LenDale White Defends Lincoln Riley, Predicts USC Playoff Appearance

USC has by no means made the School Soccer Playoff, but it surely’s a streak that’ll quickly come to a screeching halt, based on a Trojans nice, who tells TMZ Sports activities Lincoln Riley‘s Southern California squad is gearing as much as kick ass this season!

We lately bumped into SC legend LenDale White at LAX … and with the group coming off a disappointing 7-6 season, we requested half of Thunder and Lightning for his outlook on the 2025 marketing campaign.

“I really feel like my Trojans can be within the School Soccer Playoffs. I imagine in Lincoln. I imagine we bought some guys round right here that is gonna get the job achieved. And I am excited to see what this yr brings for us!”

White clearly has little question SC has the proper coach, however not everybody agrees … and after three so-so seasons in L.A., Riley’s reportedly on the new seat. Everybody from followers to high school brass desires a winner.

However LenDale says these expectations might not be completely honest given the present faculty soccer panorama.

“Once you’re a Trojan we’re imagined to win. We’re anticipated to win,” White stated. “I can perceive what it’s, however on this new day and age of the faculty athlete that may switch out each time they really feel prefer it, as quickly because it will get slightly laborious, they depart.”

“It is not like while you had the Pete Carroll‘s and even the [Nick] Saban‘s and stuff.”

In fact, faculty soccer was a lot totally different when these legendary coaches roamed the sidelines.

Gamers could not (legally) be paid, and in the event that they wished to switch, they had been virtually all the time required to take a seat out a season. That is not the case anymore.

“When you’ll be able to’t maintain these gamers or maintain the fellows round on a regular basis as a result of they’re operating away from competitors, I am unable to all the time put it on the coaches.”

White, an All-American, starred at SC between 2003 and 2005 when this system was arguably the most effective in all of school soccer, going 37-2, and profitable a Nationwide Championship.

That was earlier than the School Soccer Playoff system was applied — and with the expanded format, 12 groups will in the end vie for the natty. LenDale believes SC will occupy one of many spots.

The Trojans kick off their season in lower than every week once they play Missouri State on Saturday.

There’s extra with LenDale … who additionally provides us a evaluate of his backfield mate Reggie Bush‘s efficiency in “Blissful Gilmore 2.”