White Just Keeps Pounding Home Points

The USC offensive linemen can tell when LenDale White carries the ball. They can tell by the sound of him running full-bore into the defense.

“You can hear it,” tackle Sam Baker says. “It sounds like an explosion.”

That’s the sound of an antsy tailback.

A tailback who, on any other college football team, might carry the ball 25 times a game for big yardage.

A tailback who, with Reggie Bush and emerging freshman receiver Dwayne Jarrett on his side, must be content with a fraction of those opportunities.

“Really, I don’t know how many carries I’m going to get,” White said. “I just know when I get the ball, I have to make the most of it.”

On a crisp Saturday afternoon against Washington, the 6-2, 235-pound sophomore parlayed 17 rushes into 93 yards and two touchdowns that helped fuel USC’s 38-0 victory.

Though White fumbled once, he was otherwise his usual, dependable, straight-ahead self, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

His first score came early in the third quarter, a three-yard run that made the score 17-0 and finished any thoughts of Washington staying close. Later in the quarter, he scored from the two.

“I mean, LenDale White is a hard runner,” Washington linebacker Joe Lobendahn said. “He’s running straight down hill.”

Which can be difficult to handle when the defense is worried about containing the faster, shiftier Bush. At USC, they call it “Thunder and Lightning,” one back providing the quick strikes, the other hammering away.

White can see this strategy at work when Bush goes in motion or lines up wide.

“Sometimes you see the defense spread out,” he said. “The holes in the middle are so big, it’s crazy.”

That’s when he gets a little anxious.

It’s an old story, USC’s offensive stars sharing the glory, but one that White must live with each week. And because his style is less flashy, he gets less attention.

“It’s hard when you come from high school and you’re used to getting the ball 30 times a game,” he said. “You have to tone it down.”

There have been a few big games this season. He rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado State and 110 yards against Brigham Young.

But mostly White has been limited to ensemble work. Sixteen carries for 68 yards against Arizona State last week. Eleven carries for 24 yards and a game-winning touchdown against Stanford.

Coach Pete Carroll is aware that his rotating tailbacks might grow impatient on occasion. He reminds them of their distinct contributions.

“Reggie is all the highlights,” Carroll said. “LenDale is the attitude, the way we pound.... I like that in our offense.”

Fullback David Kirtman says that when White lines up behind him, he has to hit his block faster “before LenDale runs me over.”

That’s the eagerness of a tailback waiting for his chance. That’s what makes for explosions at the line of scrimmage.

As Baker said: “I’m sure it sounds worse to the person who’s trying to tackle him.”