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Tulane Defense Ranked No. 1 in the Nation
Sep 25, 2005 | Football
Sept. 25, 2005
RUSTON, La. - The Tulane football players have not seen their New Orleans homes in nearly a full month. Their practice field was under five feet of water. Their regular locker room and meeting rooms are just memories. And maybe worst of all, their home stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, has been all too visible in the news as a symbol of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina.
However, now based at Louisiana Tech University, the Green Wave has played two games and features a defense which has allowed just 176 total yards per game, the No. 1 mark in the nation. The next best is Connecticut, which is allowing 197.67 yards per game.
"We're not going to use being a homeless football team as a reason to not try to succeed on the field," Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo said. "We're playing for a lot of people and the pressure is high, but our coaches and players are all up for the challenge. We are representing our university and our city and that gives us inspiration."
The Green Wave has allowed just 86.0 passing yards per game, which also ranks No. 1 in the nation. Its rush defense has held its two opponents to 90.0 yards per game, 21st in the country.
"One thing we have taken a lot of pride in is playing better defense," Scelfo said. "We have good players in place, led by our three senior linebackers. As long as we play good defense, we'll have a chance. I am proud of the guys, but it is still early, we have to maintain that level of play to be successful."
Tulane finished the 2004 season ranked 93rd in the nation in total defense, allowing 421.55 yards per game. This year, the defense returned nine defensive starters, including four defensive linemen, three linebackers and a pair of cornerbacks. That experience is paying off.
"The D-line is really coming on and that is what is making the difference," defensive coordinator Eric Schumann said. "Being number one is always a good thing, but it really means something if you are number one at the end of the year. The most important thing is to win. We want the `W' more than we want a high [defensive] ranking."
Despite losing its opening game, 21-14, to Mississippi State on Sept. 17, the Green Wave allowed just 225 total yards in the contest. This past Saturday, the Wave held SMU to 127 yards of total offense as it rolled to a 31-10 victory on the road.
However, being on the road does not mean the same thing for Tulane as it does other teams. The Wave has not been home to New Orleans since August 28th, the day before Hurricane Katrina crashed into the Gulf Coast. Its evacuation journey took it to Jackson, Miss., for two days, then to Dallas for two weeks, before its final trip to Ruston, La., which it will call home for the remainder of the season.
The Mississippi State game was a "home" game for Tulane, though it was played in Shreveport, 341 miles from its campus. Last week, the Wave played in Dallas, which it called home just 12 days previously. Coming up this weekend is a home game at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge against Southeastern Louisiana. Next week's home will be UL-Lafayette's Cajun Field, 135 miles from New Orleans. That opponent is Houston, which is located just 216 miles from the stadium.
Further home stadiums -- for games versus UTEP (Oct. 14), Marshall (Oct. 29) and Tulsa (Nov. 19) -- have not been finalized at this time. The only definite is the Green Wave will not be playing in New Orleans.
This Saturday's game against Southeastern Louisiana in Baton Rouge kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the game are $30 for sideline general admission seats and $10 for end zone general admission, and will be sold via Ticketmaster at www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-488-5252 or at Ticketmaster outlets in Louisiana and Mississippi. There will be no charge for parking. Tulane football season ticket holders are encouraged to pick up their tickets beginning at Noon Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the designated "Tulane" ticket window which is located in the southwest corner (ground level) of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. Tulane Ticket Office personnel will be distributing the Southeastern Louisiana and Houston game tickets to season ticket holders ONLY from Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Individuals who pick up their tickets to this game during the week will avoid potential lines at the Will Call Window on game day.
Tulane, LSU and Southeastern Louisiana students with a school ID will be admitted free.
