TULANE TALK

September 10, 2004

I hope all of you will be in the Superdome tomorrow for the home opener of the 2004 Green Wave football season. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. but the fun starts Saturday morning in the tailgate area on the top floor of the southwest parking garage near Gate G. There will be inflatable games for the kids while Tulane cheerleaders, Riptide, student-athletes from several Green Wave teams and thousands of Green Wave fans stir up the spirit. Brotherhood of the Groove will perform at 3:15 p.m. near the tailgate area while Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. takes the stage at 4:30 p.m.

Shortly before kickoff there will be a ceremony on the field as fire, police and emergency medical service workers, as well as representatives of the local homeland security office, Mayor Ray Nagin and other civic leaders commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

I want to say how proud I am of the consistent effort Coach Chris Scelfo and his players put forth both on the field and in the classroom. Under Coach Scelfo Tulane is ranked third, behind Notre Dame and Stanford, in total wins among private institutions that have high academic requirements and, for the most part, do not admit junior college players. And, best of all, the graduation rate of our football team is nearly 80 percent.

So come early, stay late and let’s cheer our Green Wave on to victory.

Have a great weekend,