I still have not transcribed the quotes from last night and will do so tomorow, but I attended Tulane's bowl announcement gathering (players and media only) at the Glazer Club, and we talked to five players plus Fritz.
Michael Pratt showed up in a boot, but that's no cause for concern. I wrote nothing about it at the time, but he was very gimpy in practice last Tuesday. When they then closed the Wednesday and Thursday practices. I wondered if his status was a concern but I found out from reliable sources he would be OK for the game. I do believe that's why he did not run much last night, but he had the best passing game of his career by far and has really become an elite quarterback. With a month to get ready for the Cotton Bowl, he will be healthier there than he was last night.
FRITZ
On initial reaction to bowl matchup:
"Well, we're just so proud to be in the game. It's a huge deal for our university and football program. I'm really happy for the student-athletes. They've earned this. They deserve it, and they are going to have a lot of fun."
On if it was fun to see it pop up on screen:
"Yeah, it was neat. It was neat to see it. It's great to be talked about on a national stage, so that's really neat."
On what win over USC would mean for the program:
"Well, playing in a New Year's Six bowl is huge, but obviously you want to go in to compete and test yourself against a team that year in and year out is competing for national titles, so it's a huge challenge for us. We're looking forward to it."
On bowl practice schedule:
"We are going to do a little bit this week, not too much because most of the coaches are going to be gone recruiting, but we'll have some captain's practices. We'll lift and do running really for the next two weeks. Then we'll start after that. I think we're going to get three practices in here in town, take a little break for Christmas and then come back and have seven practices. I think we're coming back on the 26th. We go to Texas on the 27th."
On if he anticipates anyone opting out of bowl game:
"I'd be shocked (if anyone opted out). I'd be very surprised."
On how the Gatorade bath felt:
"It was cold. Cold. It was good. Fun."
MICHAEL PRATT
On what Cotton Bowl says about direction of program:
"Oh, it's big time. The culture that coach Fritz has implemented here, the senior leadership and just the way the guys have stepped up, and like I talked about all year, a lot of younger guys have stepped up into those roles as well, and being able to follow behind guys like Tyjae Spears, Nick Anderson, Dorian Williams, Sincere Haynesworth and Joey Claybrook, there's a lot to learn from that. There's definitely a bright future for this team."
On knowing it was USC:
"Yeah, we knew. We wanted to play the best opponent we can."
On chance to have biggest turnaround in terms of wins in college football history from one year to next:
"Absolutely. We just have to take it week by week and continue the preparation like we've been doing all year and everything will work out."
On what win over USC would mean:
"I think the adversity we've gone through throughout since I've been here, my first year was the COVID year, so that was a weird year. Last year with the hurricane, everything was really down. No matter the circumstance, the team morale, leaderships and accountability, if you're prepared for it, you are going to put yourself in a situation to be successful."
NICK ANDERSON
On meaning of playing in Cotton Bowl against USC:
'Just overall it means a lot. Like I said last night, to do this for the alums and to do this for the university on such a big stage and having a historic season and playing in a New Year's Six bowl and going to win the New Year's Six bowl is just phenomenal and something I look forward to."
On direction of program after making first major bowl since 1939 season:
"Most definitely it just shows the upward trend that we're heading in. Last night AAC champions, and now the fact we're going to play in a big-time bowl game, we've got a good opportunity to go out there and get a W. It just shows what coach Fritz has brought to this program and the culture that we are starting to establish and have established at Tulane."
On if he has watched USC:
"I watched USC on the Pac-12 championship game Friday night. They have a lot of weapons on offense. Caleb Williams is really their go-to guy. He gets everything going. We played against him some last year (at Oklahoma). He didn't get a lot of plays against us, but we did have a chance to play against him some last year. He took over the position at OU and had a phenomenal season. He's a dynamic athlete and I'm ready to play against him."
On the opportunity:
"It can really show that we're one of the top programs in the country. Going out there in Dallas and being able to stop such a high explosive offense which really has been doing well this year behind Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams. so it's going to be interesting. We've played against Lincoln Riley before, so we do have the experience under our belt and I'm excited for it."
