Wave Aloha: Bowl News and Notes
Dec 24, 2002 | Football
Dec. 24, 2002
Tulane in Hawai'i for the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl
DAILY NOTEBOOK
Go to ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl Central
***Tulane completed its pre-bowl practices with a 75-minute workout Monday at St. Louis High School in shorts. The Green Wave practiced from 10:45-Noon Monday before returning to the Sheraton Waikiki.
***Tulane took a contingent of five players, two cheerleaders and Riptide, its mascot, to the Shriner's Hospital in Honolulu Sunday to visit with the approximately 15-20 kids ages infant through teenagers still at the hospital during the holiday season. The Green Wave crew gave out Tulane Mardi Gras beads and key chains that were a tiny stuffed version of Riptide. While players Mewelde Moore (RB), Marlon Tickles (DT), Brandon Rottmayer (DL), Jeff Sanchez (CB) and Adrian Mitchell (SS) were popular when it came to autographs and taking pictures, the cheerleaders were the MVP's, twice rescuing a patient's balloon that floated to the 15 foot-ceiling by doing a lift. The TU players and cheerleaders performed the "Hullabaloo" and did a rendition of "Who Let the Dogs Out" while the Hawai'i players sang "Jingle Bells" and the children did a special performance to music and a dance. Tulane's players were as anxious to have their pictures taken with the kids as the kids were to meet the players.
***At Sunday night's luau at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the Green Wave had a chance to try such island specialties as octopus, barbecued pig, poi and lua lua, a combination of fish and pork wrapped in leaves, but they really went through the fresh pineapple on the table. The Wave was treated to a show featuring Polynesian dances. At one point, Tulane defensive linemen Marlon Tickles, Brandon Rottmayer and Wallace "Bam" Mateen were called to the stage, along with three Hawai'i players, to learn the "Tevi, Tevi" dance. The completely uninhibited Mateen was the most animated and put on quite a show to the whoops and hollers of the entire Tulane contingent. Later in the night, several Wave players, including QB J.P. Losman, were called to the stage to take part in the final dance.
***At the "Barefoot on the Beach Pep Rally" Monday night, the Wave defeated the Warriors in a steak-eating contest as four Tulane players - DL Taylor Bertin, K T.J. Henry, DT Lonnie Crayton and OL Mark Burgess - consumed 14 12-oz. steaks in a 21-minute period. The most shocking part of that performance was the contribution of Henry, a 5-9, 160-pound walk-on from Altadena, Calif.
***Also on Monday, the Green Wave took its annual team photo on the Diamondhead Lawn at the Sheraton Waikiki. Taken by a local photographer with Diamondhead and the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, the 2002 team photo is definitely a one-of-a-kind edition. The most humorous part of the 30-minute photo session came when, after the team was lined up in its rows, one of the ever-present Japanese tourists posed in front of the team and snapped his own photo. The team erupted in laughter. Following the formal session, most of the team gathered with teammates and friends to take group pictures against a scenic background.
***Despite the team's busy schedule, Head Coach Chris Scelfo has still managed to fit in his afternoon jog during Tulane's stay in Hawai'i. On each of the last two afternoons, Scelfo has been spotted jogging along the streets of the Waikiki section of Honolulu.
***Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson spent two years as a resident of Hawai'i after graduating from Tulsa and before embarking on his career in intercollegiate athletics administration.
***Playing key roles for the Green Wave on Christmas Day will be a pair of seniors who have already earned their Tulane degrees and will someday contribute to continuing Tulane's record of high graduation rates. A double major in accounting and finance in the prestigious A.B. Freeman School of Business, offensive guard Seth Zaunbrecher earned his bachelor's degree before Tulane left New Orleans. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Roxie Shelvin earned his degree in Media Arts. Several 2001 seniors also earned their degrees from Tulane this December.
