We Can't Lose To Rice! Can we?

Sigh, before we get to the official prediction for today...

I touched on this point last week on week. I find myself increasingly annoyed by any and all talk that suggests the kids are losing because they are mentally tired or distracted or stopped trying. Worse, it seems to come largely from people who firmly thought this club would win eight, nine, ten games. (photo credit)

So let me get this straight- because I think I missed another memo. Given the choice between either "admitting your eight-win prediction was wrong and a little crazy as this is a bad team"- or "suggesting the Tulane football team is mentally unable to cope with the demands of the Katrina season", you glibly chose the former? Am I alone in thinking that is kind of disgusting? The kids are getting whipped because, like last year, they aren’t as good as UTEP, Houston, Mississippi State- and probably Navy too- despite last year's rocking upset, etc.

Seriously, this isn’t the first Tulane team to go on the road to play a mediocre outfit that can run the ball a bit- and get smoked. Haven't you been watching for the past three decades or so? They ain't overwhelmed or quitters. They're just not good. And while it stinks on the “football-level”, it is okay in the greater scheme of things. It happens. It is entirely possible, particularly at Tulane, that the Wave can play six games against teams better than them, and another three that could go either way.

Accordingly, the kids could lose eight because they’re just not very good. I mean, seriously, seen the quarterback play lately? Keep the word “quit”- or euphemisms like “not try” to cover for “not focused”- out of your damn mouth. That is a heck of a more damning slur than saying they are merely not a good collection of I-A football players. Keep the kids’ character out of it.

Therefor, if you are in my camp, that the kids lose because they ain’t good- as opposed to they “can’t hack it”- you have to LOVE Tulane Saturday.

Rice is horrible. Tulane merely played horrible last week- and therein lays the difference.

The Post says you can get the Wave and 1.5 points for the trouble- and I am all over that. Rice got blown out by SMU just last week- and Tulane might be a kind of a mess- but they’re not that bad.

I like the fact the Elliott gets the start. Lately, Ricard was giving them next to nothing at the quarterback position except gut-busting turnovers. I doubt Elliott can complete a high enough percentage of passes to keep the “ball possession” offense moving. But it is still a potential short-term improvement, and also might give the team a lift. It also appears that Scelfo has come to the same conclusion I reached about Forte a year ago- and finally chained him to the bench. Twenty carries from Jovon, spelled occasionally by Forte catching a ball or two, and there almost has to be some improvement there also.

Don't underestimate those changes. They might not have the right people playing the two most important positions on offense- but at least its the right people for right now. Jovon & Elliott may not be exactly good- but they’re at least a chance to improve on the level of play the Wave has been getting from the incumbents. And you don’t need much to whip the Owls. So, Tulane gets a handful of positive plays from the quarterback position- instead of a handful of crushing ones. The line will look competent again blocking for a running back who can actually run inside, break a tackle, force Rice to keeps it’s nickel off the field on 2nd-and-7, and plays with that senior savvy. The defense can handle these guys. Gosh, I really, really, really like Tulane here- and the Wave rolls, pretty comfortably I imagine.