Aug. 19, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, La. - It was a tale of two practices for the Tulane University football team on Friday as the Green Wave went through their second two-a-day session of the 2005 preseason camp.

After going three-quarter contact in full pads in the morning, the Green Wave donned helmets and shorts in an afternoon session that was more focused on situational plays - including special teams, two-minute drills and final-play formations.

"Today was a very mental practice," head coach Chris Scelfo said. "We did a lot of situational things and really got a lot done. The team was very receptive to what we were trying to do today, and I feel we got a lot accomplished from a mental standpoint."

The team was slated to go through a pair of 18-period practices on Friday, but after the usual break following period nine in the 7 a.m. session, Scelfo had the team do just one more period before giving the team the rest of the morning off.

In the afternoon, the Green Wave went to the full 18 and spent the entire practice focusing on situational drills. Following an extended special teams practice, the offense and defense went to opposite ends of the field to focus on specialized plays.

The highlight of the practice came at the end when junior quarterback Lester Ricard and the Tulane offense practice last-play situationals that included the native of Amite, La., tossing "Hail Mary" passes deep down the field.

The Tulane team will hold its first public scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m., at the Westfeldt Facility. The scrimmage is open to the public and admission is free. The Green Wave, however, will be without the services of junior wide receiver/return specialist Fred Smith, who sustained an injury to his right knee during practice earlier this week. Smith will have an MRI next week to determine the extent of the injury.

Tulane opens the 2005 season on Sunday, Sept. 4, in a nationally-televised (ESPN2) game versus Conference USA foe Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Green Wave open their 2005 home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Louisiana Superdome versus Mississippi State. Season tickets for the entire 2005 home schedule are on sale now at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Center, on-line at www.tulanegreenwave.com and by calling 504-861-WAVE.