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Football

Notebook: Rice

STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford football team finished its third week of preseason practice last Saturday with a mock game in Stanford Stadium. That night, coaches, staff and players flew to Sydney, Australia, where their 15-hour flight arrived Monday around 7 a.m. local time.
 
Although the squad will practice several times Down Under before the season opener Aug. 26 against Rice at Allianz Stadium, the first day was about fun. After dropping off luggage at the hotel, players stretched their legs by taking a short walk to the Circular Quay warf, then took a ferry ride to famed Taronga Zoo.
 
Opened in 1916, the 69-acre property in New South Wales is located along the shores of Sydney Harbour and is home to 4,000 animals and 350 species, including native wildlife and exotic animals. The zoo also affords stunning views of Sydney.
 
Later, players visited popular Bondi Beach, about a 30-minute drive from the central business district.  

Stanford practiced Tuesday at Moore Park, and will conduct a walk-through at Allianz Stadium on Friday afternoon. Other events for the week: a tour, lecture and dinner at the University of Sydney on Tuesday night, Sydney Harbour dinner cruise on Thursday night, visit to a local children's hospital, and dinner at Counsel General's home on Friday.

Count David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, among those who believe student-athletes can excel on the field and in the classroom. He should know, having competed in three sports on The Farm as an undergraduate.  
"There are plenty of examples of guys playing at a high level and staying up with their academics," Shaw said. "Not just staying eligible, but excelling."
  
Stanford is 5-1 in season-openers under Shaw. The lone loss was a 16-6 setback at Northwestern in 2015.
  
The Cardinal carry over many streaks from the 2016. Among the most notable:
- Stanford scored at least 25 points in each of its final six games of 2016 and outscored opponents, 223-123 during that stretch
 
- The Cardinal did not commit a turnover in the last four games in 2016, matching the program's longest streak (Oct. 8-29, 2005)
 
- Dating to 2013, Stanford has made 169 consecutive extra point attempts, the third-longest streak in the nation behind Michigan (284) and Memphis (209)
 
- Stanford has scored in 134 straight games dating to 2006
 
- The Cardinal has at least one tackle for loss in each of its past 86 contests and at least one sack in 68 of its past 74
 
- Stanford is one of 10 teams to allow fewer than 25 points per game for four straight seasons
 
- The Cardinal has won at least eight games for a school-record eight consecutive years
  
Shaw recently announced seven season captains as selected by the players. They are: fifth-year seniors Peter Kalambayi and David Bright; and seniors Alameen Murphy, Harrison Phillips, Brandon Simmons, Dalton Schultz and Keller Chryst.

 

Seven returning players will wear new numbers this season: quarterback K.J. Costello (3), cornerback Malik Antoine (3), cornerback Alameen Murphy (4), safety Frank Buncom (5), fullback Reagan Williams (6), outside linebacker Jordan Fox (10) and defensive tackle Bo Peek (99).  
  
Extra Points ... Former Stanford quarterback John Elway visited practice Wednesday. He is now vice president of football operations and general manager of the Denver Broncos, who played the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night. Elway was joined by members of the Broncos coaching staff and San Francisco general manager -- and former Stanford two-star great -- John Lynch … Shaw is eight wins away from becoming the winningest head coach in Stanford history. He has accumulated 64 victories, second only to the legendary Pop Warner (1924-32), who won 71.