COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : White Pushing Extra Hard for Trojans

For the USC running backs, getting past the defensive line and linebackers in practice is the easy part. Getting past Charles White is another matter.

White, the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner, is now the Trojans’ running back coach. On run drills, White--still lean and fast at 35--stands behind the defense and takes his shots at Shawn Walters, Scott Fields, David Dotson and Deon Strother as they go past.

He runs with them for up to 20 yards, giving them forearm shivers, elbows, and he pounds on their hands--trying to force a fumble.

If USC beats UCLA on Saturday, White says he will share some Rose Bowl memories with his players next week. He played in three Rose Bowl games and was most valuable player in two. In USC’s 17-16 victory over Ohio State in 1980, White ran for 247 yards.

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In trying to explain why USC’s defense has given up only one second-half touchdown in the last 10 games, defensive coordinator Don Lindsey threw out a $10 word, sending reporters scurrying for dictionaries.

“I’m a synergist,” Lindsey said. “It’s a combination of personal chemistry, attitudes, a combination of a lot of things coming together for us.”

The dictionary offered little help. It defines synergism as “the simultaneous action of separate agencies, which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects.”

Must have something to do with opponents running plays away from Willie McGinest and into Shannon Jones and Brian Williams.

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Wide receiver Johnnie Morton missed his third consecutive practice Wednesday because of flu.