Welcome to what players call "the dark side of the morning."
More than half of the active roster -- about 45 players each morning -- make their way out to Howard Jones Field for the four-day-per-week 6 a.m. strength and conditioning sessions, scurrying out at 5:55, cycling through conditioning and agility drills until 6:30 and then finishing out the workout with about 45 minutes in the weight room. A majority of the outdoor portion of the workout occurs under the cloak of night, several minutes before dawn awakes.
"It's bright and early," assistant strength and conditioning coach Tatyana Obukhova said. "Well, not bright, but it is early."
Though the workout begins and ends before almost the entire USC student population is out of bed, the effusive energy present would make you think otherwise. Bellowing voices, bountiful clapping and laborious breathing create a constant, vibrant noise that serves as the alarm clock for these Trojans as the night turns to morning toward the end of the workout.
But why do so many players get their workouts in so early? Several position groups -- offensive linemen, quarterbacks and special-teamers -- have made the pre-dawn session their traditional home, while many other players have such a jam-packed class schedule that 6 a.m. is the only time they can work out.
The Trojans, many of whom wore leggings and long sleeves during this morning's workout, are nearing the midpoint of their winter strength and conditioning program, with just a little more than a month until the start of Spring Practice 2010.
Check out some photos from this morning's 6 a.m. workout on Howard Jones Field:
With the lights on and dew on the grass, cornerback Byron Moore jogs out onto Howard Jones Field a few minutes before this morning's 6 a.m. strength and conditioning session.
It's 5:58 a.m., and players wait to begin this morning's 6 a.m. workout.
Players sprint off the line during warm-ups.
Under a night sky and the bright field lights, head strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus watches over this morning's 6 a.m. workout.
The Trojans squat down in unison as part of a stretch.
Players bound through warm-up drills.
Head strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus watches as the Trojans go through warm-up exercises.
Matt Barkley and his teammates leap around a rope as part of an agility exercise.
Doing an abdominal exercise, tight end Rhett Ellison lifts a medicine ball toward defensive end Wes Horton.
Mitch Mustain hops over bags.
Players dash through 20-yard sprints as the sky features a dawn-created purple tinge.
Offensive lineman Butch Lewis, pulling a weight sled, charges off the line.
With dawn settling in over Howard Jones Field, head strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus gives final instructions to the Trojans at the end of the workout.
The Trojans gather for a final breakdown before heading into the weight room for the second half of the morning workout.
