As Tulane finished its last practice in preparation for Saturday's huge game against undefeated, 16th-ranked South Florida, Willie Fritz gathered the players together and told them to do everything in their power to seize the opportunity presented in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 against the overwhelming preseason American Athletic Conference favorite.
"It's an opportunity to show the country what we're all about," he said.
He reiterated those comments seconds later.
"It's a great opportunity," he said. We've got the 13th-ranked (in the coaches' poll) team in the country. They're undefeated. They are very talented, very well coached and are playing on national TV. It's a great challenge. That's what you want. That's why you get into athletics. It's an opportunity to compete. It will be fun."
Fritz said he liked the way the week of practice had gone coming off a disappointing loss at FIU, saying the players appeared to have a good handle on what they were doing schematically in all three phases. "You hope for Thursdays like that every week," he added.
Peter Woullard might not have played against FIU, but he practiced with the second team at left defensive end and likely will have a significant role behind freshman starter Cameron Sample on Saturday versus South Florida now that senior end Eldrick Washington is gone for the year with a torn ACL. The second-team defensive line at the end of Thursday's practice had Woullard, De'Andre Williams inside and Patrick Johnson on the other side. The first team had Sample, Sean Wilson and Ade Aruna. I did not see big Braynon Edwards on either unit, but I would assume he still is ahead of Williams. With the last two games not being on TV, it's hard for me to evaluate the play of the linemen other than just the obvious, so I'm not sure how Edwards has performed lately.
This much I know. The coaches are very high on Sample, who is tied with Sean Wilson for the most tackles (17) by a Tulane lineman.
"Number one, he's extremely talented, especially for a freshman," defensive coordinator Jack Curtis said. "He's really a bright guy with pretty good size to him and is just a real good athlete. People don't realize (except for people who read my daily practice reports), Cam turned 18 years old after he played a college ball game, so it's amazing where he's at. He's going to be just an outstanding player and has a lot of good football ahead of him. He's going to be a dominant force in this league one day, and he's already played way above what a freshman should be playing. We're extremely happy. He's excited about getting his first start."
Said Willie Fritz: "I've been very impressed with him. He's been rolling in there like a starter the last few weeks anyway. He's a really good player, very smart, great character, great student. He'll do a great job."
That low-rated freshman class is paying dividends early for Tulane, with Patrick Johnson getting significant playing time as well as Sample.
"It was very important," Fritz said. "We're fortunate that we've got a little bit of depth."
You have to feel for Washington, a fifth-year player who finally had worked his way into a starting position.
"Everybody's your favorite, but he's one of your favorite because he keeps his mouth shut and just works as hard as all get-out. He has a positive attitude. I told the story the other day with our players about a lot of guys would have sustained that type of injury and class would have been optional on Monday. He was there 15 minutes early and didn't say 'I need a cart' or 'somebody take me' or tell the teachers that I can't make it. He's a man, and he did a good job. I told him I was more proud of him for that than all of the great football he's played for us."
Tulane has one prominent backer against South Florida. Associated Press national college football writer Ralph Russo picked the Green Wave to upset the Bulls 28-27 in his weekly picks column. He rarely explains why he makes a pick, but I know he has a ton of respect for Fritz as a coach. The pick won't help or hurt Tulane win, but it's interesting.
Curtis understands the challenge of going against a team that is seeking an NCAA-record 24th consecutive game with 30 or more points.
"They are explosive," he said. "The quarterback can be an explosive player, a talented runner and they are a good rushing team. They average 293 yards a game rushing, and that's the fourth or fifth team we've played that was in the top 10 of the nation in rushing. Army, Navy, Tulsa, even Oklahoma was a good rushing team. They are very explosive with the play-action pass off the running game. What they force you to do is play a one-on-one game. It's one-on-one on the outside and one-on-one on the inside. We have to win our one-on-one battles."
Tulane's tackling, usually a strength under Fritz, was bad against FIU. The Wave will be in big-time trouble with the same results against USF.
Cornerback Parry Nickerson was one of the culprits, turning a short gain into a 50-plus-yard play with a missed tackle. Curtis disputed the notion Nickerson had a terrible game against FIU--he had an interception in the end zone to end the Panthers' first drive and was targeted 13 times, giving up six receptions to talented receiver Thomas Owens.
"That receiver is an excellent player and made some really good plays," Curtis said. "Parry made some great plays, too, but we have all the confidence in Parry. He's our best, and there's no reason to doubt him. The thing we have to do a better job of is we had a season high of 18 missed tackles in that game. We strive for single digits, and of those 18 missed tackles, they had 170 yards after the miss. That's a lot of hidden yardage. We have to tackle better."
Tulane's coaches continue to credit FIU for being more talented at the skill positions that anyone gives them credit for being.
"The quarterback is extremely talented, the running back's good and the receivers were good," Curtis said. "They were as good as anybody we've faced. Their play-calling had us rocked back on our heels and we couldn't get in synch. Now, saying all that, going into the fourth quarter it was 10-3. You are going to take that in today's football. Now we have to find ways to create more turnovers, get the ball back to the offense and score on defense. That's what we talked to our guys about. When it comes down to the fourth quarter, we've got to find a way to win it."
