Football Prepares for Final Road Trip After Topping UAB
Nov 11, 2003 | Football
Nov. 11, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - After earning a key road victory over UAB on Saturday afternoon, the Tulane University football team will make its final regular season road trip of the year this weekend, playing at Southern Miss at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live by ESPN+ (Cox Sports TV, Ch. 37, in New Orleans). The Golden Eagles are 6-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in league play with one of the top defenses in the nation.
Tulane will close the 2003 regular season on Saturday, Nov. 22, hosting East Carolina at 1:30 p.m. in the first Tulane game to be played on the new AstroPlay surface at the Superdome. Tickets are available by calling 504-861-WAVE.
Head coach Chris Scelfo held his weekly press conference on Tuesday morning in the Hall of Fame Room of Tulane's Wilson Center.
Chris Scelfo Opening Statement:
Obviously, Saturday was a good win for our football team. We've been talking about staying the course, continuing to develop, and get a little bit better every day. I think the players responded well. As we all know, there's been a lot of adversity since September and I think the guys have really hung together and stayed together, it's really a tribute to those guys to go out there on Saturday. They've been playing hard every week; they needed something good to happen and it did for them. I was really happy for them, for the guys that made the trip and those that didn't.
This week against Southern Miss, we're playing a team that's 5-0 in the conference, one of the top defensive teams in the country. A team that's been playing very consistent, a team that's maintained their health throughout the year, and they have an opportunity to compete for the conference championship. Our football team is going into the game with the intention of playing as well as we can, to give us a chance to win.
Q: Were you at all surprised by Jovon Jackson's performance against UAB last weekend? [Jackson rushed for 183 yards while making his first career start for the injured Mewelde Moore]
CS: I was a little surprised. Not from the standpoint of his ability, but he hasn't played many snaps this year and I was really worried about the conditioning. If you noticed, we let [backup running back] Chino Fontenette go in a couple times to give him a break, but I don't know if he ever really needed it. To play the way he did, in the situation he did, against the team he did it against, and not having the luxury of getting in game condition, that was the biggest surprise to me.
Q: Did this game raise his confidence from a lower level during the season?
CS: I don't think his confidence had been low. Earlier in the year, I think he was being lazy in practice. To some degree you can understand his thought process, Mewelde hadn't gone down in four years and he's thinking he's going to wait his time out. He's practiced well the last four to five weeks, and he got some help from the offensive line. I don't think his confidence has ever been down from that standpoint.
Q: Coming off a losing streak, was this win made sweeter by the team staying together?
CS: Not sweeter, but it's something this team will draw from. When you look at the makeup of our football team, I think we're playing five seniors and three juniors, something like that. I think we can draw from this. From a standpoint that when we got on that downhill streak no one gave us a chance, it was over. Those kids never threw in the towel, and we'll be able to draw from that.
Q: Are you concerned with stopping Southern Miss, starting with punt returner Marvin Young?
CS: He's 18th in the country averaging 16.8 yards per return, that's almost two first downs; very similar to what we had last year. Defensively, they're very physical, that's been their trademark.
Q: Is there anyway to limit Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis?
CS: Yeah, by him not showing up. Rod's not the only thing on defense; they have 11 guys that really play the game hard. They're really good tacklers, and they do a lot of things to confuse you. Bottom line is they play hard.
Q: Rod Davis would be the catalyst for their defense though, right?
CS: I think he's a leader, he's a senior. I think [Etrick] Pruitt is the same way on the backside. Offensively, their line is big and strong, and their quarterback is a good operator. They're a good football team. They're 5-0 in the league and playing really well.
Q: What does Tulane need to do this week to win?
CS: What we need to do this week is take care of the football and make sure we get some turnovers. That's two big things right there. We need to keep our composure and poise, and we need to be physical because we know they're going to be physical.
Q: With Southern Miss going after a conference title, does you team try and play the role of spoiler?
CS: No, I don't think you benefit from that. Our guys are approaching it as the biggest game of the year because it's the one we're playing this week, and we're just trying to get a little bit better this week in practice and hopefully it'll show up on Saturday.
Q: What does the win against UAB do for the psyche and mood of this football team after a long losing streak?
CS: Again, what I said a little bit earlier, I think we're able to draw from it. When you preach something over and over again, something good has to happen and it did. It just reinforces their confidence, reinforces what we've been telling them.
Q: What's the mood been like?
CS: It's been good, not that it's been bad before. I just think that when you win a game everyone feels a little bit better, the confidence gets better. The makeup of our football team, what I'm really proud of is that they've stuck together and they've stuck together through some very tough times. When you look at people we've lost, the leadership, the production, and all the things. Then you look at guys playing roles on this football team that when the season started, a lot of them weren't even on the bus to go out of town. Those guys hanging in and fighting, that's what I'm pleased with. Obviously, and winning the game.
Q: There is something to still play for, two more wins and you're bowl eligible at 6-6, right?
CS: When you're 4-6 that's the last thing you think about, we've got to focus everything on Southern Miss to have a chance. Our team is smart enough to know it's still out there.
Q: Making a bowl was one of the preseason goals, correct?
CS: Sure.
Q: Isn't it a positive to still have a chance of obtaining that with all you've been through?
CS: With everything we've been through, having a chance in November is good, but it's not going to help us out. We better not be thinking about any bowl on Saturday; we better be worring about who we're playing against.
