One Short of The Sign of The Beast! (USA Today article)

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Superdome Hosts Second Homecoming as Tulane Returns

By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY

When Tulane plays at the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday for the first time in 665 days, it will be more than just a football game against Southern Methodist. It will be a homecoming in the truest sense.

After the team's final game in 2004, the Green Wave spent all of last season on the road because of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. They played 11 games in 11 weeks in 11 different stadiums. Given that the Green Wave (1-2) were on the road for their first three games this fall, they have played an NCAA record 14 consecutive away games.

"This week is a big week for us," Tulane coach Chris Scelfo said. "It's a big week for our university to be able to get back home and play in the Louisiana Superdome. We need to have a good crowd out there. I think the energy level from the crowd would be fantastic for our players. They've endured a lot to get to this point, and we're hoping a lot of people come out and have three hours of enjoyment."

More than 15,500 tickets were sold as of early this week; the school has donated about 1,300 tickets to local, police, sheriff, fire and emergency medical technicians this season. During the pregame show and at halftime, Tulane will honor those first responders and all New Orleanians who've helped rebuild the city.

In the wake of the NFL's New Orleans Saints' victory at the Superdome on Monday night, Tulane hopes to give its fans another reason to cheer with a win against the Mustangs (2-2).

"I think our players are excited about playing back at home, but the one thing we can't do is get caught up in all the hype. We've got to be mature enough to handle it," Scelfo says.

The Green Wave have been away from home for so long that more than half (50) their roster has never played at the Superdome. The team will wear its dark green home jerseys for the first time since 2004. Last year, Tulane left its game jerseys behind when the team evacuated to Jackson, Miss. The floods that ravaged the first floor of the school's athletic building also ruined their home jerseys.