Saturday was pretty easy going, as we just had a walk through practice and dinner with another team. As usual dinner was great but we were hoping to get to bed earlier than usual in preparation for the game.
On Sunday things were business as usual. We got some brunch and then prepared to depart the hotel for the stadium. Apparently the stadium is home to a very well known baseball team so it was cool to be playing on a "hallowed ground" of sorts. In case I haven't mentioned much detail about the game in this blog post I'll clarify now:
Two mixed teams (American/Japanese)
Both teams included Japanese All-Stars from various schools in the area
One team has five players from Stanford included, the other team included five from San Jose state
The name of the event is the New Era Bowl
It felt awesome to get to suit up again and go through the whole pre game routine. The facilities were actually no so bad considering that it was mainly used for baseball. We got to wear white uniforms that matched nicely with our Stanford garb and we got to strap it up one more time.
The game was really short actually, with the running clock at times and the American players not allowed in the first series of the 3rd quarter. Luckily though with my combined punt returner and running back duties I felt that I got in the game plenty. The game was a defensive battle and the score remained under double digits the entire time. Our defense, under the tutelage of Cory and Cason, made a bunch of big plays and showed flashes of the traditional in your face Stanford defense. Playing running back for me was a little different but hey you just gotta roll with the punches and in the end it worked out in a good way. The game went back and forth and it came down to a red zone stand to clinch it for us. It was dramatic but what other way would you have it. In other words:
Stanford - 6
San Jose State - 0
After the game there was a long ceremony with music and trophies presented to the coaches and players. For my efforts, which were good enough I guess (I had a few catches and runs, probably close to 100 all purpose yards) to earn the MVP trophy.
That was really cool and I'm glad I got to share the experience with some teammates and new Japanese friends. I think it was a team effort and in the end the team that made the fewest mistakes won.
After the game I got to do three interviews with various media outlets in Japan and then take way too many pictures with the team and the training staff and the cheerleaders and the stanford guys and the...you get the picture. Finally we made it back to the locker room and got to relax and enjoy the victory...for like 5 minutes as we rushed to shower and change to catch the bus back to the hotel.
At the hotel we relaxed for a little while the made our way downstairs to a restaurant where the post game party was being held. It was a cool little get together with the Stanford and San Jose State players and coaches got to eat and hang out for a bit. The food again was amazing and the sake was flowing..right into coach Vae.
After dinner we went to catch up with the team for some final goodbyes and pictures while also drinking and enjoying a good evening. Everyone we met on the trip was super nice and the guys who take us out to eat were especially accommodating. I'll never forget some of the adventures we got to go on and places we ended up at.
I think the entire Japan experience was eye opening and I'm glad I got the opportunity to play and explore Japan while I was at it.
Thanks to everyone who followed this first installment of blog posts. This was more of a recap style just to get my blogger's feet wet but I hope to continue more along the lines of what my brother started in the Wet Bean and Cheese I. Until the next time.
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