With the recent success of Tulane’s football team winning the conference championship and the local enthusiasm surrounding the Green Wave, it’s easy to forget those days of not so long ago when the team played in a mostly empty Superdome. As the team from Uptown New Orleans prepares for a potential run in the College Football Playoff, there’s a pride surrounding the program that hasn’t been seen for quite some time. Tulane sideline reporter Maddy Hudak notes that in her first season with the Green Wave only five years ago, the team won only two games. To see them in the College Football Playoff in such a short span of time is impressive.
While recent news around the program has been focused on the coaching change taking place as Jon Sumrall moves on to Florida, there is hope that the newly elevated Will Hall (a veteran assistant with the team) will be able to continue Tulane’s momentum moving forward. Hudak says, in speaking with former players, Hall seemed to be the overwhelming favorite to take over the Head Coaching position. “At least if you’re going to listen to the guys that actually played for this program, it seems like they all really wanted it to be Hall. Especially the guys that have been around him recently,” Hudak emphasized.
While some Tulane fans may remember the lonely days of being seated in the mostly empty Superdome to watch Green Wave football games, having an actual homefield advantage at Yulman Stadium has made a tremendous difference for fans and players alike. The Tulane sideline reporter pointed out how vast the difference has been in her five years with the team. “I remember when I applied there and decided to go, I acknowledged that I was basically giving up any hopes of having the actual college football experience,” says Hudak. “Then, they built Yulman and you could see what the potential was there. So, to really see how quickly (the stadium) has brought the football culture back has been really cool to watch,” she went on to add.
Tulane will face the 6th ranked Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, December 20th at 3:30pm. While the Rebels waxed the Green Wave earlier in the season, Hudak emphasizes that rematches are a tricky thing and the outcomes can be hard to predict. She expects Tulane to keep this contest closer this time around.