OSAKA, JAPAN – It’s a long way from the snow-encrusted artificial turf of W. Leo Shields Memorial Field in Hyannis.
Former Barnstable High School three-sport standout Hayden Murphy touched down Sunday afternoon at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Jamaica, Queens, New York, exhilarated from his near two-week long collegiate football spring practice session in Japan with the Princeton University Tigers.
Former Barnstable High School three-sport standout Hayden Murphy seen here last week with his Princeton Tiger football teammates in Japan.
Photo courtesy of Princeton Athletics
The sophomore running back and special teams expert saw considerable playing time and had numerous carries from the backfield in the second half of the 36-7 Princeton victory over the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters in what was dubbed The Legacy Bowl.
While it was Murphy’s first-true varsity “on-field” collegiate game experience – he started on kickoff team – the whole trip proved eye-opening.
“It was cool being immersed in the culture,” Murphy said from the airport. “Eating the food, all the customs and we went to a Sumo (wrestling) match. Derek Jeter was there, too.”
Murphy was one of a half dozen Princeton running backs to get the ball Saturday in the Legacy Bowl, although no official statistics were kept because the game was considered a scrimmage-practice. Still Murphy said it felt great to compete and get on the field.
“I made one tackle on kickoff team,” he said. “And had a good number of carries … played most of the second half at running back. It was a really cool experience.”
Sandwich native Luke Catarius, a Boston College High School grad and one of the stalwart starting linebackers for the Tigers, was also on hand for the trip which culminated Saturday in The Legacy Bowl. Catarius received high praise from six-year Princeton head coach Bob Surace. The Tigers’ defensive unit was virtually impenetrable until the waning minutes of the game when third- and fourth-stringers were inserted and the Fighters scored.
The Princeton University football team seen here in Kobe, Japan last week, along with Cape natives Hayden Murphy and Luke Catarius.
Photo courtesy of Princeton Athletics
“This unique opportunity allows us the benefits of experiencing another culture in addition to playing an actual game against one of the best non-American college teams in the world,” Surace said in January when the pre-season collegiate game was first announced..
The first time Princeton played the top collegiate football team in Japan was in March 2001 when the Tigers narrowly defeated the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters, 27-25.
Murphy said that the experience was particularly uplifting because it was a chance to take a break from the intense studies he’s been accustomed to at one of the top academic schools in the world. The Tigers used Princeton’s Spring Break as the pre-cursor to the start of the football off-season training regimen in hope of a stronger finish in the fall. Last year, Princeton finished at 5-5 after a championship season in 2013.
“No school work,” Murphy said. “It was all football and sightseeing.”
Princeton junior running back DiAndre Atwater posted a blog while the Tigers were in Japan, keeping Ivy League football fans appraised of the entire experience. Here’s a more in-depth look into what all the players there, including the Cape’s Murphy and Catarius, experienced.
“After some much needed extra rest, we began the day on Thursday around noon with a trip to the Awaji Earthquake memorial in Kobe. The Japanese, being continuously affected by earthquakes, erected a memorial to honor those that lost their lives and increase awareness of the destruction to their lands. The memorial was beautifully put together, and quite
The Princeton Tigers played against the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters in The Legacy Bowl Saturday.
Photo courtesy Princeton Athletics
informational as well. We then headed to Osaka to preview the Kincho Stadium that we will be playing our game in on Saturday. The players explored every inch of the facility, in anticipation of the action that would take place 48 hours in the future.
“After leaving the stadium, we took a fifteen minute drive to the event that everyone had been awaiting since our arrival to Japan – the Sumo tournament. The tournament, set in Osaka, was one of six major Sumo wrestling tournaments that take place in Japan every year. These wrestlers came from all over the world to bring honor to their respective nations and families. Each match, typically lasting between five and fifteen seconds, was a test of skill, strength, and mental fortitude at the same time. The objective was simple: knock your opponent out of the 4.5-meter (in diameter) circle or take him to the ground. Each wrestler, while varying in height, tipped the scales at a minimum of 300 pounds, and would have even made Britt Colcolough look slim and toned. Every wrestler attempted a different technique to accomplish the objective, and every match was wonderful chaos. When the tournament ended for the day, we dined at a buffet in Osaka and returned to the hotel to rest before another morning practice.
“Friday morning we began our day with a typical day-before-game practice at 9:30, and had ample free time afterwards for lunch and to explore the city of Kobe more. While some players scoured the streets for authentic ramen and sushi restaurants, others returned to those oh-so-familiar Golden Arches of McDonald’s yet again. After lunch and some down time, the players and their respective position coaches left the hotel for dinner. As expected, large groups of burly Americans attempting to figure out the Japanese subway system was quite the spectacle, and many of the locals did not attempt to disguise their enjoyment of our confusion whatsoever. When we did finally crack the Da Vinci code that was their subway system however, we were all delighted to be able to enjoy more fantastic Japanese cuisine. When dinner ended, we returned to the hotel once again for meetings and more rest before the game. With the game tomorrow, anticipation is higher than ever, and everyone is excited to finally do exactly what we came here for – play football.”
Sean Walsh is the sports editor for Capecod.com. His email is [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm
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