Football's 2023 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Chats
Dec 31, 2022 | Football
ARLINGTON – With Tulane's football team playing in the 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Monday against USC, TulaneGreenWave.com will feature a brief question and answer series throughout the week to chat with various members of the football team about their experiences at the prestigious bowl game. The fifth player featured on January 1 is long snapper Ethan Hudak. Our questions and his answers are below.
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Ethan Hudak (EH): "It has been like nothing else. This is my third bowl experience, but there's nothing like this one. We have been treated so well by all the Cotton Bowl staff and we have done some awesome stuff. Practices in AT&T Stadium have been incredible. Really this is just one of those weeks and experiences that I will remember and cherish forever."
TGW: How was your fifth night here?
EH: "It was a fun night. The Cotton Bowl hosted a casino night for us, so we were all playing casino games for some prizes. It was really special hanging out with all the guys and watching football. It was a super great time, super fun! Just incredible."
TGW: Favorite team activity that you participated in here?
EH: "We have done a lot. I really did have a lot of fun at our team casino night I learned how to play Craps, which is very confusing but also very fun. I think making the cowboy hats was also a great time. And the hospitality suite, just being in there, playing Duck Hunter, shooting pool, playing ping pong games plus hanging out with all the guys was great, because some of these guys will be gone soon."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
EH: "We had a lot of great moments throughout the year. I would say the best ones were the walk-off win in Houston, winning the conference championship game against UCF, and our road win at Cincinnati. I would probably rank the Cincinnati game as number one because I had a ton of family there and that whole game and atmosphere was insane."
TGW: Was there a game or moment when you realized this could be a special season?
EH: "I think my moment came after Kansas State. A lot of people were talking about the team after that game and there was a lot of hype after the victory. This team really believes in ourselves. With some of our past teams, we haven't had that confidence. That game really showed us what we could do and our potential if we kept working hard."
TGW: What were your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
EH: It was just really cool. The weather was really great and there wasn't a lot of wind with it being an indoor stadium. The stadium is well designed and the jumbo tron is just massive. Having practiced in the Caesars Superdome is kind of my comparison, but this place is an incredible stadium and it's very well built. The locker room is spacious and well-laid out. I would definitely say that it has exceeded my expectations."
TGW: How are you feeling with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic being tomorrow?
EH: "I can't wait. It feels like it's been far away for a while. Just with a huge wait, but like all good things, it came really fast. I'm just super excited that we can participate in this awesome bowl game and hopefully end the season on a really good note with a victory."
Day 4 – Question and Answer Series - December 31 – Jesus Machado – Linebacker
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Jesus Machado (JM): "It has been very great. When we first found out we were coming here, people talked about what a great experience it was going to be. From when we first pulled up to the hotel on Tuesday, it has been an experience like no other how they welcomed us in and how they've been treating us every day."
TGW: What is the favorite team activity that you participated in here?
JM: "My favorite activity was being able to make my own cowboy hat on the first night. We got to design and put our own personal touches on our hats. I added my area code, my name, and a star symbol. I like way I designed it and think it came out looking pretty good."
TGW: How was your holiday break?
JM: "I went home and enjoyed some time with my family. It was great to just be able to relax and kickback for a few days."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
JM: "My best memory is against UCF. I blitzed and came up with a tackle for loss."
TGW: Was there a game or moment when you realized this could be a special season?
JM: "Coming into the season I knew from the get-go that it could be a really good year, as long as everyone could play and stay together as a team."
TGW: What were your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
JM: "The stadium was something that I have always wanted to see. Everyone always talks about how AT&T Stadium is so nice and stuff like that. Coming here and seeing it for myself and witnessing how nice it is was great. I had never been here before, so it really was a wow moment."
TGW: How do you strike the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
JM: "I just stay in the moment and will continue to prepare like it is any other game."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
JM: "My family arrived yesterday, and they are coming to the family event on Sunday and then the game. There are nine family members coming in to see and support me and Tulane."
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Will Wallace (WW): "My experience has been great. The Cotton Bowl has taken first class care of us. This is my sixth year at Tulane and my fourth bowl game. This has been by far the best bowl game as far as the hospitality and the way they take care of us in a first-class manner. The bowl has made all of us as players feel so welcomed."
