Wed Sep 18 18:23:00 UTC 2024: ## California and Stanford Embark on Cross-Country Adventures in New ACC Era
Stanford, Calif. – The move to the ACC has brought about a new era of cross-country road trips for California and Stanford, who will be venturing into the Eastern Time Zone for their first conference games.
Both teams will be leaving a day earlier than usual for their upcoming games, with the Cardinal playing at Syracuse on Friday and the Bears traveling to Florida State on Saturday. While the lengthy flights may be a new challenge, both coaches and players express excitement about the opportunity to play new opponents in unfamiliar territory.
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox says the team has a well-established routine for these longer trips, noting that players enjoy the time spent together on the road. Stanford, meanwhile, is emphasizing hydration and sleep management to combat the travel fatigue.
The excitement for these new challenges extends to the players as well. Stanford backup quarterback Justin Lamson, who spent two seasons at Syracuse, is thrilled to return to the Carrier Dome as a visitor. Meanwhile, Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who grew up watching the Miami-FSU rivalry, is looking forward to playing both of those schools in his next two games.
The move to new conferences has opened up a world of new opportunities for these teams, both on and off the field. As they embark on these cross-country adventures, it’s clear that both Cal and Stanford are embracing the challenge and relishing the chance to write a new chapter in their athletic history.
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