Prediction Thursday- Last One

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the last Prediction Thursday of the year- but it comes on the heels of two sources of a little optimism and joy. First, two more city programs picked themselves up off the deck last night- as by all accounts Tulane and UNO played a spirited game. The Wave rallied from double-digits down in the second half and won handily 77-66- perhaps evidence they might be sorta okay for once?

Alas, I can offer little hope for Wave fans against the Golden Eagles Saturday. They outclass the Wave in every way. As a result, Prediction Thursday will be a little thin. You get 21.5 points for taking the Wave. Jeez, the hook too guys?

Still, I see no reason the Wave just doesn't get pounded here. They can't hope to stop USM; they haven't stopped anyone lately frankly. Scelfo's shrewd endless switching of quarterbacks has managed to create a situation where neither can build confidence or momentum. The Wave gets spanked- take Southern Mississippi and give the points.

The second source of good news is that the Tulane football team has been awarded the 2005 Courage Award by the Football Writers Association of America. I'm sure the kids would trade it for one more win this weekend- but the join a nice group of past winners: the San Jose punt returner who played on one leg, etc. And let's be honest, it is no surprise that Tulane is the first "team" to ever win it. The nice thing about our program- for all its faults, you can laud it for class without ever having to worry about it coming to bite you.

In light of this award- and the pathetic attempt of Ole Miss to poach athletes from Tulane’s programs, detailed in the Times-Picayune, I encourage you to visit here.

It appears increasingly doubtful that athletics will survive at Tulane- but we are not whipped yet. It would be a damn shame if there were not room for scholarship football at a place like Tulane in Division I. The money doesn’t matter- but the level of support does. So get one.