Practice Session Is a Splashing Success

USC soaked up more than bowl game atmosphere Friday during a practice session that featured driving rainstorms through nearly the entire workout.

Coach Pete Carroll and most of the players reveled in the conditions and said it would prepare the top-ranked Trojans if they encounter inclement weather Tuesday during the Orange Bowl against No. 2 Oklahoma.

“It was a very good day to deal with all of the different forms that we got,” said Carroll, who sported a perpetual grin throughout the practice. “We got a lot of wind. Obviously it rained real hard at times. The field was soft and we had to work on our footing.”

Carroll said he was pleased with the way the Trojans caught and handled the wet ball.

“If it is to rain on game night, then we’re going to know that we worked through it,” he said. “We didn’t have a mishandled snap. We held onto the ball all day long.”

The weather came with a cost.

Freshman split end Dwayne Jarrett did not finish practice because of chills.

Safety Scott Ware returned to practice after missing Thursday’s workout because of flu. Ware said the conditions were fun but hardly ideal.

“I guess I picked a good day to come back,” he joked.

*

Several players were surprised that California lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl, but they said they felt no extra pressure to uphold the pride of the Pacific 10 Conference.... Running back LenDale White, who is nursing a high ankle sprain, was held out for most of the day because of the conditions. “We’re still just kind of tippy-toeing his way through this preparation and we’re going to see how he turns out on game day,” Carroll said. White reiterated that he was ready to play. “I’m not 100%, but I’m as good as I’m going to get,” he said.... Pro and college football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford, baseball Hall of Famer Tom Lasorda and reality TV star Nick Lachey were among those attending practice. Lasorda said he spoke briefly to USC’s offensive players. “I told them, ‘I’ve talked to a lot of college teams. When I talk they usually win. Don’t tarnish my record,’ ” Lasorda said. Gifford was introduced to the team during practice. “Just don’t tell them the year I played,” said Gifford, an All-American at USC in 1951. “I don’t think their fathers were born.”