White set for return to Chiefs

DON CANTRELL

Mike White, former Oakland Raiders head coach, has accepted a

third-year contract as assistant coach to Dick Vermeil of the Kansas

City Chiefs.

White, a Balboa Island homeowner and one-time assistant walk-on

coach for Jeff Brinkley at Newport Harbor High -- in 1989 between

jobs -- has already helped Vermeil direct the St. Louis Rams to an

NFL Super Bowl championship.

A one-time end at UC Berkeley, White had initially considered just

two years with the Chiefs, but changed his mind in the recent past.

“And he feels good about it,” said old friend Ed Mayer, who once

played on the San Jose State Spartan team with Bill Walsh, who

advanced to coach the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles.

Mayer said White would be at home on Bal Isle another week, before

packing for a return to his job with the NFL recruitment period

arriving for the Chiefs.

He said White would later be returning home for a couple months,

but will head back to Kansas City in July for training camp.

Although Vermeil has a number of assistants, White is the major

assistant, one who has sterling talent in offensive strategy.

Mayer believes the Chiefs will be looking closely for top

defensive talent this year since Kansas City lagged badly in

defensive statistics last season.

The picture was reversed in offensive statistics, where the Chiefs

ranked second. They could often score easily, but it wasn’t always

enough to lead on the scoreboard.

Mayer recalled the team shined exceptionally well the year before,

when it rolled into the playoffs.

Mayer first arrived in the harbor area in 1947 after his mother

had died in Chicago and his father, a veteran Chicago police officer,

moved the family to west Newport.

In time, Mayer turned out for football at Harbor High, played two

years under Coach Al Irwin and displayed great promise.

That talent was welcomed by Coach Ray Rosso at Orange Coast

College where Mayer subsequently helped lead the Bucs to their first

conference title. He also earned the coveted Rod Gould Memorial

Trophy for most time played in 1951.

Mayer fared well at San Jose State until knee injuries sidelined

him from time to time.

He eventually chose to pursue his Navy assignment and went to San

Diego in the mid-1950s.

The Navy football coach had learned of Mayer’s outstanding play

for the Spartans and invited him to join the grid team “where you

could have a chance to work with some lovely gals in the recreation

department instead of touring with submarine duty.”

Mayer felt it was worth listening, but he asked, “What is your

first game?”

The delighted coach exclaimed, “UCLA.”

Mayer knew better and walked away, stating, “No thanks.”

For interest, however, Mayer chose to pick up a Sunday sports page

a few weeks later and read this score: UCLA 60, San Diego Navy 0. He

smiled.

After Navy days, Mayer still favored football action, so he turned

out for a new semi-pro team called the Orange County Rhinos. It was

fun while it lasted, but the knees finally prompted him to call it a

day.

In time, his old college roommate Walsh was achieving great things

with the pro 49ers and had occasions to invite Mayer up to attend

some of the games.

Mayer said one highlight was being seated next to the father of

all-pro quarterback Joe Montana at the home games. “He was a

wonderful guy and most interesting,” he said.