TGW:Â Tell us about your third night here?
WW: "Last night was really a lot of fun. We went to the Dallas Mavericks game and we got to watch some NBA basketball. It was awesome, just hanging out with the guys watching basketball."
TGW:Â Did you go to the hospital visit as well?
WW: "The hospital was great. I actually met/made a really good friend. His name is Ashton and I talked with him for a while. He really gave me a heartwarming experience and a totally different perspective on life. It was probably one of my favorite events."
TGW: Favorite team activity that you participated in here?
WW: "For me, personally, it was the hospital. Like I said, Ashton touched my heart in a lot more ways than I could ever touch his. The hospital visit was really a special experience."
TGW: How was your holiday break?
WW: "It was great. I went home for a little bit and hung out with my family. I mostly worked out and relaxed. It was a perfect holiday break to get away when playing a game this big against USC."
TGW: Feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
WW: "It was awesome! It's Jerry's World! It was like a dream for me. I came here for a couple games when I was in middle school and high school, and I was just dazzled at the stadium. To be able to play on this field is truly a dream come true. This is a first-class facility and it's absolutely beautiful."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
WW: "Just the bond we have in the locker room. To be with them this long and finally see it all come together, has been awesome. Also, the Cincinnati game in particular where everything was on the line. That was a game where we were playing a bunch of seniors who had never lost a home game and we walked right into their house and took everything from them, so that was really special."
TGW: How do you strike the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
WW: "It's just all about having the proper mindset. We are here to have fun from like the middle of the afternoon until we go to bed, but from when we wake up in the morning until two in the afternoon, it's all business. To be able to have that business mindset and then switch to relaxing when it is time is the best way to give our bodies the best chance on game day."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
WW: "Oh yeah! So much of my family is coming. My mom, dad, sisters, stepdad, aunts, uncles, you name it, they're all coming for this. I think I have about fifteen to twenty family members coming in total. I'm really looking forward to it. They are getting here today. My mom and sisters actually arrived a couple hours ago."
Day 2 – Question and Answer Series - December 29 - Lummie Young – Safety
TGW: Tell us about your experiences so far of arriving and all the festivities associated with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic?
Lummie Young IV (LY): "Arriving at the Cotton Bowl has been a great experience so far. From the moment we stepped off the plane onto the buses, I knew we were going to have a great time. They pulled out all the stops. I can't even lie. They're treating us like we are kings. It feels really good to be here."
TGW: Tell us about your second night here?
LY: "Last night, we had our Main Event, which is bowling, pool tables, arcade games, laser tag and a whole bunch of food. It was really fun to bond with all the guys and all the families that were able to attend. It was great to have the opportunity to hang out with people who have been with us and supporting the team throughout the season."
TGW: Talk to us about your holiday break?
LY: "I went home for a couple days to see my family. It is always great time see the family and getting some home cooked meals plus being around some friends for a little bit!"
TGW: Two words that describe the season so far?
LY: "That's a tough one because the season really went by in the blink of an eye. I didn't really think it would go by as fast as it did, but if I had to describe it in two words, I would say unforgettable and a blessing. This whole experience and season has truly been a blessing."
TGW: Your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for practice yesterday for the first time?
LY: "It was kind of overwhelming to say the least. This is a huge indoor stadium. You see AT&T Stadium on television and it doesn't even compare to seeing it in real life and walking onto the field. To be honest just being here in this facility really takes your breath away."
TGW: How are you striking the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
LY: "It hasn't really been all that difficult to stay focused. The main goal is to go 1 – 0, just like it has been all year. Yea, you want to have fun and enjoy the experience, but we're still here to do a job and we're still focused on that job. It's not really that hard when you come with the right mindset of trying to win a ballgame."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
LY: "Yes, my family is coming to the game. I've got like 10 to 15 family members that will be arriving here tomorrow for the big family event. They are excited to get here and cheer Tulane on."
Day 1 – Question and Answer Series - December 28 - Casey Glover – Punter/Kickoff Specialist
TGW: Talk to me a little about your experience arriving at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic?
