Give Thanks Today That, Nearly A 
Decade Ago, They Were Able To Secure The Services Of Defensive End Reggie 
White From The Usfl.

Eagles Should Pause, Give Thanks To White As The Philadelphia Eagles Prepare To Play San Francisco On Sunday In A Key Game In The Nfc Playoff Race, They Should Give Thanks Today That, Nearly A Decade Ago, They Were Able To Secure The Services Of Defensive End Reggie White From The Usfl.