Nov. 14, 2006

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University junior running back Matt Forté will miss the remainder of the 2006 campaign after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Tulane's Nov. 4 game at Marshall. Forte is one of 10 Green Wave players, including six starters, that are sidelined this fall with season-ending injuries.

Complete Transcript From Tuesday's Press Conference

Forté injured his left knee while making a tackle after Marshall intercepted a pass by Tulane quarterback Lester Ricard late in the third quarter. Prior to the injury, Forté had produced 61 yards in 19 carries and two touchdowns, and was in the midst of the finest receiving night of his career with five receptions for 80 yards.

"We were holding out hope," Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo said. "Last week, he got another opinion and he's done for the year and it hurts our football team. But as a football coach, I feel bad for him. He really prepared himself for this year in the off-season. He found the places to work out. He prepared himself this year like a true, complete football player.

"Matt is a great person and his goal was to get 1,000 yards this year and he was on track to do that. He's been a very important cog on our offense and he provided a lot of leadership. I really feel bad for him for his season to be over."

A native of nearby Slidell, La., Forté led the Green Wave in rushing this season with 859 yards on 163 attempts (5.3 yards per rush) and eight touchdowns, and was the third-leading receiver on the team at the time of his injury with 28 receptions for 360 yards and two scores. His eight rushing touchdowns put him into a seven-way tie for sixth place for single-season touchdowns. At one point in the season, Forte rushed for 100-plus yards in four straight games

Prior to his injury, Forté ranked 20th in the nation in rushing yardage, and his 1,219 all-purpose yards placed him 17th in the country and second in the league. He was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Sept. 18 after rushing 29 times for 170 yards and touchdown in Tulane's 32-29 victory at Mississippi State.

For his career, Forté has started 18 of 31 games and owns career statistics of 2,138 career yards on 472 carries, 16 touchdowns, 17 receptions for 683 career receiving yards and five touchdowns. He ranks seventh among Tulane's all-time leading rushers, ninth for rushing attempts, 10th for rushing touchdowns and fifth for rushing yards per game (69.0).

Forté joins nine other teammates, including six total starters, who are sidelined this season with injuries. Among the injured starters are freshmen Alex Wacha (hip) and Cody Sparks (fibula), sophomores Sean Carney (back) and Matt Harding (shoulder) and junior Kenneth Guidroz (ankle).

Also out for the year are senior Barrett Pepper (back), sophomores Charles Harris (ankle) and Reggie Scott (shoulder) and freshman Leo Webb (shoulder).

In Forté's place, Tulane will rely on the running back tandem of juniors Ray Boudreaux and Ade Tuyo, and freshman André Anderson. Boudreaux started for Forté last weekend against Southern Miss and ran for a career-best 51 yards on 14 carries and also caught a pass for a 19-yard gain.

Boudreaux ranks second on the team with 136 yards in 2006 and has caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Tuyo has seen time at halfback and fullback this year and ranks third on the club with 59 yards on 17 carries. Anderson, meanwhile, has nursed an ankle injury of late, but has had success carrying the ball as well as well.

"You know other guys have to step up," Scelfo said. "I thought Ray Boudreaux ran hard (last week against Southern Miss) and I thought Ade (Tuyo) ran hard. Like I said, we didn't get much help up front and that falls directly on them.

"I think (wide receiver) Demarcus Davis is healthy. Preston (Brown), he's still hobbling somewhat, but he's going to get out there and go. Every guy is going to have to step up and when they have the chance to make a play, they have to make it."

The Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Nov. 18, when they close out the home portion of the 2006 schedule against C-USA foe UCF at 1 p.m. in the Louisiana Superdome. Tickets for that game, and future Green Wave contests, remain for sale through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office.

The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, and tickets can be purchased in person, via the telephone at (504) 861-WAVE or via the internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. In addition, single-game tickets are also available via Ticket Master at www.TicketMaster.com and at all Ticket Master outlets.