Casey Glover (CG): "Our trip here has been awesome so far. I've been to three previous bowl games during my time at Tulane and this has been, far and away the best experience, I have had. I'm excited for the next couple of days."
TGW:Â Tell us a little bit about your first night here. What did you guys do?
CG: "The first night we got here we walked around the hotel. It is a very big property with a lot to see and explore. We also hung out as a team in the hospitality suite. We received some new cowboy hats, which is very cool. Coming from New York I never had one before, so it was a little different."
TGW: I know that you could personalize those cowboy hats, how did you personalize yours?
CG: "I got a little string around mine with a little feather and two cards that has my number, 96, on it."
TGW: Talk to us a little bit about your holiday break. How did that go for you? Did you have a chance to go home?
CG: "For my holiday break, I went home to New York. It was cold, but I got home. All of my siblings were also there. It's not often that we are all home at the same time with my parents. It was a lot of fun just having some good, quality family time."
TGW: If you were to describe this season, what are a couple words that come to mind for you?
CG: "I would say inspiring and exciting. Just going from 2-10 last year to 11-2 this year with one more to still play. Some of my best friends are in this locker room and I'm excited every day to come to work with them."
TGW: What was your first reaction when you first walked into AT&T Stadium on the morning of December 28? A lot of the reaction I saw from others seemed to be a bit awestruck.
CG: "I did as well, although as a Dallas Cowboys fan, this isn't my first trip here. My previous trip was with my father when I lucky enough to be gifted tickets to see the Cowboys play. I will say that walking onto the field in the morning wasn't something I had previously experienced though. Â It was awesome. I am excited to play here against USC on Monday."
Tulane has had a truly historic and magical 2022 season. The program defeated then No. 22 CFP ranked UCF on Dec. 3 by a 45-28 score to capture the school's first-ever American Athletic Conference (AAC) title and earn Tulane its first appearance in a major bowl game since 1940 with the trip to Arlington, Texas to play in the 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against USC. The school's last appearance in a major bowl game was the Sugar Bowl. The win over UCF was the second straight win over a fellow ranked opponent. Overall, this year will be the school's 15th bowl appearance and the fourth time in the last five years that Willie Fritz has led the program to a bowl game. The four bowl appearances under his watch make him the most successful in school history by that metric. Individually he moved into second all-time at Tulane this season in career victories and is up to 42 in his Green Wave career. His program had both the Most Outstanding Offensive Player (Michael Pratt) and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player (Nick Anderson) of the AAC Championship game. He also set a school-record and had the most All-AAC selections in the conference this season this season with 15 plus the league's Offensive Player of the Year (Tyjae Spears).
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Fritz was named the 2022 AAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career at the end of the regular season. It is also the first time that a Tulane coach ever been named the AAC Coach of the Year and only the second time overall that a Tulane coach has taken home the honor from a conference as Tommy Bowden was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 1998. Fritz has led Tulane to an overall 11-2 record including a mark of 7-1 in AAC play. The 11 wins this season is the second time in school history that the program has won 11 or more games and the first time since 1998. His seven wins in league play are the most for the program since 1934 and mark only the second time in the school's history that a Tulane team has won seven or more conference games in a single campaign. Tulane's first nationally ranking this year, 10 weeks ago, was a first for the program since 1998. The program also received its first-ever College Football Playoff Ranking this year and are currently placed 16th nationally in that metric. Tulane's AAC regular season title earned with the victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 25 was only the third in the history of the program and was the first since the Conference USA Championship title in 1998. Fritz led Tulane to its first win over a fellow ranked opponent since 1956 with the victory over then No. 23 ranked Cincinnati. The win over the Bearcats ended their then 32-game home winning streak.
The nine-game win total improvement this year over 2021 is tied for the best-ever in a single season in FBS history along with Stanford (1940), Hawaii (1999) and Miami of Ohio (2010).
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TICKETS
Tickets for the 2022 season for the football team's bowl game, the men's and women's basketball team's games and the upcoming baseball season can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Â
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.
