MEET THE PRESS: Tulane Football Holds Annual Media Day
Aug 7, 2018 | Football
TULANE FOOTBALL HEAD COACH WILLIE FRITZ TRANSCRIPT | PHOTO GALLERY
NEW ORLEANS – With 18 starters returning from last year's team, which fell just inches shy of earning a bowl bid for the first time since 2013, head coach Willie Fritz has plenty of reasons to be enthusiastic about the 2018 Tulane Green Wave football team.
On Tuesday, Fritz shared his excitement with the assembled group of reporters at the team's annual media day inside the Glazer Family Club.
"We're really, really excited about the beginning of the season," Fritz said. "Coaches have been working hard since the end of last year recruiting and also preparing for the upcoming year. The players have done a great job with developing."
Fritz spoke on stage for 20 minutes on a variety of topics including the team's progression, depth and the season opener at Yulman Stadium on August 30 against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest.
Fritz said Tulane's depth this year – 105 players are on the roster – is crucial in all areas but is most noticeable with the offensive linemen.
"I feel like we've got a lot more Division I football players who can play in The American," Fritz said. "That's very, very important. A lot of veterans, new guys coming in. It just makes practice flow a lot better when you're not having to take breaks so the offensive linemen can take breaks. Now we've got 16 offensive linemen and we're able to roll three groups."
As the team prepares for Wake Forest, Fritz said the team will begin preparations in the final 12 practices before August 30. The Green Wave played the Demon Deacons in Fritz's first game as Tulane's head coach in 2016.
"You work on that game more than you work on any other game that you play throughout the year because of where it falls," Fritz said. "We'll have about 12 practices where we're going to start working and zeroing in toward Wake Forest. You want to get off to a fast start, there's no doubt about that."
The play of Banks was also a talking point for Fritz, and he noted that a key point of emphasis will be Banks knowing when to run for crucial yardage and knowing when to go out of bounds or slide. Unless a first down or touchdown is needed, protecting the quarterback will be important.
With the way Banks kept improving toward the tail end of the 2017 campaign, Fritz knows his quarterback has a chance for a special season.
"He had a really good handle of the offense [late in the year], and also we as coaches figured out what he could do in the scheme of our offense and started tailoring it around him," Fritz said. "We think he can be an All-Conference-type quarterback in this league."
For his part, Banks has been putting in extra time this summer to prepare for his final season of college football. He's become more of a leader for the team and shows that leadership with the amount of work he's putting in.
"Me growing up, my dad always preached to me about the 'it' factor and about being able to put 15-20 extra minutes in," Banks said. "It adds up to typically an hour and a half if you add it up throughout a week. I'm just a firm believer in putting in extra work and setting myself up to be great and my teammates to be great as well."
Tulane returns to practice at the Saints Indoor Facility on Wednesday afternoon for its next fall practice.
MEDIA DAY LIVE
Tuesday afternoon's media day was broadcast live on Facebook and Twitter and featured special interviews conducted by "Voice of the Green Wave" Todd Graffagnini with Ben Weiner Director of Athletics Chair Troy Dannen, offensive coordinator Doug Ruse, defensive coordinator Jack Curtis, quarterback Jonathan Banks, running back Darius Bradwell, defensive end Cameron Sample and safety Roderic Teamer Jr.
Click here for a complete recap of Media Day Live.
TICKET INFORMATION
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log onto TulaneTix.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
NEW ORLEANS – With 18 starters returning from last year's team, which fell just inches shy of earning a bowl bid for the first time since 2013, head coach Willie Fritz has plenty of reasons to be enthusiastic about the 2018 Tulane Green Wave football team.
On Tuesday, Fritz shared his excitement with the assembled group of reporters at the team's annual media day inside the Glazer Family Club.
"We're really, really excited about the beginning of the season," Fritz said. "Coaches have been working hard since the end of last year recruiting and also preparing for the upcoming year. The players have done a great job with developing."
Fritz spoke on stage for 20 minutes on a variety of topics including the team's progression, depth and the season opener at Yulman Stadium on August 30 against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest.
Fritz said Tulane's depth this year – 105 players are on the roster – is crucial in all areas but is most noticeable with the offensive linemen.
"I feel like we've got a lot more Division I football players who can play in The American," Fritz said. "That's very, very important. A lot of veterans, new guys coming in. It just makes practice flow a lot better when you're not having to take breaks so the offensive linemen can take breaks. Now we've got 16 offensive linemen and we're able to roll three groups."
As the team prepares for Wake Forest, Fritz said the team will begin preparations in the final 12 practices before August 30. The Green Wave played the Demon Deacons in Fritz's first game as Tulane's head coach in 2016.
"You work on that game more than you work on any other game that you play throughout the year because of where it falls," Fritz said. "We'll have about 12 practices where we're going to start working and zeroing in toward Wake Forest. You want to get off to a fast start, there's no doubt about that."
The play of Banks was also a talking point for Fritz, and he noted that a key point of emphasis will be Banks knowing when to run for crucial yardage and knowing when to go out of bounds or slide. Unless a first down or touchdown is needed, protecting the quarterback will be important.
With the way Banks kept improving toward the tail end of the 2017 campaign, Fritz knows his quarterback has a chance for a special season.
"He had a really good handle of the offense [late in the year], and also we as coaches figured out what he could do in the scheme of our offense and started tailoring it around him," Fritz said. "We think he can be an All-Conference-type quarterback in this league."
For his part, Banks has been putting in extra time this summer to prepare for his final season of college football. He's become more of a leader for the team and shows that leadership with the amount of work he's putting in.
"Me growing up, my dad always preached to me about the 'it' factor and about being able to put 15-20 extra minutes in," Banks said. "It adds up to typically an hour and a half if you add it up throughout a week. I'm just a firm believer in putting in extra work and setting myself up to be great and my teammates to be great as well."
Tulane returns to practice at the Saints Indoor Facility on Wednesday afternoon for its next fall practice.
MEDIA DAY LIVE
Tuesday afternoon's media day was broadcast live on Facebook and Twitter and featured special interviews conducted by "Voice of the Green Wave" Todd Graffagnini with Ben Weiner Director of Athletics Chair Troy Dannen, offensive coordinator Doug Ruse, defensive coordinator Jack Curtis, quarterback Jonathan Banks, running back Darius Bradwell, defensive end Cameron Sample and safety Roderic Teamer Jr.
Click here for a complete recap of Media Day Live.
TICKET INFORMATION
For season ticket information, please call 504-861-WAVE (9283), log onto TulaneTix.com or visit the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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RB
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DE
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