White Says He’ll Be Ready

DAVIE, Fla. â€”  USC running back LenDale White practiced for the first time in weeks on Wednesday and said he would definitely play for the No. 1-ranked Trojans in the Orange Bowl against No. 2 Oklahoma.

White, who suffered a high right ankle sprain against UCLA on Dec. 4, did not take part in team drills but completed about half of the Trojans’ first workout at Nova Southeastern University before trainers shut him down. Light rain fell intermittently during the practice.

“I did way more than I thought I was going to be able to,� said White, a sophomore who leads the Trojans with 985 yards rushing and is tied for the team lead with 15 touchdowns.

White said he was “about 85%� and would continue to receive 45-minute rehabilitative treatments during the morning and evening.

“It feels good to go straight ahead,� he said. “It hurts a little bit to cut here and there, but I’m going to be all right.�

Coach Pete Carroll has said that White is questionable for the bowl championship series title game, but White said there was no doubt he would play.

“This is the last game of the season -- I’ll do anything I can to play in this game,� he said. “If I have to suck up the pain for two hours, three hours, that’s what I’m going to do.�

Desmond Reed and fullback David Kirtman have been taking repetitions as backups to Reggie Bush in case White cannot play or is limited.

“I love it,� Kirtman said. “I played tailback in high school, so it’s nothing new. If they need me, I’m ready.�

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Sophomore defensive tackle Manuel Wright participated in several drills and said he was confident that his injured left ankle would not prevent him from playing in the Orange Bowl.

Wright has not played and has barely practiced since suffering a high left ankle sprain against Arizona on Nov. 13.

“I had doubts myself because it was really hurting the last couple of weeks,� Wright said. “I kept trying to tell myself I could do it, but I kept going out there and it wasn’t feeling right. I just kind of stayed off it, and it’s gotten better.�

Wright wore a brace and said he also had a metal plate inserted into his shoe for extra support.

“I’ll do anything I can to get into this game,� he said.

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Two years ago, O.J. Simpson created a difficult public relations situation for USC when he showed up at an Orange Bowl practice.

Carroll said Simpson’s appearance was not a distraction.

“We’re kind of used to people coming out to our practice field.

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USC players attended a beach party after practice.... No player appears happier to be part of the bowl preparation than linebacker Oscar Lua, a redshirt sophomore who tore knee ligaments during bowl preparations two years ago and opted to have surgery that prevented him from traveling here for the 2003 Orange Bowl. “This place is everything everyone’s talked about,� Lua said.