While most of the country is focused on college basketball, the Princeton football team is preparing for what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The Tigers are currently in Kobe, Japan readying for Saturday’s Legacy Bowl against Kwansei Gakun University.
According to running back DiAndre Atwater, who is writing the team blog about the trip, the Tigers endured a “13-and-a-half hour flight from JFK to Tokyo, another hour connecting flight to Osaka, and a forty-five minute bus ride to our hotel in Kobe.”
On our first full day in Japan, we proceeded to the Kwansei Gakuin University for a tour and practice. The campus scenery was reminiscent of many universities on the west coast of the United States. With the student body of KGU consisting of over 23,000 students, the campus had an array of different buildings and structures that would even make Princeton architecture majors take a moment to appreciate them and their majesty.
Due to the fact that the university was founded by Christian missionaries, the campus had many Christian structures as well. After a crisp practice in the KG stadium, we received a handsome greeting by the KG team at our welcome party. We got a chance to dine with the KG players at our respective positions, and learn about these players' different lifestyles.
Atwater also noted that while many players opted for McDonalds during their first night in Kobe, players have been more adventurous in sampling the local fare. They’ve also done their fare share of sightseeing and shopping.
This actually will be the second time these two programs have met. Princeton defeated Kwansei Gakun, 27-25, in a 2001 exhibition.
Kwansei Gakun is considered one of the premier college football programs in Japan with 27 Japanese Collegiate championships.
Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Princeton will play a spring game in Kobe, Japan on Saturday
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