PonyFans.com

Atlanta is doing exactly what we DON'T need to do Saturday.

Incomplete pass, fumble out of bounds, blocked punt for a TD.

7-0 Saints not even 2 minutes in.

"Everything goes right for New Orleans Saints in First Half". This is going to be a very tough job to get a win in New Orleans.

Except that Tulane isn't the New Orleans Saints, and while the crowd will be pumped up for the game, Tulane, like SMU isn't considered by most to be "the representative" of the city in which they reside.

I'm not saying it will be a cakewalk, or even that we will win, just that I don't think Tulane carries the heart of the city the way the Saints do.

abezontar wrote:Except that Tulane isn't the New Orleans Saints, and while the crowd will be pumped up for the game, Tulane, like SMU isn't considered by most to be "the representative" of the city in which they reside.

I'm not saying it will be a cakewalk, or even that we will win, just that I don't think Tulane carries the heart of the city the way the Saints do.

Agreed. LSU has a bigger following in NO than TU. There will be a larger amount of excitement having a prominent sports team return to NO (TU) but it will not have the Pomp and Circumstance that last nights game had. That said, there will be plenty of ceremony prior to the game and that can be distracting to our kids. Bennett and his staff need to prepare these kids during the week so that they will be mental prepared to handle the distractions. It will be a challenge for our kids but one sign of maturity of the program is handling the pressures associated with the game as well as the pressures of the game.

abezontar wrote:I'm not saying it will be a cakewalk, or even that we will win, just that I don't think Tulane carries the heart of the city the way the Saints do.

I totally agree with that. Yes, it will mean something for the Tulane program and the faithful. But people in the Crescent City identify with the Saints. I think it's going to be very hard for the atmosphere and emotion to be captured in any fashion of what we watched on Monday.

But if we handle it the right way and SURVIVE the first half of the first quarter, then we can win the game. The start will be very important.

ponyte wrote:

abezontar wrote:Except that Tulane isn't the New Orleans Saints, and while the crowd will be pumped up for the game, Tulane, like SMU isn't considered by most to be "the representative" of the city in which they reside.

I'm not saying it will be a cakewalk, or even that we will win, just that I don't think Tulane carries the heart of the city the way the Saints do.

Agreed. LSU has a bigger following in NO than TU. There will be a larger amount of excitement having a prominent sports team return to NO (TU) but it will not have the Pomp and Circumstance that last nights game had. That said, there will be plenty of ceremony prior to the game and that can be distracting to our kids. Bennett and his staff need to prepare these kids during the week so that they will be mental prepared to handle the distractions. It will be a challenge for our kids but one sign of maturity of the program is handling the pressures associated with the game as well as the pressures of the game.

Problem is they have not shown they could handle distractions in the past, i.e last years Tulane game, and they have not shown the maturity to approach each game at full intensity, i.e NTSU this year. Heres hoping this week will be handled properly.

I've got to go with Stallion here. I would tend to believe the talent level is fairly similar, but SMU is going to have to come up with a great effort Saturday. Tulane's going to be bouncing off the roof of that place.

Problem is they have not shown they could handle distractions in the past, i.e last years Tulane game, and they have not shown the maturity to approach each game at full intensity, i.e NTSU this year. Heres hoping this week will be handled properly.

No doubt that we have been less than stellar handling pressure. It is my hope that we step up to a new level this year. If we can, then we could well have a great year. If we don't, then more of the same. The coaches have to go an extra mile to mental prepare these kids for the NO environment. Ultimately, it is up to the kids to respond. Saturday will be an indication whether this team has grown up or not.

IF it hasn't then it might not ever grow up.

They should have learned from Denton, what emotion means to another team. I fear that they haven't. Tulane will be bouncing not off the wall, but the new ceiling of the dome! Regardless, go Mustangs.

I am still hoping last year's 31-10 embarrassment will trump, or at least make up for, playing their first game back in a three-quarters-empty Superdome, in terms of metal edge and motivation. And I still think if we come out mad (like we should be), survive the first quarter and a half, and don't give them the ball too much, we win the game.

heck we've got a lot of SMU posters that have forgotten the role emotion played at NTSU just 2 weeks ago-not to mention against Kansas for the Ford opner and against Conneticutt in 1989. The idea that this is just another game is nonsense.

Of course this is a tough game for an pretty evenly matched visitor, but, win, lose or draw I will be in the dome on Saturday. Can you still buy a gin and tonic at the concession stand, in case it gets out of hand like last time I was there? Or even if it doesn't?

jtstang wrote:Of course this is a tough game for an pretty evenly matched visitor, but, win, lose or draw I will be in the dome on Saturday. Can you still buy a gin and tonic at the concession stand, in case it gets out of hand like last time I was there? Or even if it doesn't?

Forget the tonic, just suck gin from a poland spring bottle. No mess!

College football players are kind of like 16 year old behind the wheel of a car. They are invulnerable. My biggest fear is that with the offensive success the last 2 weeks that they will be complacent expecting it to just happen. Should they? Of course not. But these kids do not remember NTSU much less last years Tulane game. It is up to the coaches to get the point across to them and have them prepared for the game. Last 2 weeks were determined by winning the line of scrimmage and this one will be the same. Getting time for Willis and pressuring their QB will determine the outcome. That along with scoring more points than them of course.

Jtstang, be sure and scout the Dome and let me know where to request our seats for 2008.