On USC being national brand and the chance for a showcase:
"It's just amazing. It just shows another reason why the college football playoff extending the playoff teams to 12 really makes a difference because it gives teams like Tulane and Group of Five teams the opportunity to go and play against the bigger schools and get the opportunity to showcase their talent, so us being able to go and play in a New Year's Six bowl against a worthy opponent in USC is phenomenal, being on that grand stage and being able to showcase our talent that we have down here at Tulane."
On motivation:
"Just overall 1-0. We're not done. We always said that we wanted to go play 14 games, and we got the opportunity to play 14. It's still the mantra. It's not over just because we won a conference championship. It's still 1-0."
On if playoff system had been fast-forwarded two years:
"That's what I was just telling Dorian. It's crazy if it was two years in advance, we'd have an opportunity to play for a national championship, which is something phenomenal. This just shows in two years how this is going to be a blessed opportunity for Group of Five teams to be able to go and compete on the big stage against Power Five teams."
On what he hurt last night:
"I got banged up a little bit on my shoulder, but I wasn't coming out of the game. I went to the sideline, got my range of motion back and I went right back in. I told the guys before the game there was no sitting out. That just shows the mentality of our team. We went out there and I put the team on my back last night. Everybody did a great job. A lot of guys played through injuries and bumps and bruises and we were able to get the win."
On handling trophy:
"Oh, yes. The trophy got a great tour of New Orleans last night."
On soaking in atmosphere with fans on field:
"Just overall being able to see the fans rush the field and seeing the score what it was and being AAC champs and the fireworks and the smiling faces, but not just me, but from my mom. I had to take a moment to say is this real. It just really was a testament to how good God is. To say that we went 2-10 last year to 11-2 now, playing in the Cotton Bowl, winning the AAC, it's truly a blessing. I was mesmerized."
On teammates saying he galvanized them to all this:
"It just shows my leadership. It shows the influence that I have on this team. I really can't take the credit. This is all God. I just put my faith in front of me, just followed the plan that God had for this team and everybody just dialed in. Nobody this year was selfish. I could have gone different places last year with the transfer portal, but I just knew the job wasn't done here at Tulane and I knew that God wanted me to come back to help be a vessel for this team, and it's just a blessing to see the miraculous things he's done for us this season and I'm excited to see what he does for us."
Michael Pratt showed up in a boot, but that's no cause for concern. I wrote nothing about it at the time, but he was very gimpy in practice last Tuesday. When they then closed the Wednesday and Thursday practices. I wondered if his status was a concern but I found out from reliable sources he would be OK for the game. I do believe that's why he did not run much last night, but he had the best passing game of his career by far and has really become an elite quarterback. With a month to get ready for the Cotton Bowl, he will be healthier there than he was last night.
FRITZ
On initial reaction to bowl matchup:
"Well, we're just so proud to be in the game. It's a huge deal for our university and football program. I'm really happy for the student-athletes. They've earned this. They deserve it, and they are going to have a lot of fun."
On if it was fun to see it pop up on screen:
"Yeah, it was neat. It was neat to see it. It's great to be talked about on a national stage, so that's really neat."
On what win over USC would mean for the program:
"Well, playing in a New Year's Six bowl is huge, but obviously you want to go in to compete and test yourself against a team that year in and year out is competing for national titles, so it's a huge challenge for us. We're looking forward to it."
On bowl practice schedule:
"We are going to do a little bit this week, not too much because most of the coaches are going to be gone recruiting, but we'll have some captain's practices. We'll lift and do running really for the next two weeks. Then we'll start after that. I think we're going to get three practices in here in town, take a little break for Christmas and then come back and have seven practices. I think we're coming back on the 26th. We go to Texas on the 27th."
On if he anticipates anyone opting out of bowl game:
"I'd be shocked (if anyone opted out). I'd be very surprised."
On how the Gatorade bath felt:
"It was cold. Cold. It was good. Fun."
MICHAEL PRATT
On what Cotton Bowl says about direction of program:
"Oh, it's big time. The culture that coach Fritz has implemented here, the senior leadership and just the way the guys have stepped up, and like I talked about all year, a lot of younger guys have stepped up into those roles as well, and being able to follow behind guys like Tyjae Spears, Nick Anderson, Dorian Williams, Sincere Haynesworth and Joey Claybrook, there's a lot to learn from that. There's definitely a bright future for this team."
