Stanford coach David Shaw sat his players down this week to make sure they understood this year's annual East Coast trip carries special meaning.
Not because it's crucial for the Cardinal to get coaches out on distant recruiting trips, which it is. Or because it will be the only time friends and families for some players can attend a game this year, which it will be.
No, it's because of the opponent: Army.
"We're playing against young men that are willing to do some of the things that we're not willing to do down the road," Shaw said Tuesday. "Our freedom is in their hands. We love them, we appreciate them."
And this week, they will try to beat them.
The matchup between No. 5 Stanford (1-0) and Army (1-1) at West Point on Saturday has a historical significance for the Cardinal and personal significance to Shaw.