Early-morning session teaches some lessons

Numerous educational research studies have explored whether young people learn better early in the morning or later in the day.

USC Coach Pete Carroll’s motivation for scheduling a pre-dawn practice Friday was based more on coaches’ travel schedules than academic curiosity, but it produced some hard lessons that are sure to be imprinted in several players’ memories.

Sophomore tailback Stafon Johnson, who seemingly overcame issues that buried him on the depth chart last season, got a lecture on the field from Carroll after Johnson attempted to handle a pass with one hand rather than two.

The short speech lacked the expletives that accompanied an early training-camp outburst by Carroll after Johnson threw the ball at a taunting defender.

Johnson said Carroll’s on-field intervention Friday was a reminder to avoid falling into old habits and to expend maximum effort on every play.

“I knew what I did wrong, and I knew that it wasn’t of my . . . new character,” said Johnson, who scored two touchdowns in the top-ranked Trojans’ season-opening victory over Idaho.

Johnson also appreciated a post-practice consultation with Carroll outside the athletic dining hall.

“It’s a great thing we’re talking about this instead of what we were talking about last year--playing, period,” Johnson said. “We were talking about some things that can be worked on [rather than] some things that need to be turned around completely.”

USC, which has an open date this week, practiced under the lights at 6:15 a.m., so that coaches could leave in the morning to begin recruiting trips. Running backs coach Todd McNair had left Thursday night and tight ends coach Brennan Carroll also was scheduled to travel out of state. Carroll and the rest of the staff were scheduled to attend local games throughout the weekend.

“Actually, I kind of enjoyed it,” Johnson said of the early start.

Chris Galippo, Malcolm Smith, Marc Tyler and Marshall Jones did not.

The four freshmen overslept and arrived late, earning a continuous series of punitive conditioning drills that included rolling in the wet turf.

“My alarm just didn’t go off,” said Galippo, anxiously eyeing linebackers coach Ken Norton after practice.

“I just have to be more responsible. I should have set two alarms. . . . When I’m a sophomore or junior it will be something to laugh about, but right now . . . “

Tyler, a roommate of Jones and Smith, was rolling on the turf for the second day in a row. The tailback missed a morning weightlifting workout Thursday.

“I’ve always been a morning person,” Tyler said. “Now that I’m here and doing this early stuff, I don’t think I am anymore.”

Receiver Patrick Turner (neck) participated in a few drills and said he would practice next week in preparation for Nebraska. . . . Tailback Joe McKnight (knee) did not practice, but Carroll said he would play against the Cornhuskers. . . . Cornerback Josh Pinkard (knee) will practice Monday or Tuesday to gauge whether he will play in the game. Tailback Chauncey Washington (shoulder) also is still awaiting clearance from doctors, Carroll said. . . . Offensive lineman Thomas Herring was moved from tackle to left guard. “Whatever it takes to get on the field,” the third-year sophomore said. . . . The Trojans are off today and Sunday.

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gary.klein@latimes.com