It's kind of strange that before Tulane's biggest football game in 20 years, I did not see one second of practice. The Green Wave worked out at the Superdome today because the Saints indoor facility was unavailable--an outdoor practice would have been useless in this weather--and I couldn't make it.
In a game of this magnitude, I doubt I would have been authorized to give an injury status of Cam Sample and Terren Encalade anyway, but then we made matters worse by collectively (as reporters) forgetting to ask about them at Willie Fritz's presser. Like almost all coaches these days, he is circumspect about giving out injury info, but someone still should have asked. I forgot we would not have access tomorrow since it is a travel day and we never have access the day before the game.
They brought John Leglue, Donnie Lewis and Justin McMillan to the interview room. Lewis in particular was very candid about the importance of this game. You can see it in his eyes how much this will be a legacy game for him. The seniors have talked about changing the culture since Fritz arrived, and they know winning the AAC West would be a fantastic last impression.
I think Tulane is going to beat Houston. Maybe D'Eriq King and the playmakers around him will come out and put up too many points, but the way both teams are playing and the way Houston cannot stop the run, I like this matchup for the Wave and I like the look in these players. We'll see in two nights.
LEGLUE
How do you make sure not to get too pumped up going into the biggest game any of you have played in at Tulane?
"We prepare every week the same. Each game's important. Each game you need that one win to get close to the bowl game and a conference championship, so we came in this week preparing like we do every week."
What do you do to try to contain Ed Oliver if he plays?
"He's a great player. The way coach (Alex) Atkins and coach (Mack) Helms and coach (Doug) Ruse teach everything, you've just got to execute the plan. However they draw up the play, we've just got to execute and get the job done."
Have you seen many players that look as good as him?
"I've played against him the last two years and he's a great player. Each team has a few guys that are really good. Ed's one of them and Houston has a lot of other good guys, too. East Carolina is good on defense as well. You just have to prepare each week for each game and have the right mindset going out there."
If he plays, do you double-team him or what do you do?
"We won't adjust the scheme specifically for one player. If the play calls for a double team, we'll make it happen, but we have confidence in all of our players. He's a great player and everybody knows that. It's more on scheme opposed to just double-teaming him. Whatever coach Ruse dials up, we are going to try to execute the play."
You had run for more than 300 yards in two straight games before ECU held you in check in that department. Do you feel confident you can get back to what you were doing before?
"Without a doubt. It was great what the receivers did for us last week. It was complementary football. If they are stopping the run, then we have to pass the ball and Justin McMillan and all the receivers have done a great job. I feel like each week we have the same mindset to go out there and establish the run. That's what we're looking forward to do."
Were you impressed with the way the offense got the passing game going when ECU slowed down the run?
"During the practice that week we were ready for whatever they could throw at us, and they played similar to what they did last year, so we just continued to do the same thing and executed what we'd done in practice. The way the offensive coaches teach everything, it's very easy to adjust on the fly."
You were 2-5 three weeks ago. What do you attribute to being able to get back to the position where you are now?
"We were one play away from the other games previously, so we're finally finishing and coming out early and everybody has the same mindset to go out each week and give it their all. The coaches have been putting us in position to get the job done."
How important is it to reach this benchmark of becoming bowl eligible?
"For sure, without a doubt. All the seniors, a lot of them have been here for five years, and our whole goal this year has been making a bowl game and compete for a conference championship game. We put ourselves in this position and we look forward to going and play Thursday and do what we can in our power to control everything."
Does the short week physically make any difference or is it a non-issue?
"It's really not that big of an issue. Everybody came out with the right mindset. We came out to work Sunday and Monday and today we had a great practice. I just look forward to playing on Saturday, I mean Thursday."
What is the key to winning a week like this?
"Just to fully buy into everything the coaches are telling you. Everybody's getting enough rest and taking care of their bodies so we can be fresh for Thursday."
Other than you, the starting offensive linemen have only been here for two years. How has it been able to get to this point?
"We're a really tight-knit group. Everybody's bought in to having each other's back. They can call me any time if they ever need anything and I feel the same way. It's a brotherhood. We've got everybody's back."
How much more equipped do you feel like you guys are to keep up if you get into a shootout?
"We don't expect that. Our defense has been playing well. They have a great test ahead of them this week. The quarterback from Houston is a great player and their offense is really good. If it is that situation, we're ready for the battle."
