COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Cal’s White Tries Different Approach

California tailback Russell White, who angered Coach Larry Smith and other Trojans with comments he made before and after Cal’s 52-30 victory over USC last season, said he plans to keep his mouth shut before Saturday’s rematch at the Coliseum.

“I’m just looking to have a good and fun game,” he said. “I’m not going to go down talking a whole bunch of madness, or anything. I’m just going to go down and play. I know they’re going to be gunning for me--somehow, some way--but it’s all a part of the game.”

Has he talked to Smith? “Come on, dude,” he said. “You think me and Larry Smith are going to sit and talk? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think if I was laying on my death bed and I needed a pinch of blood that he would give it to me.”

Cal has converted 46.3% of its third-down opportunities, best in the Pacific 10 Conference, but USC has allowed opponents to convert only 23.4% of their third-down opportunities, also best in the conference. . . . USC’s Curtis Conway is second in the Pac-10 with an average of 166.8 all-purpose yards. . . . USC’s Rob Johnson leads the Pac-10 and is sixth in the nation in passing efficiency with 150 points. Virginia’s Bobby Goodman is No. 1 at 170. . . . USC has only four senior starters, fewest among Pac-10 teams. . . . The crowd of 46,343 at USC’s home opener Saturday was the Trojans’ smallest at the Coliseum since Oct. 31, 1987, when 24,834 watched a rain-soaked 42-7 victory over Washington State.