Stanford arrives in El Paso minus star running back and controversial marching band
The Stanford football team arrived in El Paso for the 83rd annual Hyundai Sun Bowl without star running back Christian McCaffrey, who indicated earlier this month he will skip the game to prepare for the NFL draft.
Hyundai Sun Bowl officials had said there was a possibility McCaffrey, a junior runner-up last season in the Heisman Trophy voting, would still make the trip to El Paso with his teammates.
“He’s decided not to come. He loves his teammates and he’s excited for what our guys can do here, but at the same time, he doesn’t want to be a distraction. Christian is going to be the biggest cheerleader watching this football game,” Stanford Coach David Shaw said.
The coach said El Pasoans should look forward to seeing Stanford running back Bryce Love. “Christian missed the Notre Dame game and Bryce came in and had a hundred yards and a rushing touchdown. He’s just scratching the surface. Bryce Love is a special football player.”
Shaw said he was impressed by the reception at the El Paso International Airport. “People on the outside can say whatever they want, but when you show up and you get this kind of reception, you know people have been waiting all year for this bowl game and our players feel that, they are excited to be here, they can’t wait to get going,” said Shaw.
The Stanford band will also not make the trip. The band has been suspended for various policy violations. The Horizon High School band will fill in for the Stanford band in the stands.
Sun Bowl ticket sales have reached 35,000, according to El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, whose company, Hyundai, is the title sponsee.
Leeser told ABC-7 the Sun Bowl future is bright with Hyundai secured as title sponsor, CBS contracted to televise the game and contracts with the ACC and Pac-12 set through the 2019 game. The economic impact to our community is what’s important, between $12 and $17 million,” Leeser said.
This year’s game marks the 49th straight Sun Bowl on CBS, the longest running bowl network relationship in the country.
