Long day for three from the East

USC players and coaches spent part of Tuesday at Disneyland, but at the end of a long day, the beds at their Century City hotel probably felt like the happiest place on Earth for receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Vidal Hazelton and linebacker Brian Cushing.

The three players had traveled home to the East Coast for a three-day Christmas break. They were required to be at USC for the resumption of Rose Bowl practice on Tuesday morning and they left New Jersey on the same flight about 6:30 a.m.

The trio arrived in Los Angeles about 9:45 a.m., and got to practice late, but they worked out at Howard Jones Field and then boarded buses with teammates for Anaheim.

“I’m hurting right now,” a bleary-eyed Cushing said after practice, much of which he watched because of a sore left knee.

And so began USC’s bowl-week activities, which will culminate with the Rose Bowl game against Michigan on New Year’s Day.

“We’re off and running now,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “This will be a very exciting week, particularly for the young guys who have never done this before.

“It’s a first-time experience, so we’re going to kind of guide them through it and show them how we have fun and show ‘em all of the pitfalls for too much fun as well.”

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Cornerback Terrell Thomas returned to practice after dislocating his left shoulder last week.

“It is what it is,” he said. “I’m not even trying to worry about it.”

Thomas intends to start against Michigan and will consider surgery after the season for a condition that has plagued him since training camp.

Cornerback Kevin Thomas also returned after sitting out part of last week because of foot and shoulder soreness. Thomas has not played since breaking his foot on Oct. 14.

“After you work some there’s some repercussions sometimes,” Carroll said. “He had a little of that last week, so we have to see if he can make it.”

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Tailback Chauncey Washington, who was slowed by hamstring and knee injuries nearly the entire season, continues to show signs of being at top speed for the first time.

“That’s four or five days in a row, which for a normal player would not be a big deal, but for Chauncey that’s unique,” Carroll said.

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Defensive end Jeff Schweiger missed practice because he was late returning from Northern California, Carroll said.... Freshman receiver Jamere Holland, who is redshirting, will practice but is not being allowed to participate in bowl activities because of repeated tardiness. Holland was late Tuesday and spent most of the workout running laps. “I have to be more responsible,” said Holland, who will run track this spring.... Senior fullback Brandon Hancock, who missed the season because of a knee injury, said he requested a draft projection from the NFL but might petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. “It’s a little premature -- I had a talk with Coach Carroll and we talked about the possibility.... I’m still undecided,” he said. Tailback Hershel Dennis (knee) also would like to petition for a sixth year, but since it cannot be done until the end of the spring semester he is in a bind. If the NCAA turns down his petition, he would have missed an opportunity to participate in USC’s pro day.

gary.klein@latimes.com