[Football insert]: Q & A with TB Manuel White

In the thunder and lightning combo the UCLA football team brings
to the field every Saturday, he is thunder. But that doesn’t
necessarily refer to tailback Manuel White’s physique.

Not only does White infect his team positively with his strong
work ethic and on-field results, his grounded faith is perhaps what
is felt most strongly by his teammates. White and sophomore running
back Maurice Drew have formed a prolific tandem in the back field,
averaging more than 200 yards per game.

He sat down with the Daily Bruin to discuss, among other things,
the nuances of his position, the state of the team and Bible
study.

Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;

Daily Bruin: You’ve been used as both a fullback and a
tailback at UCLA. Which position do you prefer to play?

Manuel White: Right now, it really doesn’t matter. I mean,
I’m a tailback ““ I’ve been playing tailback
longer, so obviously that’s a bit more natural, but I have no
preference there.

DB: If you had a pick a position to play on Sundays, what
would it be?

MW: Right now, it doesn’t really matter, either/or.
I’d probably love fullback.

DB: OK, take me through a running play. From the moment the
ball is snapped, what happens?

MW: As soon as the ball is snapped, we have our reads, you know,
our different reads ““ you read the defense. So, as you run,
you read your technique ““ that’s what we call them,
defensive techniques ““ and then depending on which way they
go, it’s just reaction from there. It’s all reaction.
You don’t even think. You’re just out there running,
reacting to the things there.

DB: So if it’s pure instinct, when do you decide to
cut?

MW: Initially, it starts with the pre-snap reading, but really,
once the play gets flowing, you feel it out and just react.

DB: Alright, let’s talk a little bit about your faith.
It’s well known that you’re a man of great faith. How
has that affected you as a football player?

MW: It just keeps things in perspective. As a football player,
it’s easy to let football overwhelm you just because
it’s so demanding, and things like that. Sometimes it can
take over your life and just take control of everything. For me, it
just puts everything in perspective. When I want to be lazy, it
gives me an extra push. Because I’m not out here doing it for
myself, you know, so it just motivates me, and keeps things in
perspective.

DB: Is there a particular prayer or phrase you recite before
games, before plays?

MW: No, it’s just what I feel at the moment. I ask God to
protect me, keep me safe, and you know, just allow me to have fun
and go out there and play.

DB: And from a more personal perspective, where did that
faith come from?

MW: It’s just, I grew up in a church, but I would say my
senior year in high school was when I really took it upon myself to
learn and develop my relationship with God.

DB: That was when you lead a Bible study?

MW: I started a Bible study group my senior year, so I mean,
that’s just when I took it upon myself, because I was raised
in a church. But at some point, I just felt confident to develop a
relationship on my own.

DB: OK, let’s move on. What are you doing as one of
the team’s leaders to help restore the pride the Bruins have
as one of the premier teams in the nation?

MW: Me personally, I just try to come out here and work everyday
and hopefully people will feed off of me. At times, I get down and
need to feed off other people, but as a whole I just try to be
positive and keep the team positive, and you know, keep everybody
having fun out here, because when, I think, you’re having
fun, that’s when you’re going to play at your best.