White will again miss Heisman ceremony, but he has a good reason

Jason White won’t be in New York City on Saturday night for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Again. “I’m sure I’ll get freakin’ blasted for not going again,” he said with a chuckle. Not that he cares what the court of public opinion has to say about his absence. As a former Heisman winner, White has an open invitation to attend the ceremony and welcome the new winner to the club. But last year when Baker Mayfield won, the absence of former Sooner winners was noted. Billy Sims was there, but Steve Owens, Sam Bradford and White were absent. That drew the ire of Sooner Nation. White wanted to be there last year and wishes he could be there this weekend, but family comes first. White has been coaching son Tadon’s basketball team for several years. “We have a big tournament we play every second weekend in December,” White said. “It always falls on the Heisman. “Kind of sucks.” But this will be White’s last year coaching Tadon, who will be in seventh grade next year and playing on his middle school’s teams. That means White will have the chance to go to New York then — but it also means he isn’t missing the chance to coach Tadon in this tournament one last time. White knows he only has one shot at these dad moments, so while he recognizes the grandeur of the Heisman and looks forward to being at the ceremony again, this weekend he’ll be with a bunch of 11- and 12-yearolds, telling them to hustle and reminding them to box out.