Charles White in action at Notre Dame and UCLA late 1970s
In four seasons at USC, Charles White was a consistent star. To rush for more than 6,200 yards and to accumulate almost 6,800 yards from scrimmage, he had to be. That consistency required him to deliver the goods against Notre Dame, UCLA, and other universities.
This season saw USC sweep UCLA and Notre Dame, which was one of the most sweet and restorative aspects for the Trojans’ 2022 football campaign under Lincoln Riley.
Charles White was an expert on beating the Fighting Irish and the Bruins. From 1976 to 1979, he played at USC for four years. White was 7-1 against UCLA, Notre Dame and 4-0 against UCLA. His only loss to one of USC’s chief rivals came to Notre Dame in 1977 in South Bend.
White was the USC’s most reliable worker. White was the most prolific USC player after World War II. Marcus Allen and White were the only Trojans with over 1,000 total hits in the post-1942 era. White had already hit more than 1,000 hits by the time he was playing UCLA. But it didn’t matter. For the Bruins, he had plenty of fuel. It’s exactly why coach John Robinson called him the toughest player he ever coached, and why teammates such as quarterback Paul McDonald called him the toughest pound-for-pound player he ever saw in college.
Enjoy these highlights from Notre Dame and UCLA by Charles White, a Trojan great
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A Trojan tribute to Charles White: 1958-2023
