Southern California's Thunder is rumbling off to the NFL. USC's Lightning could be next to bolt.
LenDale White declared himself eligible for the NFL draft yesterday, one day before Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush is expected to announce he, too, will skip his senior season to turn pro.
White, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior, was the Thunder to Bush's Lightning in the Trojans' backfield for three seasons. White set a USC record by scoring 57 career touchdowns.
Bush is expected to be taken No. 1 by the Houston Texans in the April 29 draft, with Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman winner, and White going shortly thereafter.
White's 26 touchdowns this season were the most in the country, and his 156 points also led the nation.
Pittsburgh -- The Roman Catholic diocese in Pittsburgh and a former priest have settled a lawsuit over the death of Panthers wide receiver Billy Gaines of Urbana High, who fell through a church ceiling while drunk and died in June 2003. The terms of the settlement weren't disclosed, but the Rev. Ronald Lengwin, a diocesan spokesman, said it was "to the mutual satisfaction of all parties." Gaines' parents, Kimberly and William Gaines of Ijamsville in Frederick County, had filed a federal lawsuit seeking $75 million from the diocese and the Rev. Henry W. Krawczyk.
Instant replay -- Upon further review, college football is likely to get one set of rules instead of the conference-by-conference formats that led to confusion, frustration and mistakes during the bowl season. Tweaking how and when to use replay was the most talked about topic yesterday at the annual meeting of Division I-A coaches in Dallas. "What will come out of this is there will be uniform rules set," American Football Coaches Association executive director Grant Teaff said.
