A Week Like None Other: Tulane Prepares for Life After Hurricane Ida
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The old cliche’ that the best ability is adaptability could not apply more to the 350-plus student-athletes that compete at Tulane University.
On Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, almost 16 years to the day of Hurricane Katrina hit Southern Louisiana, the city of New Orleans and Tulane University were once again hit by a devastating Hurricane that crippled the area and forced the Olive and Blue to relocate to Birmingham, Alabama.
“Everybody’s held up remarkably well,” Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “You can’t live in the past, but you take lessons from the past. The lesson from Katrina was to have a hurricane plan and that has served us extraordinarily well.
“You adjust and you move forward,” Dannen added. “Student-athletes are very resilient and they adapting and adjusting really well. We really haven’t missed a beat – as much as you can’t miss a beat when you are out of town for a week.”
As the Green Wave football team prepares to take on Oklahoma, here’s a look back on A WEEK LIKE NONE OTHER.
FRIDAY, AUG. 27 - PREPARING FOR THE WORST
In preparation for Hurricane Ida, Tulane athletic officials moved its hurricane plan into action and held an all department staff zoom call to discuss the plan and encourage departmental staff members to make their initial plans to re-locate in the event the Hurricane Ida made landfall.
SATURDAY, AUG. 28 – TULANE DEPARTS FOR BIRMINGHAM
Tulane held practice inside Yulman Stadium and continued its preparation for its season-opener.
Saturday evening Tulane relocated its football operation to Alabama where the team could continue preparation for its matchup with Oklahoma with the hopes of playing the game on Saturday inside Yulman Stadium.
"We weren't quite sure what was going to happen,” head coach Willie Fritz said in his weekly media availability. “We decided to leave on Saturday evening which obviously was a great call by our people on campus.”
SUNDAY, AUG. 29 – HURRICANE IDA HITS NEW ORLEANS
Safe in Birmingham, the team begins preparing for the adjustment, by spending the day transforming its newly found home into meeting spaces, equipment rooms, training areas and locations to eat, while Hurricane Ida makes landfall and causes damage to Tulane Athletic facilities.
MONDAY, AUG. 30 – TULANE MOVES MATCHUP WITH OKLAHOMA TO NORMAN
Following the effects of Hurricane Ida to the city of New Orleans, Tulane Athletics announces the relocation of the game to Norman, Oklahoma.
“We're like the Terminator you've got to just point us in the right direction, and we will go there,” Fritz said during his media availability leading up to the game. “We were hoping we would be back in New Orleans in a couple of days, but that didn't occur.”
Prior to the decision to move the game to Oklahoma, Tulane practiced inside Legion Field.
Following the team’s practice, Tulane Athletics staff members returned to campus to retrieve equipment in preparation for the game on Saturday.
“Our staff was lucky enough to get on campus and get some stuff,” Fritz said. “We didn't have our uniforms or our cleats.”
TUESDAY, AUG. 31 – TULANE HOLDS PRACTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Tulane held its second day of game week preparation at the University of Alabama inside the Crimson Tide’s indoor training facility.
“We appreciate Alabama football for allowing us to come over and use their facility, we made one phone call and boom they had it all set up,” Fritz said.
Thank you to @AlabamaFTBL for allowing the Green Wave to come and use their facility. #RollWave ?? pic.twitter.com/3WjtilWJs8
— Tulane University Football (@GreenWaveFB) August 31, 2021
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 – TULANE RETURNS TO LEGION FIELD FOR PRACTICE
After taking part in practice down at the University of Alabama, the Tulane University football team returned to Legion Field for its third practice of the week.
"Number one, everybody has been awesome in the city of Birmingham. As I said before, the hotel is great, the downtown area here is fabulous they've put a lot of money into it. We appreciate everyone in the city of Birmingham for what they have done for us.”Football Head Coach Willie Fritz
THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 – FINAL PREP
The Tulane University equipment staff readies helmets and uniforms for the equipment truck’s departure to Norman, Oklahoma Thursday evening.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 – TRAVEL DAY
Tulane loads its charter flight to Norman, Oklahoma, and arrives at approximately 5 p.m. CT for it’s matchup with No. 2-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday.
The official mobile app for Tulane Athletics also is available for download, allowing fans the opportunity to connect with the Green Wave via Android or iOS mobile device.
Additionally, fans can follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, all-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.