Howard: the “payout game” team has a new coach & his name is Ted White

Whatever the payout is, if you’re the coach of the visiting team and you know this game will help your team’s finances, what are you thinking as you step off the bus? In this case, maybe it’s ‘we’re here to play some football’.

The Howard team preview by Andrew gave us an overview of what to expect from the Bisons. And their coach?

Ted White is taking over the reins at his alma mater as the 38th head coach in the school’s history. He set conference career records for passing yards (9,808), passing touchdowns (92), and completions, earning first-team Division I-AA All-America honors twice and being named MEAC Player of the Year and Black College Football Player of the Year in 1996.

Football royalty stepped in to champion White’s hiring. NFL legend Doug Williams even went out of his way to call the Athletic Director and pitch White for the job before the vacancy was widely known publicly. “The most important thing for me has been seeing a young man keep going forward. I’ve never seen a guy who was more committed than Ted White,” said Williams, who is now the special adviser to the general manager for the Washington Commanders. “When this job came open, there wasn’t a person on earth who deserved the position more than Ted. I’m just happy to be here and be able to see him begin this new chapter.”  

White has been around the coaching block, moving among assistant positions before returning to D.C. And, in some cases, it’s been at some pretty high levels, including Maryland, the Houston Texans, and UCLA. For many, his hiring was not about nostalgia or legacy at Howard; it was about success and developing a program.

His lone significant coaching contact with Rutgers was in 2024 as UCLA’s quarterback coach. His QB that day, Ethan Garbers, went 32 0f 38 for 383 yards with four TDs, leading the Bruins to a 35-32 win in Piscataway. He was also with Maryland twice – in 2021 and 2025 – as an offensive quality control coach and offensive assistant, respectively. RU and Maryland split those games. (2021 UMd won 40-16, 2025 RU won 35-20)

Howard’s overall record vs Rutgers is 0-6, by a combined 221-60, going back to a 56-7 loss in 2006.

Will Howard break the skid and upset the Knights at home. Odds are against that. But a player returning to his alma mater usually means there’s a chip on your shoulder and fire in the belly. Makes for an interesting contest.