MADISON – Tom Brady won the MVP award for Super Bowl 51. But if you ask anyone else, including Brady, and especially in Wisconsin, former Badger great James “Sweet Feet” White should have won the award.
Although it doesn’t seem to matter to White at all, Brady said during his acceptance speech for the award that it should have been James White on the stage, an incredibly cool moment for White and Badgers fans everywhere.
After all, Sweet Feet is largely a receiver out of the backfield, who not only scored three touchdowns on the world’s biggest stage (including the game-winner), but also set the all-time Super Bowl record for receptions in a game – as well as points scored.
James White came to town this weekend, and discussed several topics before the Badgers tipped off against the Maryland Terrapins in basketball Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
Among the topics in Madison, James was of course asked what he learned throughout his time at UW that helped propel him to where he is now: a two-time Super Bowl champion for arguably the most successful organization in all of sports.
“I learned a lot here, I think Wisconsin shaped me very well,” explained White. “I worked in a pro-style offense, worked with a lot of blue-collar guys that worked extremely hard. Guys who put the team first, and it’s definitely similar to the Patriot way. I think it really helped me.”
White, a humble player who generally doesn’t create much attention off the field, was also asked to describe the post Super Bowl process.
“It’s been fun. It’s been tiring. I’ve been all over the place, and it’s a lifetime opportunity,” he explained. “I have to find time to train and stay in shape, though. I mean, the offseason already started.”
Wonder where he got that mentality.
And speaking of Coach Bill Belichick, White shared some surprising thoughts, stating, “He’s actually pretty funny, most people don’t know. He’s probably not intentionally trying to be funny, but he’s funny to all of us.”
White’s sentiments that he absorbed from Coach Belichick speak volumes, but fortunately, Sweet Feet has been able to enjoy some of the ongoing journey that follows winning the Super Bowl as well.
White was asked if he had a most memorable moment after the win, as well as who the most famous person was that he had met since becoming a national household name over night.
“Getting to take my family, and my girlfriend to Disney World, that was pretty cool,” said White. “Went on a jet, never done that before, and probably will never do that again. I haven’t really met anyone famous, though.”
But with the fun and success of playing for Belichick and the Patriots also comes with the “not so fun” – long hours and many tough practices.
“It’s going to be tough, it’s never going to be easy playing for him,” White said about Belichick. “He’s going to challenge you every day, it’s never going to be a walk in the park. He’ll just randomly pop you a question, and you better know the answer, or he’s just going to drill you for like 10 minutes in front of the whole team. He keeps you on your toes, you just have to be very prepared.”
In three seasons in the NFL, James White has already won two Super Bowls, and become one of the most successful Wisconsin running backs to ever step foot in the NFL.
Among other questions, the former Badgers great was asked what truly keeps him going, after not only achieving so much success already, but also having his name and brand at an all-time high.
“I just want to be the best player I can every time I step out on the field,” said White. “I want to be the best player out there. That’s most guys’ mentality, wanting to be the best player out on the field. There’s a lot of guys that want to play in the NFL that don’t get the opportunity, so I just don’t want to take it for granted. I just want to do whatever I can to make it last as long as I can.”
In a little over three years, Sweet Feet has done that and even more. Humble in personality and stature, White does not always grab the attention of the room when he walks in. But on the field, he knows teams will look to key in on him in the future, another challenge the kid who once split carries with John Clay and Montee Ball most certainly embraces.