Australian adventure: Stanford University and Rice University College football players enjoy the sights alongside Rice coach David Bailiff, right. Credit:AAP Then there's the Rice Owls from Houston, Texas, smaller in stature than Stanford but a division one college team nonetheless, coached by the larger-than-life David Bailiff embarking on his 11th season in charge of the football program. Both universities have brought travelling parties exceeding 200 people, including players, staff, sponsors, fans and cheerleaders. They'll spend the week practicing for their season opener, but also taking in the sights and sounds a late winter in Sydney has to offer. That includes Bondi and Manly beaches, harbour cruises and everything in between.

Big fan: Rice coach David Bailiff is considering changing his retirement plans after just a short time in Sydney. Credit:AP "Just look at this, I think I'm changing where I'm going to retire, I've been here five hours and already I'm thinking I've got to consider Sydney," Bailiff said overlooking the harbour after his side touched down in Australia on Tuesday morning. "You look at the backdrop of this place, driving over here just the architecture downtown, how it's so much old and so much new and it's all blended. "It looks like a good-natured culture that likes to have fun. Respect them and they're going to respect you back. "We've got some fun mixed in for these guys, hopefully we'll get to the zoo we're going to try to pull that off. But we've got to practice every morning, we're here to play football."

The Cardinal have an early jump on their Sydney Bowl opponents – they landed a day earlier and have already visited Taronga Park zoo. That's allowed coach David Shaw, considered one of the finest in American college football, to tick off the two items that were top of his bucket list. "Number two on my list after the Opera House was to get close to a kangaroo," Shaw said. Shaw is paid a reported $US3.9 million ($4.91m) a season, and leads one of the US' most successful football programs. Just two years ago the Cardinal won the Pac 12 conference title, and last year Shaw oversaw a 10-3 record that included a thumping win over Rice to close out the season.

The coach confirmed quarterback Keller Chryst had overcome a knee injury and would start against the Owls, who Shaw expected would be a much tougher opponent this time around. "Late in the year they had some health issues, we also had a couple of guys banged up," Shaw said. "They've changed defensive co-ordinators, I know they're going to be much better than they were last year. "Keller is completely healthy, he's ready to go, he'll start the game, he'll play the game and it [his knee] feels great. He'll run the show." Loading

Rice will be led by freshman quarterback Sam Glaesmann who won the role in pre-season ahead of John Tyler Granato and Jackson Tyner. Running back Nahshon Ellerbe will be making his first start for the Owls, having spent his first two years at the university predominantly wearing the red shirt on the bench.