One other note: Miles Strickland practiced with the scout team today. At least he's practicing after missing almost all of last year and the the beginning of this season with injuries, but after getting a few carries in the blowout of Tulsa, he's still clearly fifth in the pecking order at running back.
"It's an opportunity to show the country what we're all about," he said.
He reiterated those comments seconds later.
"It's a great opportunity," he said. We've got the 13th-ranked (in the coaches' poll) team in the country. They're undefeated. They are very talented, very well coached and are playing on national TV. It's a great challenge. That's what you want. That's why you get into athletics. It's an opportunity to compete. It will be fun."
Fritz said he liked the way the week of practice had gone coming off a disappointing loss at FIU, saying the players appeared to have a good handle on what they were doing schematically in all three phases. "You hope for Thursdays like that every week," he added.
Peter Woullard might not have played against FIU, but he practiced with the second team at left defensive end and likely will have a significant role behind freshman starter Cameron Sample on Saturday versus South Florida now that senior end Eldrick Washington is gone for the year with a torn ACL. The second-team defensive line at the end of Thursday's practice had Woullard, De'Andre Williams inside and Patrick Johnson on the other side. The first team had Sample, Sean Wilson and Ade Aruna. I did not see big Braynon Edwards on either unit, but I would assume he still is ahead of Williams. With the last two games not being on TV, it's hard for me to evaluate the play of the linemen other than just the obvious, so I'm not sure how Edwards has performed lately.
This much I know. The coaches are very high on Sample, who is tied with Sean Wilson for the most tackles (17) by a Tulane lineman.
"Number one, he's extremely talented, especially for a freshman," defensive coordinator Jack Curtis said. "He's really a bright guy with pretty good size to him and is just a real good athlete. People don't realize (except for people who read my daily practice reports), Cam turned 18 years old after he played a college ball game, so it's amazing where he's at. He's going to be just an outstanding player and has a lot of good football ahead of him. He's going to be a dominant force in this league one day, and he's already played way above what a freshman should be playing. We're extremely happy. He's excited about getting his first start."
Said Willie Fritz: "I've been very impressed with him. He's been rolling in there like a starter the last few weeks anyway. He's a really good player, very smart, great character, great student. He'll do a great job."
That low-rated freshman class is paying dividends early for Tulane, with Patrick Johnson getting significant playing time as well as Sample.
"It was very important," Fritz said. "We're fortunate that we've got a little bit of depth."
You have to feel for Washington, a fifth-year player who finally had worked his way into a starting position.
"Everybody's your favorite, but he's one of your favorite because he keeps his mouth shut and just works as hard as all get-out. He has a positive attitude. I told the story the other day with our players about a lot of guys would have sustained that type of injury and class would have been optional on Monday. He was there 15 minutes early and didn't say 'I need a cart' or 'somebody take me' or tell the teachers that I can't make it. He's a man, and he did a good job. I told him I was more proud of him for that than all of the great football he's played for us."
Tulane has one prominent backer against South Florida. Associated Press national college football writer Ralph Russo picked the Green Wave to upset the Bulls 28-27 in his weekly picks column. He rarely explains why he makes a pick, but I know he has a ton of respect for Fritz as a coach. The pick won't help or hurt Tulane win, but it's interesting.
Curtis understands the challenge of going against a team that is seeking an NCAA-record 24th consecutive game with 30 or more points.
"They are explosive," he said. "The quarterback can be an explosive player, a talented runner and they are a good rushing team. They average 293 yards a game rushing, and that's the fourth or fifth team we've played that was in the top 10 of the nation in rushing. Army, Navy, Tulsa, even Oklahoma was a good rushing team. They are very explosive with the play-action pass off the running game. What they force you to do is play a one-on-one game. It's one-on-one on the outside and one-on-one on the inside. We have to win our one-on-one battles."
Tulane's tackling, usually a strength under Fritz, was bad against FIU. The Wave will be in big-time trouble with the same results against USF.
Cornerback Parry Nickerson was one of the culprits, turning a short gain into a 50-plus-yard play with a missed tackle. Curtis disputed the notion Nickerson had a terrible game against FIU--he had an interception in the end zone to end the Panthers' first drive and was targeted 13 times, giving up six receptions to talented receiver Thomas Owens.
"That receiver is an excellent player and made some really good plays," Curtis said. "Parry made some great plays, too, but we have all the confidence in Parry. He's our best, and there's no reason to doubt him. The thing we have to do a better job of is we had a season high of 18 missed tackles in that game. We strive for single digits, and of those 18 missed tackles, they had 170 yards after the miss. That's a lot of hidden yardage. We have to tackle better."
Tulane's coaches continue to credit FIU for being more talented at the skill positions that anyone gives them credit for being.
"The quarterback is extremely talented, the running back's good and the receivers were good," Curtis said. "They were as good as anybody we've faced. Their play-calling had us rocked back on our heels and we couldn't get in synch. Now, saying all that, going into the fourth quarter it was 10-3. You are going to take that in today's football. Now we have to find ways to create more turnovers, get the ball back to the offense and score on defense. That's what we talked to our guys about. When it comes down to the fourth quarter, we've got to find a way to win it."
One other note: Miles Strickland practiced with the scout team today. At least he's practicing after missing almost all of last year and the the beginning of this season with injuries, but after getting a few carries in the blowout of Tulsa, he's still clearly fifth in the pecking order at running back.
