By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Elon’s football team will be California dreamin’ this week.
The Phoenix plays at Stanford on Saturday, with this matchup against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent coming with a different backdrop than many such assignments in the past.
“It’s a good opportunity, a good challenge to go out to Palo Alto and play an ACC team,” Elon linebacker Carter Wyatt said. “Immediately, the first thing I thought of was the travel. Going out to play all the way in California. Just an exciting opportunity and something we’ve all been looking forward to.”
Past clashes with ACC teams often have come in the early portion of the schedule against in-state opponents. This comes just past the midway mark for the Phoenix (4-3).
“It’s different,” coach Tony Trisciani said. “We like opening up the season with these games, but I also liked our schedule this year the way we started. We knew this was coming.”
Elon tight end Dylan Magazu said it’s a chance to “go out there and do something special. Looking at it like it’s another game, it isn’t anything you’ve got to lose your mind over.”
Some Elon staff members will be going to California for the first time. Wyatt is a former Duke player, but never had a previous matchup with Stanford.
“It’s a great game for us.” Trisciani said. “Playing ACC games, our guys are always excited about these opportunities. To play an academic institution like Stanford is great for us at Elon. It helps us get our brand out on the West Coast.”
Magazu said: “It’s definitely a cool experience on game day. During the week, it’s the same prep as always. Game day is always cool, you’re in a much bigger stadium than you’re used to.”
Stanford (2-4) has visited North Carolina twice this season, losing to Duke and Wake Forest. Last week, the Cardinal fell 58-7 at then-No. 3 Notre Dame.
It’s homecoming for Stanford. Last year’s homecoming resulted in the Cardinal’s victory against Florida State.
Elon, which will try to snap a two-game losing streak, has an open date October 24, so there’s extra time to recover from what is expected to be a red-eye flight back home this weekend.
