LenDale White, Maurice Jones-Drew in USC-UCLA smackdown

The game is three weeks away, but former USC and UCLA players are already getting their hate on.

NFL running backs Maurice Jones-Drew (UCLA) and LenDale White (USC) had separate phone interviews on KLAA's (830 AM) Sports Lodge this week, each making sure to take a swipe at the other's university.

Jones-Drew, who plays for Jacksonville Jaguars, was asked what he would do if his son went to USC:

"I'd say, son, do you want your dad to go early to his grave? It would be tough to see my son wearing that ugly red and yellow."

Two days later, White, now with the Tennessee Titans, fielded the same question:

“I probably would ground him until he realized that that’s the worst grief you would ever imagine. You know, powder blue. I guess enough said. Their powder blue uniforms and that ugly mustard color.

“UCLA [stinks]. It’s the worst school you could ever go to if you were a football player. ... You got to make your choice. If you want to get dominated by your crosstown rival, where they can come on your campus and take your girlfriends and stuff, then you make that decision."

Guys, settle this on the field -- Tennessee and Jacksonville play each other on Sunday. Of course, White has the edge there. Tennessee is 9-0 and USC is 8-1. Jacksonville is 4-5 and UCLA is 3-6.

White, though, did fumble his smack-talk attempt on the air. Told that Jones-Drew had been on earlier in the week, White said:

"Maurice Drew follows me on every show I'm on. He's either before me or after me."

UCLA fans can insert their own USC-education-at-work joke.

-- Chris Foster

Photo at left: Maurice Jones-Drew runs the ball in last week's game against the Detroit Lions. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Photo at right: LenDale White runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs last month. Credit: Ed Zurgam / Associated Press

Comments

[Marcus Robinson]

Maurice Jones Drew is the BEST