TULANE TALK

February 1, 2013

Good Morning:

There’s no better place to be right now than right here in New Orleans and at Tulane. The city is electric with excitement and awash in the colors of both the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. Downtown is sparkling and the Quarter is hopping. Tulane, of course, is right in the mix of things.

In fact, if it weren’t for Tulane, New Orleans might not be hosting the Super Bowl at all. Only cities with NFL teams can host Super Bowls and the presence of Tulane Stadium was absolutely essential in persuading the NFL to grant a team franchise to New Orleans in 1966.

In conjunction with Super Bowl week, Tulane hosted campus appearances by the stars of ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning” and the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen. Tuesday night I attended “The Future of Football” forum at Tulane Hillel, where former NFL players, media members and Tulane Sports Law Program Director Gabe Feldman discussed efforts to make the game we all love safer. I was particularly inspired by former Saints safety Steve Gleason’s remarks.

Today and yesterday, faculty from our School of Medicine, in partnership with the NFL Player Care Foundation, are helping to provide physical and mental health screenings to former NFL players in town for the big game. And students from throughout the university are volunteering at the numerous events that are all part of the Super Bowl experience.

Finally, the Tulane Marching Band played during this morning’s broadcast of “Fox & Friends” and will take center stage again tomorrow at Mardi Gras World during the “Super Bowl Tailgate Party and Celebrity Beach Bowl.”

Isn’t it great to be right in the middle of things, right where you belong?

Have a Super Weekend,