One mantra held by the Stanford Cardinal for this season is written atop the 2016 Team Covenant: "Burn the ships!"
This draws from the history books, when Cortés arrived in the New World in 1519. He burned his ships to send a signal to his 600 men that there was no return, no turning back.
Stanford leaders explain what "burn the ships" means for them in their own words (five or less):
"You fight or you die." – senior QB Ryan Burns
"Give it all I have." – fifth-year senior OG Johnny Caspers
"No turning back, only forward." – fifth-year senior ILB Craig Jones
"We must improve every week." – senior OLB Peter Kalambayi
"Seize every opportunity. Win or die." – fifth-year senior SS Dallas Lloyd
"Relentless sacrifice for your brothers." – junior RB Christian McCaffrey
"Refuse to be denied." – senior WR Francis Owusu
"A savage fight until death." – junior DE Solomon Thomas
"No choice but to fight." – fifth-year senior DE/DT Jordan Watkins
"Leave everything on the field." – fifth-year senior K Conrad Ukropina