Practices to Resume With Focus on Game Plan

With just more than two weeks before the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl, top-ranked USC returns to practice today with a goal of completely installing its game plan for No. 2 Oklahoma before the Trojans leave for Miami on Dec. 28.

USC, coming off a three-day break, is scheduled to practice through Thursday. The Trojans will be off for three days over Christmas and return for a final home workout Dec. 27.

“We’ll try to get all of the work done before we travel,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

Today’s workout will feature the return of defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who was introduced as head coach at Mississippi last week.

Orgeron missed two USC practices and stayed in Oxford, Miss., through the weekend to recruit and start assembling his staff.

Orgeron will remain with the Trojans through the Orange Bowl, this season’s bowl championship series national title game.

Carroll also is hoping for the return of several players who did not practice last week because of injuries.

Sophomore running back LenDale White sprained his right ankle against UCLA on Dec. 4 and has been wearing a protective right boot device. After junior Hershel Dennis suffered torn ligaments in his left knee on Thursday, White said he felt a greater urgency to return quickly.

Defensive lineman Manuel Wright has been slow to recover from a high ankle sprain suffered Nov. 13 against Arizona, but he is expected to participate in some drills.

Receiver Jason Mitchell and offensive lineman Jeff Byers, both nursing hip strains, probably will return this week.