Bad to the ‘Bone

Eventually, Charles White would become a hit solo act. A Heisman Trophy, a college national championship and a lucrative professional contract were on the horizon.

But at San Fernando High, White was part of a star-studded quartet known as the Dream Backfield that banged out a winning rhythm for two years.

With White playing fullback in the wishbone formation, the Tigers won City Section championships in 1974 and ’75. He and his backfield mates shared the carries on offense and the tackles on defense.

As a senior, White gained 1,118 yards and scored 14 touchdowns, averaging 9.4 per carry. Yet he was not the team’s leading rusher. Halfback Kevin Williams rushed for 1,402 yards and scored 22 touchdowns.

Quarterback Kenny Moore ran for 651 yards and passed for 697. Halfback Raymond Williams rushed for nearly 500 yards. The foursome accounted for more than 95% of San Fernando’s yardage.

White shared City player of the year honors with Moore and Kenny Williams.

“I had sleepless nights worrying about keeping these guys from being envious or jealous of one another,” said Bill Marsh, San Fernando’s coach.

The Tigers opened the 1975 season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Moments before the opener, two assistant coaches brought boxes of new uniforms into the locker room.

The Tigers looked splendid taking the field against Gardena. They looked shocked leaving it after a 40-0 defeat.

“We had the brand-new uniforms, we had oxygen tanks, trying to be Mr. Big Time,” White said. “We were No. 1 in the country. We got caught up in all that.”

The touted backfield absorbed more shots on the bus back to San Fernando.

“They were being ribbed by all the ballplayers,” Marsh said. “I just let it happen. After awhile, I said, ‘All right guys, knock it off. It’s a team effort. We lost. Forget about it.’ ”

San Fernando regrouped to rattle off six victories in a row, including a 47-6 decision over Van Nuys in which White rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns in four carries.

Kennedy beat the Tigers, 28-25, but a victory over Granada Hills ensured a playoff berth.

The first-round opponent: Gardena.

The San Fernando players loved to party, according to White, but that week they got down to business.

“We wore suits and ties to school every day,” White said. “We got serious.”

Marsh turned out the lights in the locker room before the game and asked the players to lie down.

“He gave a speech, and it was something,” White said. “We were just laying on the ground and you could hear him walking back and forth, just talking. Oh, man. ‘Let us out of here. Let us out of here.’ We were screaming.

“I get goose bumps just thinking about it.”

San Fernando romped, 38-13. White rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Next came victories over Canoga Park and Taft, setting up the final against Banning and star running back Freeman McNeil.

“We knew we were going to beat them,” White said.

He was right. The Tigers held Banning scoreless until the final minute in winning, 20-8. White ran for 107 yards.

White didn’t stop running. He set a national record in the 330-yard low hurdles the following spring.

At USC, White achieved national acclaim. He holds the school record with 6,245 career yards rushing and helped the Trojans to three Rose Bowl victories and a national championship in 1978.

White’s nine-year NFL career was not nearly as glorious. But he rebounded from a series of drug problems to lead the Rams in rushing with 1,374 yards in 1987, the only season he gained more than 500 yards.

The coach who gave him a second chance was John Robinson, his former coach at USC.

“Charles is the toughest man I’ve ever coached,” Robinson said on the day White retired in 1989.