For a season which has not yet begun, this week in Sydney, Australia, feels unmistakably like a bowl game. It started from the moment we stepped out of our plane and felt the cool, crisp 48 degree temperatures of Sydney's winter seeping into the jetway – reminiscent of our December rather than August.
Stanford has moved into a hotel for a week, with a mixture of provided meals and per diem. There is time to work with meetings, practice and weights, though each day is balanced with unique and engaging events. Players have free time to explore the sights, shops and people of a new city.
"This is my first time being here," says fifth-year senior offensive tackle David Bright. "All of it is cool."
"I love walking around the city," says fifth-year senior outside linebacker Mike Tyler. "It's an innovative city that feels like San Francisco, with its own take on stores."
After traveling more than 7,400 miles across the world, Cardinal student-athletes expected a strange new world. While there are striking differences, players have been surprised at how accessible Australia is for them.
"I thought it would be so foreign," says senior inside linebacker Jordan Perez. "But it's comfortable and easy."
"Since there is no language barrier, it doesn't feel like we have traveled outside the country," says senior cornerback Terrence Alexander.
"It's easy to have conversations," adds senior cornerback Alijah Holder. "The lingo is fun to pick up. My favorite is 'gridiron.' I love that name for American football."
More Aussie jargon which has delighted our Cardinal:
cracking – excellent
good onya – well done
grimy – dirty
cutlery – utensils
During a team visit Tuesday evening to the University of Sydney, political science professor Brendon O'Connor gave an enlightening lecture on similarities and differences between the United States and Australia. Players had their eyes opened to an international view of their country. There is a heightened fascination with America and a concomitant responsibility for our student-athletes as ambassadors in Sydney.
"Start talking with people because they are very interested in what you have to say," says O'Connor.
"Going to the stores to buy anything, people hear your voice and are immediately interested," says junior inside linebacker Mustafa Branch. "They are excited that we're from the U.S."
"The people are so nice here," says senior offensive guard Brandon Fanaika. "Everything they do for you is with kindness. It's awesome."
One oddity Down Under which has taken players getting used to: navigating roads and sidewalks on the left, rather than the right.
"Just walking down the street, people can tell that we're not from here because we're constantly on the other side," says sophomore cornerback Obi Eboh."
Eboh took a selfie with a wallaby at the Taronga Zoo on Monday, his highlight early this trip. Tyler raves about his encounter with koalas and kangaroos.
"Walking along the coast and beaches was beautiful," says Holder. "It was a great time of day and we took some great squad pics."
"The entire area around the hotel is cool," says Alexander. "There is so much to see, but it isn't too crowded like a cool city in the U.S. would be."
Stanford has provided a vehicle for international exploration this week unlike any most of these young men had ever known. Only a small handful of our players on this trip had traveled outside the United States or North America prior. Many did not own a passport (which we thankfully were permitted to purchase for them).
"The Notre Dame game was the farthest I had been away from home," says senior outside linebacker Joey Alfieri.
We should do this again. Stanford student-athletes thrive in a global classroom.