CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia University quarterback Pat White chose not to play baseball with the Mountaineers this season in part because of the lack of African-Americans on coach Greg Van Zant's squad.

"In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there's not been many players of my race on his team. [Van Zant's] not too high on it," White said. "Every player I've talked to doesn't like him. He's not a well-liked coach, but I guess he has tenure so they never got rid of him. They're not successful at all."

White made the comments, first reported by Adam Zagoria of SportsNet New York on his Web site, www.zagsblog.net, during Big East Media Day Tuesday in Newport, R.I. The Gazette contacted Zagoria, a longtime sportswriter whose work has been featured in ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Basketball Times, Tuesday night and listened to the tape of White's remarks. WVU officials, alerted by Zagoria to White's comments, had not issued any statement Tuesday night.

A check of the WVU baseball roster on the program's Web page showed no African-Americans on the 2008 squad.

White's statements were made in response to a question about his career on the diamond. Earlier in the day, WVU football coach Bill Stewart joked about White returning to baseball, telling reporters that the quarterback told him he wasn't going to play baseball because he couldn't hit a curveball.

"A couple of months ago, [Stewart] told me if I wanted to play [baseball] I could," White told Zagoria. "He knows the game and [he knows] there's a few athletes on the team that can play more than one sport and he just wanted to give [me] the opportunity."

Since taking over for Rich Rodriguez, Stewart has allowed his players to branch out into other sports. White's backup, Jarrett Brown, was a member of Bob Huggins' basketball team during the winter and punter-kicker Pat McAfee practiced briefly with the WVU soccer team.

Before becoming a Heisman hopeful at WVU, White was a standout baseball player in his hometown of Daphne, Ala. He turned down a $400,000 contract after being selected in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by the Los Angeles Angels to come to Morgantown. The Angels drafted him again in 2007, this time in the 27th round, and the Cincinnati Reds made White their 49th-round pick last month.

"I definitely thought it over. I still think about it sometimes," White said. "I'm loyal to my team. I have another year left. I want us to be successful and I want to be part of that success."

Zagoria asked White if he had spoken to Van Zant about the possibility of joining the baseball team.

"[No], he wasn't [excited]," White said. "He wasn't interested."

When asked by Zagoria if he would have considered playing baseball for another coach, White replied, "Maybe."

Van Zant, a native of Williamson and former WVU player, recently completed his 15th season in Morgantown. The Mountaineers finished the year 35-21 and were eliminated from the Big East tournament after three games.

Under Van Zant, WVU has won 413 games and a Big East championship. He led the team to the NCAA tournament in 1996.

"In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there's not been many players of my race on his team. [Van Zant's] not too high on it," White said. "Every player I've talked to doesn't like him. He's not a well-liked coach, but I guess he has tenure so they never got rid of him. They're not successful at all."

White made the comments, first reported by Adam Zagoria of SportsNet New York on his Web site, www.zagsblog.net, during Big East Media Day Tuesday in Newport, R.I. The Gazette contacted Zagoria, a longtime sportswriter whose work has been featured in ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Basketball Times, Tuesday night and listened to the tape of White's remarks. WVU officials, alerted by Zagoria to White's comments, had not issued any statement Tuesday night.

A check of the WVU baseball roster on the program's Web page showed no African-Americans on the 2008 squad.

White's statements were made in response to a question about his career on the diamond. Earlier in the day, WVU football coach Bill Stewart joked about White returning to baseball, telling reporters that the quarterback told him he wasn't going to play baseball because he couldn't hit a curveball.

"A couple of months ago, [Stewart] told me if I wanted to play [baseball] I could," White told Zagoria. "He knows the game and [he knows] there's a few athletes on the team that can play more than one sport and he just wanted to give [me] the opportunity."

Since taking over for Rich Rodriguez, Stewart has allowed his players to branch out into other sports. White's backup, Jarrett Brown, was a member of Bob Huggins' basketball team during the winter and punter-kicker Pat McAfee practiced briefly with the WVU soccer team.

Before becoming a Heisman hopeful at WVU, White was a standout baseball player in his hometown of Daphne, Ala. He turned down a $400,000 contract after being selected in the fourth round of the 2004 draft by the Los Angeles Angels to come to Morgantown. The Angels drafted him again in 2007, this time in the 27th round, and the Cincinnati Reds made White their 49th-round pick last month.

"I definitely thought it over. I still think about it sometimes," White said. "I'm loyal to my team. I have another year left. I want us to be successful and I want to be part of that success."

Zagoria asked White if he had spoken to Van Zant about the possibility of joining the baseball team.

"[No], he wasn't [excited]," White said. "He wasn't interested."

When asked by Zagoria if he would have considered playing baseball for another coach, White replied, "Maybe."

Van Zant, a native of Williamson and former WVU player, recently completed his 15th season in Morgantown. The Mountaineers finished the year 35-21 and were eliminated from the Big East tournament after three games.

Under Van Zant, WVU has won 413 games and a Big East championship. He led the team to the NCAA tournament in 1996.