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Ethan Hudak (EH): "It has been like nothing else. This is my third bowl experience, but there's nothing like this one. We have been treated so well by all the Cotton Bowl staff and we have done some awesome stuff. Practices in AT&T Stadium have been incredible. Really this is just one of those weeks and experiences that I will remember and cherish forever."TGW: How was your fifth night here?
EH: "It was a fun night. The Cotton Bowl hosted a casino night for us, so we were all playing casino games for some prizes. It was really special hanging out with all the guys and watching football. It was a super great time, super fun! Just incredible."
TGW: Favorite team activity that you participated in here?
EH: "We have done a lot. I really did have a lot of fun at our team casino night I learned how to play Craps, which is very confusing but also very fun. I think making the cowboy hats was also a great time. And the hospitality suite, just being in there, playing Duck Hunter, shooting pool, playing ping pong games plus hanging out with all the guys was great, because some of these guys will be gone soon."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
EH: "We had a lot of great moments throughout the year. I would say the best ones were the walk-off win in Houston, winning the conference championship game against UCF, and our road win at Cincinnati. I would probably rank the Cincinnati game as number one because I had a ton of family there and that whole game and atmosphere was insane."
TGW: Was there a game or moment when you realized this could be a special season?
EH: "I think my moment came after Kansas State. A lot of people were talking about the team after that game and there was a lot of hype after the victory. This team really believes in ourselves. With some of our past teams, we haven't had that confidence. That game really showed us what we could do and our potential if we kept working hard."
TGW: What were your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
EH: It was just really cool. The weather was really great and there wasn't a lot of wind with it being an indoor stadium. The stadium is well designed and the jumbo tron is just massive. Having practiced in the Caesars Superdome is kind of my comparison, but this place is an incredible stadium and it's very well built. The locker room is spacious and well-laid out. I would definitely say that it has exceeded my expectations."
TGW: How are you feeling with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic being tomorrow?
EH: "I can't wait. It feels like it's been far away for a while. Just with a huge wait, but like all good things, it came really fast. I'm just super excited that we can participate in this awesome bowl game and hopefully end the season on a really good note with a victory."
Day 4 – Question and Answer Series - December 31 – Jesus Machado – Linebacker
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Jesus Machado (JM): "It has been very great. When we first found out we were coming here, people talked about what a great experience it was going to be. From when we first pulled up to the hotel on Tuesday, it has been an experience like no other how they welcomed us in and how they've been treating us every day."TGW: What is the favorite team activity that you participated in here?
JM: "My favorite activity was being able to make my own cowboy hat on the first night. We got to design and put our own personal touches on our hats. I added my area code, my name, and a star symbol. I like way I designed it and think it came out looking pretty good."
TGW: How was your holiday break?
JM: "I went home and enjoyed some time with my family. It was great to just be able to relax and kickback for a few days."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
JM: "My best memory is against UCF. I blitzed and came up with a tackle for loss."
TGW: Was there a game or moment when you realized this could be a special season?
JM: "Coming into the season I knew from the get-go that it could be a really good year, as long as everyone could play and stay together as a team."
TGW: What were your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
JM: "The stadium was something that I have always wanted to see. Everyone always talks about how AT&T Stadium is so nice and stuff like that. Coming here and seeing it for myself and witnessing how nice it is was great. I had never been here before, so it really was a wow moment."
TGW: How do you strike the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
JM: "I just stay in the moment and will continue to prepare like it is any other game."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
JM: "My family arrived yesterday, and they are coming to the family event on Sunday and then the game. There are nine family members coming in to see and support me and Tulane."
TGW: Tell us about your experiences since arriving at the Cotton Bowl?
Will Wallace (WW): "My experience has been great. The Cotton Bowl has taken first class care of us. This is my sixth year at Tulane and my fourth bowl game. This has been by far the best bowl game as far as the hospitality and the way they take care of us in a first-class manner. The bowl has made all of us as players feel so welcomed."TGW:Â Tell us about your third night here?
WW: "Last night was really a lot of fun. We went to the Dallas Mavericks game and we got to watch some NBA basketball. It was awesome, just hanging out with the guys watching basketball."
TGW:Â Did you go to the hospital visit as well?
WW: "The hospital was great. I actually met/made a really good friend. His name is Ashton and I talked with him for a while. He really gave me a heartwarming experience and a totally different perspective on life. It was probably one of my favorite events."