(I WILL GET THE OTHER TWO GUYS UP AFTER DOING SOME RADIO INTERVIEWS)
In a game of this magnitude, I doubt I would have been authorized to give an injury status of Cam Sample and Terren Encalade anyway, but then we made matters worse by collectively (as reporters) forgetting to ask about them at Willie Fritz's presser. Like almost all coaches these days, he is circumspect about giving out injury info, but someone still should have asked. I forgot we would not have access tomorrow since it is a travel day and we never have access the day before the game.
They brought John Leglue, Donnie Lewis and Justin McMillan to the interview room. Lewis in particular was very candid about the importance of this game. You can see it in his eyes how much this will be a legacy game for him. The seniors have talked about changing the culture since Fritz arrived, and they know winning the AAC West would be a fantastic last impression.
I think Tulane is going to beat Houston. Maybe D'Eriq King and the playmakers around him will come out and put up too many points, but the way both teams are playing and the way Houston cannot stop the run, I like this matchup for the Wave and I like the look in these players. We'll see in two nights.
LEGLUE
How do you make sure not to get too pumped up going into the biggest game any of you have played in at Tulane?
"We prepare every week the same. Each game's important. Each game you need that one win to get close to the bowl game and a conference championship, so we came in this week preparing like we do every week."
What do you do to try to contain Ed Oliver if he plays?
"He's a great player. The way coach (Alex) Atkins and coach (Mack) Helms and coach (Doug) Ruse teach everything, you've just got to execute the plan. However they draw up the play, we've just got to execute and get the job done."
Have you seen many players that look as good as him?
"I've played against him the last two years and he's a great player. Each team has a few guys that are really good. Ed's one of them and Houston has a lot of other good guys, too. East Carolina is good on defense as well. You just have to prepare each week for each game and have the right mindset going out there."
If he plays, do you double-team him or what do you do?
"We won't adjust the scheme specifically for one player. If the play calls for a double team, we'll make it happen, but we have confidence in all of our players. He's a great player and everybody knows that. It's more on scheme opposed to just double-teaming him. Whatever coach Ruse dials up, we are going to try to execute the play."
You had run for more than 300 yards in two straight games before ECU held you in check in that department. Do you feel confident you can get back to what you were doing before?
"Without a doubt. It was great what the receivers did for us last week. It was complementary football. If they are stopping the run, then we have to pass the ball and Justin McMillan and all the receivers have done a great job. I feel like each week we have the same mindset to go out there and establish the run. That's what we're looking forward to do."
Were you impressed with the way the offense got the passing game going when ECU slowed down the run?
"During the practice that week we were ready for whatever they could throw at us, and they played similar to what they did last year, so we just continued to do the same thing and executed what we'd done in practice. The way the offensive coaches teach everything, it's very easy to adjust on the fly."
You were 2-5 three weeks ago. What do you attribute to being able to get back to the position where you are now?
"We were one play away from the other games previously, so we're finally finishing and coming out early and everybody has the same mindset to go out each week and give it their all. The coaches have been putting us in position to get the job done."
How important is it to reach this benchmark of becoming bowl eligible?
"For sure, without a doubt. All the seniors, a lot of them have been here for five years, and our whole goal this year has been making a bowl game and compete for a conference championship game. We put ourselves in this position and we look forward to going and play Thursday and do what we can in our power to control everything."
Does the short week physically make any difference or is it a non-issue?
"It's really not that big of an issue. Everybody came out with the right mindset. We came out to work Sunday and Monday and today we had a great practice. I just look forward to playing on Saturday, I mean Thursday."
What is the key to winning a week like this?
"Just to fully buy into everything the coaches are telling you. Everybody's getting enough rest and taking care of their bodies so we can be fresh for Thursday."
Other than you, the starting offensive linemen have only been here for two years. How has it been able to get to this point?
"We're a really tight-knit group. Everybody's bought in to having each other's back. They can call me any time if they ever need anything and I feel the same way. It's a brotherhood. We've got everybody's back."
How much more equipped do you feel like you guys are to keep up if you get into a shootout?
"We don't expect that. Our defense has been playing well. They have a great test ahead of them this week. The quarterback from Houston is a great player and their offense is really good. If it is that situation, we're ready for the battle."
(I WILL GET THE OTHER TWO GUYS UP AFTER DOING SOME RADIO INTERVIEWS)
