Tulane University Football and Women's Soccer Set Up Camp
Sep 1, 2005 | General
Sept. 1, 2005
Day 1 - Green Wave Football at "Camp Dallas"
The Tulane University Football team arrived in Dallas at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning following a eight-hour bus ride from their makeshift home in the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium on the campus of Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., where the team had evacuated to escape Hurricane Katrina on Sunday.
After arriving at the Doubletree Campbell Center Hotel in the early hours, head coach Chris Scelfo's day began just hours later, at 7 a.m., with a live appearance on ESPN2's "Cold Pizza," where he appeared with SMU Head Coach Phil Bennett and Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky.
The team, which endured two days with no power in Jackson, enjoyed simple comforts like beds, lights, air conditioning, a hot shower and a hot meal. The players responded to a late wake-up call and, for the first time, saw the incredible pictures coming out of New Orleans. Meanwhile, the football coaching staff met to plot the next couple of days of meetings, practices and activities in Dallas, while other athletic department employees scurried to arrange communication equipment and worked with C-USA to set up e-mail capability.
At 1 p.m., athletic director Rick Dickson and Scelfo met with the team to brief them on the latest plans, while a crew from ESPN arrived to begin interviewing players regarding their experiences. At 2:45 p.m., the Dallas media arrived for a full-fledged press conference, interviewing Dickson, Scelfo and a host of Green Wave players.
Following a late lunch, the team left for practice at Dallas Jesuit High School where they worked out for approximately two hours, going through a full practice for the first time since Friday. Dinner was provided in a local restaurant thanks to a generous donor in the area who saw the story of Tulane's plight on television.
"We had a really good practice today. The guys were definitely ready to get out there and play some football and break a sweat. It was good to get their minds off all the other things going on. I have to say how proud I am of this team. They have handled a very difficult situation in a very mature manner. I'm proud to be associated with these players.
As Wednesday ended, even while five players awaited word on relatives who had yet to check in from the hurricane area, the team hoped that the coming day would be what, for now, must pass as "normal."
Day 1 - Green Wave Women's Soccer at "Camp Birmingham"
Arriving at Birmingham's Sheraton Convention Center Hotel near midnight on Tuesday after a bus ride from Jackson, Miss., where they had bunked in the gym at Jackson State while riding out Hurricane Katrina, the Green Wave women's soccer team was appreciative of life's simple things - air conditioning, beds, a shower and electricity.
Joined by four members of the Tulane women's tennis team, including three 19-year-old freshmen who had arrived in the country on Thursday and had nowhere to go, the team began to establish the routine of a "normal" road trip - despite having left nearly everything in their newly-established dorm rooms in New Orleans.
Tulane came to Birmingham to participate in the UAB Nike Tournament, where they will face Louisville and Kennesaw State on Friday and Sunday, respectively at the UAB Soccer Field. They have found tremendous support from their Conference USA hosts from UAB, who have provided transportation (as of Thursday) and laundry services, as well as use of the Blazers' athletics facilities, from the athletic training room to the soccer field.
After a late breakfast in the hotel on Wednesday, the Green Wave practiced at UAB from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and later in the day, took advantage of Birmingham's "dart" trolley to travel to dinner at a local restaurant. Half of the team then walked around the city's Five Points area before returning to the hotel.
"The team is in good spirits today," said Tulane Head Coach Betsy Anderson. "Last night was very emotional and eye-opening for the players, to see the devastation on television for the first time. But today, we're trying to get back into a routine that we would have on a normal road trip. Throughout this, we've stressed that the safety of our student-athletes comes first."
Anderson was appreciative of the helpful efforts of the coaches and staff at UAB, while also marveling at the kindness of the people she has met in Birmingham.
"The people at UAB have gone above and beyond what we expected with their care and support," Anderson said. "They have really been great, and the people here have been so genuine and interested in how we're doing."
Tulane expects to remain in Birmingham through next Wednesday.
Roll Wave
