White’s 21 Won’t Become White’s 12

USC tailback LenDale White said Thursday that he hoped to honor 1979 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White with a standout performance when the top-ranked Trojans play seventh-ranked California on Saturday at the sold-out Coliseum.

USC has designated Saturday as “Charles White Day,” and will salute the school’s all-time rushing leader during the Pacific 10 Conference game.

LenDale White, who wears No. 21, said he sought permission to don White’s retired No. 12 against the Golden Bears, but made the request too late.

“I did it this week, and you have to call the NCAA and Pac-10 and let them know more in advance because it’s a process they have to go through,” said White, who has rushed for a team-best 335 yards and five touchdowns. “[Athletic Director] Mike Garrett said if I told him earlier, he might have been able to do it.”

White had only two carries but scored on a six-yard run during last season’s 34-31 triple-overtime loss at Cal. He broke out the next week by rushing for 140 yards in 21 carries against Arizona State.

“I was a young pup or whatever you want to call it, just watching,” White said of the Cal game. “It gave me an opportunity to feel what losing is like on the college level when you’re not supposed to lose.

“Ever since I felt that in my stomach ... I never want to feel that way again.”

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Freshman Josh Pinkard hopes to play on Saturday in a rotation with starting free safety Scott Ware and strong safety Jason Leach.

Pinkard might be pressed into service because of Darnell Bing’s left shoulder injury. Bing, who will not play against Cal, said he was awaiting results from a test that was performed on Wednesday and that he hoped to return for next week’s game against Arizona State.

Pinkard has played only on special teams.

“Hopefully, I get a shot to show them what they recruited me for,” he said.

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USC appears on track to smash last season’s home attendance record, when the Trojans averaged 77,804.

The home opener against Colorado State drew 85,521 and all 92,000 tickets for Saturday’s game have been sold.

Fewer than 5,000 tickets remain available for the Trojans’ Oct. 16 game against unbeaten Arizona State, an athletic department official said.

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Linebacker Matt Grootegoed (ankle) participated in several drills and Coach Pete Carroll said the senior would start against Cal.... Freshman defensive lineman Jeff Schweiger (knee) was not optimistic that he would be able to play, but said, “I’ve got a couple of days, we’ll see.” ... Carroll said reserve cornerback Eric Wright did not practice because of flu, but that he would play Saturday. Reserve cornerback Ronald Nunn, who had sinus surgery last week, participated in contact drills for the first time. Nunn said he would play Saturday.