On knowing it was USC:
"Yeah, we knew. We wanted to play the best opponent we can."
On chance to have biggest turnaround in terms of wins in college football history from one year to next:
"Absolutely. We just have to take it week by week and continue the preparation like we've been doing all year and everything will work out."
On what win over USC would mean:
"I think the adversity we've gone through throughout since I've been here, my first year was the COVID year, so that was a weird year. Last year with the hurricane, everything was really down. No matter the circumstance, the team morale, leaderships and accountability, if you're prepared for it, you are going to put yourself in a situation to be successful."
NICK ANDERSON
On meaning of playing in Cotton Bowl against USC:
'Just overall it means a lot. Like I said last night, to do this for the alums and to do this for the university on such a big stage and having a historic season and playing in a New Year's Six bowl and going to win the New Year's Six bowl is just phenomenal and something I look forward to."
On direction of program after making first major bowl since 1939 season:
"Most definitely it just shows the upward trend that we're heading in. Last night AAC champions, and now the fact we're going to play in a big-time bowl game, we've got a good opportunity to go out there and get a W. It just shows what coach Fritz has brought to this program and the culture that we are starting to establish and have established at Tulane."
On if he has watched USC:
"I watched USC on the Pac-12 championship game Friday night. They have a lot of weapons on offense. Caleb Williams is really their go-to guy. He gets everything going. We played against him some last year (at Oklahoma). He didn't get a lot of plays against us, but we did have a chance to play against him some last year. He took over the position at OU and had a phenomenal season. He's a dynamic athlete and I'm ready to play against him."
On the opportunity:
"It can really show that we're one of the top programs in the country. Going out there in Dallas and being able to stop such a high explosive offense which really has been doing well this year behind Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams. so it's going to be interesting. We've played against Lincoln Riley before, so we do have the experience under our belt and I'm excited for it."
On USC being national brand and the chance for a showcase:
"It's just amazing. It just shows another reason why the college football playoff extending the playoff teams to 12 really makes a difference because it gives teams like Tulane and Group of Five teams the opportunity to go and play against the bigger schools and get the opportunity to showcase their talent, so us being able to go and play in a New Year's Six bowl against a worthy opponent in USC is phenomenal, being on that grand stage and being able to showcase our talent that we have down here at Tulane."
On motivation:
"Just overall 1-0. We're not done. We always said that we wanted to go play 14 games, and we got the opportunity to play 14. It's still the mantra. It's not over just because we won a conference championship. It's still 1-0."
On if playoff system had been fast-forwarded two years:
"That's what I was just telling Dorian. It's crazy if it was two years in advance, we'd have an opportunity to play for a national championship, which is something phenomenal. This just shows in two years how this is going to be a blessed opportunity for Group of Five teams to be able to go and compete on the big stage against Power Five teams."
On what he hurt last night:
"I got banged up a little bit on my shoulder, but I wasn't coming out of the game. I went to the sideline, got my range of motion back and I went right back in. I told the guys before the game there was no sitting out. That just shows the mentality of our team. We went out there and I put the team on my back last night. Everybody did a great job. A lot of guys played through injuries and bumps and bruises and we were able to get the win."
On handling trophy:
"Oh, yes. The trophy got a great tour of New Orleans last night."
On soaking in atmosphere with fans on field:
"Just overall being able to see the fans rush the field and seeing the score what it was and being AAC champs and the fireworks and the smiling faces, but not just me, but from my mom. I had to take a moment to say is this real. It just really was a testament to how good God is. To say that we went 2-10 last year to 11-2 now, playing in the Cotton Bowl, winning the AAC, it's truly a blessing. I was mesmerized."
On teammates saying he galvanized them to all this:
"It just shows my leadership. It shows the influence that I have on this team. I really can't take the credit. This is all God. I just put my faith in front of me, just followed the plan that God had for this team and everybody just dialed in. Nobody this year was selfish. I could have gone different places last year with the transfer portal, but I just knew the job wasn't done here at Tulane and I knew that God wanted me to come back to help be a vessel for this team, and it's just a blessing to see the miraculous things he's done for us this season and I'm excited to see what he does for us."
