Football Takes Field Monday In Preparation For Season Opener
Aug 29, 2011 | Football
Aug. 29, 2011
Video Interview With Coach Toledo
NEW ORLEANS - Preseason camp may be over, but the road ahead is a long one and the Tulane University football team was back at it on Monday afternoon as the Green Wave held an afternoon practice at the Westfeldt Facility in preparation for Saturday's season opener against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.
The team went through a 24-period, full pad practice on Monday, but will scale things back physically as the week progresses. Tulane and Southeastern Louisiana kickoff their respective seasons on Saturday, Sept. 3, in the Louisiana Superdome. Kickoff for that game is slated for 2:30 p.m. The game is being hyped as "Green Out The Dome" day and fans are encouraged to show their support by wearing green to the ballgame.
"Today we started honing in just a little bit more and were a little bit more serious about the game plan," Tulane head football coach Bob Toledo said. "In the last week or so we kind of hit upon some things. Now it's a matter of focus, paying attention to details and trying to do things right. What happens on game week is you start focusing more on your opponent as opposed to running plays against an offense or a defense."
While the focus of practice was a bit different today than it was during preseason camp, it was a different sort of day around campus as well as Monday was the first day of classes for the Tulane student body. With the emphasis on a student-athlete is to balance academics with athletics, Toledo said he was pleased with the way his team handle the adjustment to the start of the school year.
"This was our first day of school and our first day of game preparation, and when they came out early on, they were a little bit lethargic. But we prodded them a little bit and they got better as we moved along.
The Green Wave went through the usual gamut of drills, the team had a bit of a different look as members of the scout team donned orange-colored jerseys with numbers of key players on the Lions' roster to help the respective offensive and defensive units get used to seeing the jersey numbers they will be facing on game day.
In addition, Toledo had his team go through a two-minute drill midway through practice - spotting the ball at its own 20-yard line, challenging the offense to drive the length of the field while asking the defense to get a stop. While the defense has enjoyed a stellar preseason to date, the offense got the upper hand on Monday as junior quarterback Ryan Griffin drove the team with a good mix of running and passing plays before capping the series with a 22-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Ryan Griffin in the left corner of the endzone.
Saturday's game against Southeastern Louisiana is the first of two consecutive home games for Tulane to open the year as the Green Wave will play host to Conference USA rival Tulsa on Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m. in a contest slated to be aired on Cox Sports Television.
Season and individual-game ticket sales are currently for sale through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office. The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr., Center on Ben Weiner Drive, and tickets can be purchased in person, over the phone at 504-861-WAVE (9283) or via the Internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
FAN DAY NOTE: Green Wave fans are invited to meet the 2011 team and coaches at Tulane University Athletics' Annual Football Fan Day presented by the Pita Pit from 5:30-7 p.m. tomorrow at the Westfeldt Practice Facility. Fans are encouraged to attend an open Green Wave practice starting at 2:50 p.m. Parking is free of charge in two locations: at the Rosen parking lot on Claiborne Avenue next to Greer Field at Turchin Stadium or in the Diboll Parking Garage on Ben Weiner Drive.
Following practice, members of the Tulane team and coaches will be available for autographs. Fan Day will also feature inflatables, a face painter and balloon animals. Drinks will also be available, as well as food provided by Pita Pit and other area restaurant vendors. Music will be provided by P2 Entertainment and fans will have a chance to test their skills with the Field Goal Challenge. Patrons are also encouraged to bring their cameras to take advantage of photo opportunities with players and coaches. In addition to the festivities, fans can pick up football and volleyball posters and schedule cards. Schedules cards and posters will also be available throughout the season at Pita Pit, which is located at 5800 Magazine Street.
