leadership responsibilities now that Ball has gone.
���There are a lot of young guys who are always
watching you,������ said White, ���and they want to have
someone to follow, so I can���t be doing things wrong.
���I have to be consistent each day during practice
and do the right things off the field as well. Stepping up vocally is something where I have to step
outside of my comfort zone. I���m not used to it.
���But I have to say things here and there when
they need to be said,������ added White, who doesn���t
necessarily see himself ���getting in anybody���s face������
in a confrontational manner.
���It���s just knowing how to handle the situation
when the offense may not be moving the ball or
we just may need a little burst of energy to get the
team going.������
Wisconsin running backs coach Thomas Hammock has seen the changes, subtle or otherwise,
in White during spring practice. ���He���s trying to be
more vocal,������ he said, ���and he���s doing a nice job of
it.������
But it���s not enough to appease the demanding
Hammock. Never is. ���I want James to keep get-
ting better,������ Hammock said. ���I want him to be a
guy that we can depend on; a guy that can carry the
load.������
In 2012, Ball had an oversized load, a school-record 356 carries, topping Brian Calhoun���s mark of
348 in 2005. By comparison, White had 125 carries
(second-most) and Gordon had 62.
Moving on without Ball, the NCAA���s all-time
touchdowns leader, Hammock agreed there has
been a different feeling to practices and meetings
since No. 28 had been such a force and fixture.
���It���s a lot different,������ he said. ���But I think these
���They���re not Montee,������ Hammock stressed, ���and they don���t
have to try to be Montee. They
have to be the best that they
can be. They have to be James
White and Melvin Gordon.������
29
