Quotes from Tulane coach Chris Scelfo

[PonyPride]

On this weekend's C-USA game vs. SMU...
"This week is a big week for us. 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 for the football team."

On playing their first game in the Superdome since the 2004 finale...
"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. We're playing a football team that's coming off back-to-back huge victories. (SMU was) projected to be in the top half of our conference and they're playing that way right now. We're kind of in a strange situation. It's kind of unique from the standpoint that it's our first time back in the 'Dome in a long time and it's a situation where we're going to have to be able to handle it."

On the play of redshirt-freshman quarterback Anthony Scelfo vs. LSU...
"I thought Anthony played just like he did in high school. He competed and he's got really good athleticism and he's tough. You saw the same thing at Jesuit that you saw Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. That's the way he's practiced too. He's come along with a pace that we feel comfortable with. He does bring a little added dimension with his feet that we don't have in our other two quarterbacks."

On feeling comfortable playing Scelfo more as a sprint-out quarterback following the LSU game...
"I wouldn't say more as a sprint-out, because you saw him drop back a couple of times. He threw the one pick he just needed to put a little bit more air under it. He can run our whole offense. What he does is, when a play breaks down, he makes something happen and that's something that does give us a little more comfortable of a feeling that we can have in him knowing he's done it before."

On if he is concerned about the injuries...
"I think the big thing this year. We've had some injuries, no more than last year. We've had some career ending injuries (in the past). Not to make an excuse, but I think one of the reasons we're having a few more than normal this year is No. 1, the scheduled we've played and No. 2, the lack of off-season training that we've had (while the weight room was being repaired following Katrina). Most of them are with their lower bodies, and we didn't get a chance to develop them this spring. We can't worry about what we don't have. We've got to go out there and play with what we have, and we've got some guys that want to."

On if the players have been taken to the 'Dome at all or will they before the game...
"We're going to get in there on Friday. We'll get in the dome Friday, and if it's available, we'd like to go in there on Thursday. We haven't had access to it until this week."

His thoughts on SMU's offense, which scored nine points in first two games and more then 100 over their past two...
"Well, they're really operating really well. That quarterback has been very efficient and their special teams has been very strong. What it tells me is they're operating efficiently on offense."

On if SMU's offense changed what Tulane plans to do defensively...
"It doesn't change any of your techniques or progressions. I'm not that familiar with that type of offense, but from the tape, it doesn't change anything of our thinking defensively. You still have the quarterback in the back. You've got to account for both of them. What their quarterback can do is run and we better be able to account for that. And we've got to have a hat for him."

On if there is growing anticipation among the team for its first true home game since 2004...
"I've sensed some anticipation for a few weeks now. There's a lot going on around campus...I've sensed the excitement building towards this for a while now."

[SmooBoy]

His thoughts on SMU's offense, which scored nine points in first two games and more than 100 over their past two...

Guess we just put up seven more on Pig Sooey State.

[BUS]

The Tulane coach is a nice guy. Came by the BUS stop and had a drink and a bite to eat with his family last year.

As coach Bennett said " We have given them enough"

I take that as : Let's go kick some [deleted]"

I totally agree.
Go Mustangs.

WIN

[ClassOf81]

Couldn't agree with you more, BUS!

[Sam I Am]

Last year SMU rescued Tulane for a while before playing them. The Katrina sympathy effect made it hard to focus against the Green Wave then. That is all gone now. The Super Dome return will actually work against the home team this time, unlike the Saints game where it might have helped. There will not be the same BIG crowd that greeted the pros, that is for sure. I pick SMU to win this time, and I am NOT a sunshiner as my previous posts will show.

[Hoop Fan]

emotion can backfire, but its more common in basketball than football.

[smu diamond m]

emotion can backfire, but its more common in basketball than football.

a la Mavericks.

[Dement-ed]

What's Tulane's injury situation?

Some folks are saying that Ricard is out, some are saying he'll play.
Also hearing they might be without a DL or two.

Anyone know?