California Golden Bears Athletics
Ed White reflects on the Bears' performance against Syracuse nearly 60 years ago.
Bear Minimum
9/12/2026 9:00 AM | Football, Inside The Lair, Inside Cal Football
Ed White Still Can Savor What The Bears Did Against Syracuse In 1968
Cal's 1968 defense – which earned the nickname "The Bear Minimum" – rates as one of the most dominant in program history.
The Bears' 43-0 thrashing of No. 10 Syracuse on Oct. 26, 1968, rates as one of the most dominant performances against a top-10 team in program history.
And Ed White, a consensus All-America defensive lineman on that '68 team, rates as one of the most dominant players in program history.
So, as the 2026 Bears prepare to face the Orange at the JMA Dome on Saturday, it would be natural to want to hear from White about how he and his teammates, then ranked 11th in the country, so thoroughly smothered Syracuse in Berkeley on that Saturday afternoon nearly six decades ago.
During a phone interview Wednesday from his home in the San Diego area, White spoke fondly and with a neat sense of humor about his days at Cal in general and about the 1968 team in particular.
Only one problem about White discussing the shutout of Syracuse: He didn't play many snaps in the game. White was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first quarter.
"They were holding me almost every play and I just became frustrated," White said. "I don't think I've ever been thrown out of a game except for that one in my entire life."
Now 79, White still can savor what the Bears did against Syracuse. They set a program record with six interceptions and recovered three fumbles. Ron Miller kicked three field goals, including a 50-yarder, the longest in program history to that point.
The shutout was Cal's third in the first six games of '68.
"I remember the joy of winning that game," White said.
The Bears finished 7-3-1 that season. They allowed more than 15 points in only two games.
The 1968 team holds program records for lowest yards allowed per play (3.6) and fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (5) in a season. Its 2.51 yards allowed per rush ranks second in program history to the unbeaten 1937 "Thunder Team" that allowed 2.50.
"I think it was because of the way we were coached," White said, referring to head coach Ray Willsey and defensive line coach Bill Dutton. "We had just had a lot of resolve that we weren't going to get beat physically by anybody."
White was the anchor of the defensive line, and the main man in the secondary was Ken Wiedemann. He had seven interceptions in '68 and his career total of 16 remains tops in program history.
Wiedemann "was a super player," White said, "and I guess a good way to say it is he was full of mischief. … He was our spark. He kept us going at a high level."
White made sure to praise Dutton, whom White called "a character."
Said White: "We made a lot of jokes about Coach Dutton, but he was a pure fundamentalist. Throughout my (playing) career and coaching career, I relied on a lot of things that he taught and did as a coach."
Dutton played at Cal under Pappy Waldorf in the early 1950s. Dutton enjoyed a lengthy career as a coach, including two stints at his alma mater. In fact, he coached current Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi in Lupoi's first season (2000) as a player for the Bears.
"Coach Dutton's favorite saying was 'Strike a lick, lad,' " White recalled with a laugh. "He felt that everything started with neutralizing the offensive player with a forearm to the helmet.
"We would always tease Coach Dutton by referring to him as 'Strike a lick, lad.' "
The Minnesota Vikings selected White in the second round of the 1969 NFL draft. White would enjoy a 17-year career in the league, but not as a defensive lineman.
The Vikings' defense at that time was known as "The Purple People Eaters." It boasted two linemen – Carl Eller and Alan Page – who would become Pro Football Hall of Fame members and a third, Jim Marshall, who had a 20-year pro career.
Minnesota turned White into an offensive lineman. The Vikings' coaches "obviously saw something, probably my aggressiveness, the way I approached the game, that they wanted to add to their offensive line," White said.
He added that he "carried over a lot of that (defensive) mentality to the other side of the ball. It just worked out great."
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, White wound up playing in 241 games over 17 seasons in the NFL. His first nine seasons were with the Vikings and his final eight with the San Diego Chargers.
He wound up blocking for two of Cal's most celebrated players, quarterback Joe Kapp with Minnesota and running back Chuck Muncie with San Diego.
After his playing career ended, White spent several years as a coach, including with the Bears. A landscape-architecture major at Cal, White maintained his pursuits as an artist whether involved with football or not.
"I was a child when I started enjoying art," White said. "It's just been part of my life."
