M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1978
Keith White came to Memphis State College at the conclusion of World War II when coach Ralph Hatley and assistant coaches Billy J. Murphy and Leo Davis were restarting Tiger football. With just 38 players on the roster, White became an immediate impact player and would lead Memphis from small college status to major college football. In 1947, the freshman was named the team’s Most Valuable Player after helping his teammates to a 6-1-2 record. He scored his first collegiate touchdown in the win over Missouri Mines and threw for a touchdown in the Murray State contest. White scored one rushing touchdown and threw two touchdown passes in Memphis’ win over Union University and followed that game with an identical performance in a tie against Arkansas State. During the 1948 campaign, White led the Tigers to a 13-7 victory over a Johnny Unitas led Louisville squad and tallied a 95-yard touchdown run in the Arkansas State game. The play still stands as the longest run from scrimmage in Tiger history. White was named Player of the Week for his two touchdown runs in the 70-6 win over Tampa in 1949 and was instrumental in Memphis finishing second in the nation in scoring in both 1949 and 1950. He was also selected to the Tigers’ All-Time Team in 1958 which was picked by coaches Hatley, Muprhy, Zach Curlin and Cecil C. Humphreys.
