Football Closes Out Non-Conference Slate at UMass

WEEK 5: TULANE (2-2) at UMASS (1-3)
When:	Saturday, Oct. 1 // 2:30 pm CT
Where:	Amherst, Mass. // McGuirk Alumni Stadium (17,000)
Watch:	ESPN3 // ASN // ASN Clearance List
Commentators:	Eric Frede (PBP), Andy Gresh (Analyst), Hali Oughton (Sideline)
Radio:	Fox Sports AM 1280 New Orleans // Listen
Radio Talent:	Todd Graffagnini (PBP), Steve Barrios (Analyst), Gus Kattengell (Sideline)
Tickets:	Ticketmaster
Live Stats:	Sidearm
Notes:	Tulane // American // UMass
Twitter:	@GreenWaveFB // @TulaneAthletics // #RollWave

NEW ORLEANS - In week five action, Tulane football looks to get over the .500 win mark when the Green Wave travel to Amherst, Mass. to challenge UMass (1-3) on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 2:30 p.m. CT, in the final non-conference game of the season.

The game can be seen live in the New Orleans area on Cox Sports Television, KWBJ-8 (Youtoo America) and WHNO (TV20).

Storylines:
• Tulane (2-2, 0-1 American Athletic Conference | West) faces a first-time foe in Massachusetts (1-3) in the Green Wave's first road game in exactly one month.
• The Green Wave look to spoil the Minutemen's homecoming and move to above .500 through the first five games of a season for the first time since the 2013 season and just fourth time since the 2000 season (2000, 2003, 2013).
• Tulane aims to use its momentum from its thrilling victory over UL Lafayette to spark some success on the road. The Wave's last road victory was a 34-31 triumph at Army on Nov. 14, 2015. Tulane is 2-8 in its last 10 road games. The other win was a 31-24 victory at Houston on Nov. 8, 2014. • Defense has been the calling card so far in 2016 for the Olive and Blue. And, in particular, it has been in area of forcing fumbles. The Green Wave enter the week ranked in the top 10 nationally in fumbles recovered (4th, 6), turnover margin (4th, 1.75) and turnovers gained (9th, 10).
• Tulane's offense got a much needed boost from its passing game in the win over UL Lafayette with season highs in passing yards (181) and passing touchdowns (4).
• The Green Wave's triple-option ground attack has nearly produced 1,000 rushing yards through the four games. As a team, Tulane has combined for 953 yards on the ground entering Saturday's meeting with the Minutemen.
• Not only was the four-overtime win over UL Lafayette a first for Tulane, it was a first for head coach Willie Fritz. It marked the first time Fritz was the head coach in a game that went to four overtimes. In his six previous seasons guiding Division I programs at the Football Championship Subdivision and Football Bowl Subdivision levels, he coached in three overtime games, all decided in the one overtime – a 23-30 loss at Northwestern State on Oct. 30, 2010 and a 48-45 win at New Mexico on Sept. 24, 2011 while at Sam Houston State and a 23-17 loss at Georgia on Nov. 21, 2015 while at Georgia Southern.

Series Notes:
• Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Tulane and Massachusetts.
• The Green Wave have won three of their last four games against first-time opponents – 34-7 win over Jackson State on August 31, 2013, 41-39 loss to South Alabama on Sept. 7, 2013, 12-3 win over UConn on Oct. 11, 2014 and 38-7 win over Maine on 38-7 on Sept. 19, 2015.

Scouting the Minutemen:
• UMass (1-3) is coming off a 47-35 loss at Mississippi State on Sept. 24.
• Sophomore running back Marquis Young reeled off 125 yards on 18 carries during the game against Mississippi State, his fourth collegiate contest with 100+ yards rushing and his first of the 2016 season.
• Redshirt sophomore quarterback Andrew Ford distributed his seven touchdown passes over the last two games to five different wide receivers.
• Head coach Mark Whipple is one of eight program leaders at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level who serves as a coordinator alongside his responsibilities as head coach.
• UMass is competing as a FBS independent for the 2016 and 2017 seasons

Football Closes Out Non-Conference Slate at UMass

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