Cal has remained a considerable part of White's adult life. When asked what he remembers most about the 1968 season, White responded, "We certainly had a love for each other as teammates, and we played hard for each other.
"And … Strike a lick, lad."
The Bears' 43-0 thrashing of No. 10 Syracuse on Oct. 26, 1968, rates as one of the most dominant performances against a top-10 team in program history.
And Ed White, a consensus All-America defensive lineman on that '68 team, rates as one of the most dominant players in program history.
So, as the 2026 Bears prepare to face the Orange at the JMA Dome on Saturday, it would be natural to want to hear from White about how he and his teammates, then ranked 11th in the country, so thoroughly smothered Syracuse in Berkeley on that Saturday afternoon nearly six decades ago.
During a phone interview Wednesday from his home in the San Diego area, White spoke fondly and with a neat sense of humor about his days at Cal in general and about the 1968 team in particular.
Only one problem about White discussing the shutout of Syracuse: He didn't play many snaps in the game. White was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first quarter.
"They were holding me almost every play and I just became frustrated," White said. "I don't think I've ever been thrown out of a game except for that one in my entire life."
Now 79, White still can savor what the Bears did against Syracuse. They set a program record with six interceptions and recovered three fumbles. Ron Miller kicked three field goals, including a 50-yarder, the longest in program history to that point.
The shutout was Cal's third in the first six games of '68.
"I remember the joy of winning that game," White said.
The Bears finished 7-3-1 that season. They allowed more than 15 points in only two games.
The 1968 team holds program records for lowest yards allowed per play (3.6) and fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (5) in a season. Its 2.51 yards allowed per rush ranks second in program history to the unbeaten 1937 "Thunder Team" that allowed 2.50.
"I think it was because of the way we were coached," White said, referring to head coach Ray Willsey and defensive line coach Bill Dutton. "We had just had a lot of resolve that we weren't going to get beat physically by anybody."
White was the anchor of the defensive line, and the main man in the secondary was Ken Wiedemann. He had seven interceptions in '68 and his career total of 16 remains tops in program history.
Wiedemann "was a super player," White said, "and I guess a good way to say it is he was full of mischief. … He was our spark. He kept us going at a high level."
White made sure to praise Dutton, whom White called "a character."
Said White: "We made a lot of jokes about Coach Dutton, but he was a pure fundamentalist. Throughout my (playing) career and coaching career, I relied on a lot of things that he taught and did as a coach."
Dutton played at Cal under Pappy Waldorf in the early 1950s. Dutton enjoyed a lengthy career as a coach, including two stints at his alma mater. In fact, he coached current Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi in Lupoi's first season (2000) as a player for the Bears.
"Coach Dutton's favorite saying was 'Strike a lick, lad,' " White recalled with a laugh. "He felt that everything started with neutralizing the offensive player with a forearm to the helmet.
"We would always tease Coach Dutton by referring to him as 'Strike a lick, lad.' "
The Minnesota Vikings selected White in the second round of the 1969 NFL draft. White would enjoy a 17-year career in the league, but not as a defensive lineman.
The Vikings' defense at that time was known as "The Purple People Eaters." It boasted two linemen – Carl Eller and Alan Page – who would become Pro Football Hall of Fame members and a third, Jim Marshall, who had a 20-year pro career.
Minnesota turned White into an offensive lineman. The Vikings' coaches "obviously saw something, probably my aggressiveness, the way I approached the game, that they wanted to add to their offensive line," White said.
He added that he "carried over a lot of that (defensive) mentality to the other side of the ball. It just worked out great."
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, White wound up playing in 241 games over 17 seasons in the NFL. His first nine seasons were with the Vikings and his final eight with the San Diego Chargers.
He wound up blocking for two of Cal's most celebrated players, quarterback Joe Kapp with Minnesota and running back Chuck Muncie with San Diego.
After his playing career ended, White spent several years as a coach, including with the Bears. A landscape-architecture major at Cal, White maintained his pursuits as an artist whether involved with football or not.
"I was a child when I started enjoying art," White said. "It's just been part of my life."
Cal has remained a considerable part of White's adult life. When asked what he remembers most about the 1968 season, White responded, "We certainly had a love for each other as teammates, and we played hard for each other.
"And … Strike a lick, lad."
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