TGW: Favorite team activity that you participated in here?
WW: "For me, personally, it was the hospital. Like I said, Ashton touched my heart in a lot more ways than I could ever touch his. The hospital visit was really a special experience."
TGW: How was your holiday break?
WW: "It was great. I went home for a little bit and hung out with my family. I mostly worked out and relaxed. It was a perfect holiday break to get away when playing a game this big against USC."
TGW: Feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for the first time at practice on Wednesday?
WW: "It was awesome! It's Jerry's World! It was like a dream for me. I came here for a couple games when I was in middle school and high school, and I was just dazzled at the stadium. To be able to play on this field is truly a dream come true. This is a first-class facility and it's absolutely beautiful."
TGW: What has been your favorite or best memory from the season?
WW: "Just the bond we have in the locker room. To be with them this long and finally see it all come together, has been awesome. Also, the Cincinnati game in particular where everything was on the line. That was a game where we were playing a bunch of seniors who had never lost a home game and we walked right into their house and took everything from them, so that was really special."
TGW: How do you strike the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
WW: "It's just all about having the proper mindset. We are here to have fun from like the middle of the afternoon until we go to bed, but from when we wake up in the morning until two in the afternoon, it's all business. To be able to have that business mindset and then switch to relaxing when it is time is the best way to give our bodies the best chance on game day."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
WW: "Oh yeah! So much of my family is coming. My mom, dad, sisters, stepdad, aunts, uncles, you name it, they're all coming for this. I think I have about fifteen to twenty family members coming in total. I'm really looking forward to it. They are getting here today. My mom and sisters actually arrived a couple hours ago."
Day 2 – Question and Answer Series - December 29 - Lummie Young – Safety
TGW: Tell us about your experiences so far of arriving and all the festivities associated with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic?
Lummie Young IV (LY): "Arriving at the Cotton Bowl has been a great experience so far. From the moment we stepped off the plane onto the buses, I knew we were going to have a great time. They pulled out all the stops. I can't even lie. They're treating us like we are kings. It feels really good to be here."TGW: Tell us about your second night here?
LY: "Last night, we had our Main Event, which is bowling, pool tables, arcade games, laser tag and a whole bunch of food. It was really fun to bond with all the guys and all the families that were able to attend. It was great to have the opportunity to hang out with people who have been with us and supporting the team throughout the season."
TGW: Talk to us about your holiday break?
LY: "I went home for a couple days to see my family. It is always great time see the family and getting some home cooked meals plus being around some friends for a little bit!"
TGW: Two words that describe the season so far?
LY: "That's a tough one because the season really went by in the blink of an eye. I didn't really think it would go by as fast as it did, but if I had to describe it in two words, I would say unforgettable and a blessing. This whole experience and season has truly been a blessing."
TGW: Your feelings and expectations when you walked into AT&T Stadium for practice yesterday for the first time?
LY: "It was kind of overwhelming to say the least. This is a huge indoor stadium. You see AT&T Stadium on television and it doesn't even compare to seeing it in real life and walking onto the field. To be honest just being here in this facility really takes your breath away."
TGW: How are you striking the balance between enjoying yourself and also staying focused on USC?
LY: "It hasn't really been all that difficult to stay focused. The main goal is to go 1 – 0, just like it has been all year. Yea, you want to have fun and enjoy the experience, but we're still here to do a job and we're still focused on that job. It's not really that hard when you come with the right mindset of trying to win a ballgame."
TGW: Is your family coming to the game and have they arrived?
LY: "Yes, my family is coming to the game. I've got like 10 to 15 family members that will be arriving here tomorrow for the big family event. They are excited to get here and cheer Tulane on."
Day 1 – Question and Answer Series - December 28 - Casey Glover – Punter/Kickoff Specialist
TGW: Talk to me a little about your experience arriving at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic?
Casey Glover (CG): "Our trip here has been awesome so far. I've been to three previous bowl games during my time at Tulane and this has been, far and away the best experience, I have had. I'm excited for the next couple of days."TGW: Tell us a little bit about your first night here. What did you guys do?
