White key ingredient for USC

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Think of LenDale White as the other White at this Orange Bowl.

The Southern California tailback is way overshadowed by Oklahoma quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Jason White.

And despite leading the Trojans in rushing, he’s best known for doing much of the dirty work while teammates Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush receive the notoriety.

Which is fine by White.

“It never bugs me,” he said. “We’re a team. You’ve got to accept that or you’re not a team player. The publicity is going to come. I’m just happy to be here. For me to complain would be real selfish.

“Reggie’s my guy. All the publicity he gets, he and Matt, you would expect them to be different guys and they’re not.”

Leinart won the Heisman Trophy this season and Bush finished fifth in the voting. White earned the respect of the Trojans.

“If our team is a court, than he’s the gavel,” USC tackle John Drake said.

Opponents set him the same way.

“We know all about LenDale White,” Oklahoma defensive lineman Lynn McGruder said. “He’s not one of the guys who gets talked about very much. But he’s one of the best players they have.”

White, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound sophomore, finished his prep days as Colorado’s career rushing leader with 7,803 yards.

White and Bush are known as “Thunder and Lightning.” But Bush said their roles and interchangeable.

“He’s known for his power running. He has speed, too,” Bush said. “LenDale is a major part of our offense. His style of running opens things up.”

White’s status for Tuesday night’s Orange Bowl against No. 2 Oklahoma has been in question because of the sprained right ankle he sustained Dec. 4.

“I’m ready to play,” White said Sunday. “I’m going to be hurting, but I’ll fight through it. It’s the national championship game.”