Tulane-Southeast Louisiana Preview

Green Wave looking to bounce back against I-AA SLU
Gabe Ascher
contributing writer

After a disappointing loss to fellow Conference USA member Houston last week, the Green Wave is looking to bounce back and create some positive momentum, beginning with a non-conference matchup against Southeastern Louisiana this Saturday at the Superdome. SLU, formerly a Division I-AA squad now in the Division I Championship Subdivision, is coming off a 79-7 victory over Division II Kentucky Wesleyan. Tulane Coach Bob Toledo, citing a sputtering offense against Houston, called the Green Wave “out of whack,” and promised “[SLU’s] intensity level is going to be unbelievable”.

While the Green Wave has never lost to a Division I-AA team, Toledo said the upcoming game would not be an easy victory.

“I just watched [SLU’s] video, and they've got some guys that can make plays,” he said. “Our guys have to match their intensity, particularly early. We need to get off on a good start to be able to be successful Saturday.”

A strong first half has been elusive this season. Tulane was down 24 points at the half against Houston and remained scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Green Wave struggled throughout the game, gaining 313 total yards to Houston’s 505 despite running three additional plays. Redshirt junior starting quarterback Scott Elliot threw nine receptions in 23 attempts, including two interceptions, and backup quarterbacks Anthony Scelfo and Kevin Moore combined for three fumbles. Moore, a redshirt freshman from Texas, threw Tulane’s only touchdown with 32 seconds left on the clock. But Toledo remained positive despite the loss.

“Last year the score [against Houston] was 45-7,” Toledo said. “This year it was 34-10. Last year they had 621 yards against us, and this year they had 505. And if you catch some of those balls [we dropped], we're in the 400-yard category, total offensive-wise.” He added that Tulane’s running game against SLU was improved over their opening loss to Mississippi State. However, the early deficit forced too many passes in an attempt to even the score.

“When you throw over 45 balls, right now, for us, that's too many balls,” Toledo said.

SLU, on the other hand, is riding the momentum of its banner win over Kentucky Wesleyan last week. Scoring on its first seven possessions, the Lions would gain 498 total yards to the Panther’s 188. The win nearly matched a single-game school record set in 1932, when SLU beat Jones County Junior College 75-0.

“They create a lot of havoc,” Toledo said. “So hopefully we'll be able to block that, be able to run the ball and sustain some drives. We can’t overlook anybody. We have to show up and play.”

Still, recent practices have focused more on general improvement than preparation specific to Saturday’s game.

“This week we’re going to worry about ourselves, doing the fundamental things it takes to get better,” Toledo said.

These included an important practice Tuesday that was interrupted by thunderstorms last week, which Toledo said “hampered the team” against Houston. Decisive plays, like the 49-yard pass reception for a touchdown by Houston running back Anthony Aldridge, have been scrimmaged with favorable results.

“There was no gain in practice,” Toledo said. “Why should [there] be in the game?”