CG: "The first night we got here we walked around the hotel. It is a very big property with a lot to see and explore. We also hung out as a team in the hospitality suite. We received some new cowboy hats, which is very cool. Coming from New York I never had one before, so it was a little different."
TGW: I know that you could personalize those cowboy hats, how did you personalize yours?
CG: "I got a little string around mine with a little feather and two cards that has my number, 96, on it."
TGW: Talk to us a little bit about your holiday break. How did that go for you? Did you have a chance to go home?
CG: "For my holiday break, I went home to New York. It was cold, but I got home. All of my siblings were also there. It's not often that we are all home at the same time with my parents. It was a lot of fun just having some good, quality family time."
TGW: If you were to describe this season, what are a couple words that come to mind for you?
CG: "I would say inspiring and exciting. Just going from 2-10 last year to 11-2 this year with one more to still play. Some of my best friends are in this locker room and I'm excited every day to come to work with them."
TGW: What was your first reaction when you first walked into AT&T Stadium on the morning of December 28? A lot of the reaction I saw from others seemed to be a bit awestruck.
CG: "I did as well, although as a Dallas Cowboys fan, this isn't my first trip here. My previous trip was with my father when I lucky enough to be gifted tickets to see the Cowboys play. I will say that walking onto the field in the morning wasn't something I had previously experienced though. Â It was awesome. I am excited to play here against USC on Monday."
Tulane has had a truly historic and magical 2022 season. The program defeated then No. 22 CFP ranked UCF on Dec. 3 by a 45-28 score to capture the school's first-ever American Athletic Conference (AAC) title and earn Tulane its first appearance in a major bowl game since 1940 with the trip to Arlington, Texas to play in the 87th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic against USC. The school's last appearance in a major bowl game was the Sugar Bowl. The win over UCF was the second straight win over a fellow ranked opponent. Overall, this year will be the school's 15th bowl appearance and the fourth time in the last five years that Willie Fritz has led the program to a bowl game. The four bowl appearances under his watch make him the most successful in school history by that metric. Individually he moved into second all-time at Tulane this season in career victories and is up to 42 in his Green Wave career. His program had both the Most Outstanding Offensive Player (Michael Pratt) and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player (Nick Anderson) of the AAC Championship game. He also set a school-record and had the most All-AAC selections in the conference this season this season with 15 plus the league's Offensive Player of the Year (Tyjae Spears).
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Fritz was named the 2022 AAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career at the end of the regular season. It is also the first time that a Tulane coach ever been named the AAC Coach of the Year and only the second time overall that a Tulane coach has taken home the honor from a conference as Tommy Bowden was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 1998. Fritz has led Tulane to an overall 11-2 record including a mark of 7-1 in AAC play. The 11 wins this season is the second time in school history that the program has won 11 or more games and the first time since 1998. His seven wins in league play are the most for the program since 1934 and mark only the second time in the school's history that a Tulane team has won seven or more conference games in a single campaign. Tulane's first nationally ranking this year, 10 weeks ago, was a first for the program since 1998. The program also received its first-ever College Football Playoff Ranking this year and are currently placed 16th nationally in that metric. Tulane's AAC regular season title earned with the victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 25 was only the third in the history of the program and was the first since the Conference USA Championship title in 1998. Fritz led Tulane to its first win over a fellow ranked opponent since 1956 with the victory over then No. 23 ranked Cincinnati. The win over the Bearcats ended their then 32-game home winning streak.
The nine-game win total improvement this year over 2021 is tied for the best-ever in a single season in FBS history along with Stanford (1940), Hawaii (1999) and Miami of Ohio (2010).
Â
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2022 season for the football team's bowl game, the men's and women's basketball team's games and the upcoming baseball season can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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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.
Players Mentioned
LB
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P
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LS
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LB
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QB
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RB
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TE
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S
/ FootballPostgame: HC Jon Sumrall and WR Anthony Brown-Stephens - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
Postgame: LB Sam Howard - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
Tulane Tuesday: WR Shazz Preston - 9/16/25
Tuesday, September 16
Tulane Tuesday: Spear TJ Smith - 9/16/25
Tuesday, September 16
