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When Ted White (B.A. ’98) was coming out of high school in Baton Rouge, Howard University was hardly on his radar. He’d never left town on a plane, felt the cold of a real winter, or given much thought to playing college football in the nation’s capital.

Nearly 30 years later, White will lead the Bison onto the field for the first time as head coach for Howard University’s Homecoming game, a matchup against Morehouse College scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Greene Stadium. It will be a remarkable return for White, who led the Bison to the 1996 Black College Football National Championship as a quarterback.

For White, the journey back to the sidelines as head coach began with a connection that helped bring him to Howard University in the first place. Jason DeCuir (B.B.A. ’97), a fellow Baton Rouge native and former teammate, helped recruit White to Howard University.

“Jason was an important part of why I had the opportunity to come to Howard and feel comfortable,” White said. “Jason helped make Washington feel like home.”

DeCuir, a placekicker on Howard University’s 1993 and 1996 Black College Football National Championship teams, is returning to campus this weekend with his family for his induction into the Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame. Their story reflects what Howard Homecoming is all about, the welcoming spirit of HBCUs and the friendships that can last a lifetime.

“I feel like we’re brothers,” DeCuir said. “It means a lot to be part of Howard’s Homecoming and reconnect with the people and traditions that make this place so special.”

The Baton Rouge Club

Growing up and playing football in Baton Rouge, DeCuir knew White mostly by reputation. They attended different high schools but competed in the same district, and DeCuir had seen enough to believe the younger player had a future in the game. DeCuir was already a freshman placekicker at Howard.

“The bigger schools weren’t recruiting him as hard as I thought they should have been,” DeCuir said. “I knew he was a special talent. I didn’t want the Howard program to miss out on him.”

DeCuir sent White’s film to head coach Steve Wilson (B.B.A. ’79), who was leading an established winning program. Just three years earlier, in 1993, Howard had finished an undefeated 11-0 regular season with a 53-33 victory over Delaware State.

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“I was sitting there thinking everyone was missing out. We’ve got some really special guys down in Baton Rouge,” DeCuir said. “Howard was interested, so we got him up on campus.”

DeCuir had help. Legendary Grambling State quarterback Doug Williams, a Louisiana native and the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, also pointed White toward Howard. For White and his family, that meant considering a school far from home.

“Jason and his mom and his dad, they helped me along the process because in Baton Rouge, we really didn’t know anything about Howard University,” White said. “Our families had an opportunity to talk to learn about Howard from both an academic and a football standpoint. He was an important part of why I had the opportunity to come to Howard and feel comfortable.”

The campus visit showed White the possibilities beyond football. DeCuir remained his first connection to home, but White was surprised by how many other Louisiana students had found their way to Howard. He learned about the Louisiana Club and, through other students, gradually built a network of friends who eased his transition to Washington.

A Championship Finish

The connection that began in Baton Rouge became part of Howard University football lore. In a 1996 HBCU showdown, White and DeCuir helped lead the Bison to a 27–24 victory over the Southern University Jaguars in the Heritage Bowl, delivering one of the biggest victories in program history.

Southern University is located in Baton Rouge, and defeating the hometown Jaguars came with complications, especially for DeCuir. His father’s law firm represented Southern University at the time. Before the game, DeCuir’s mother told a television interviewer that she hoped the outcome of the Heritage Bowl would not come down to a field goal off her son’s leg.

At halftime, Howard University trailed 24–10. But White helped lead a comeback, throwing an 81-yard touchdown pass to MacArthur Johnson early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24. Then DeCuir stepped in. With just over three minutes remaining, he converted an 18-yard field goal to give the Bison a 27–24 lead. A late interception by Howard defensive back Curtis Jones preserved the victory. 

DeCuir’s mother had called it. DeCuir recalled feeling unsure if it was safe to go home. It was also the last field goal of his football career.

White’s championship season helped establish him as one of the MEAC’s most accomplished quarterbacks. In 1996, he earned MEAC Player of the Year, MEAC Offensive Player of the Year and Black College Football Player of the Year honors, along with first-team NCAA Division I-AA All-America recognition. He also set conference career records for passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes.

After playing in the NFL, NFL Europe and the Canadian Football League, White transitioned to coaching, holding positions at Texas Southern University, Southern University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Prairie View A&M University, UCLA and the University of Maryland, as well as with the NFL’s Houston Texans. He previously coached at Howard University from 2011 to 2015, serving as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. In January 2026, he to Howard as head football coach.

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