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Tulane Green Wave (2000: 6-5) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programChris Scelfo took on a monstrous task when he replaced Tommy Bowden on Dec. 7, 1998. He inherited a team that was 11-0 and headed to the Liberty Bowl.After coaching the Green Wave to a 23-20 victory over BYU in the Liberty Bowl, Scelfo started getting his program in place. Coming off Tulane’s first undefeated season since 1929, Scelfo was facing almost a no-win situation. It’s pretty tough to beat an unbeaten season. So when Scelfo went 3-8 in 1999, he was more disappointed than anybody. Tulane is a dream job for Scelfo, a native of New Iberia, La. His first season was a huge letdown. It’s no wonder Scelfo is more upbeat about things these days. While the Green Wave barely pulled off a winning season in 2000, going 6-5, it had a strong finish winning their last three games against Houston, Navy and Memphis. Scelfo is far from satisfied, but he’s certainly feeling better than a year ago. “There’s been a lot of progress made,” Scelfo said. “We’re still a long way from being in the upper echelon of our league on a consistent basis but I think we’ve attracted some good players in our program, and keeping them three or four years before they have to play is a key in any program. “Hopefully in the next year or two we’re going to see that.” With that in mind, Scelfo hopes to establish the same stability in personnel that Bowden had during his last two seasons with the Green Wave. Scelfo knows depth is crucial in producing a consistent winner. “I think the quality of our first units are very consistent in all phases,” Scelfo said. “A big concern is the depth that we have on our football team. That’s something we’ve got to try to develop with some of these incoming players that we’ve recruited this year, to help us out in that area.”
OffenseRecord-setting quarterback Patrick Ramsey (6-3, 228) returns for his senior season and Scelfo will build the offense around him. Ramsey, a native of Ruston, La., is perhaps the most prolific passer in Tulane history. The Green Wave will employ a wide-open attack that will utilize his passing abilities.Last year, Ramsey completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 2,833 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was intercepted 14 times. “Ramsey is on pace to break a lot of records,” Scelfo said. “He has a chance to be a really good player for us.” Sophomore Mewelde Moore (6-1, 198) didn’t miss a beat from his senior year at Baton Rouge (La.) Belaire High School to his freshman year at Tulane. Moore finished second in C-USA in rushing last season, gaining 890 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. It was the highest rushing total by a Tulane player since 1970 and the best rushing season ever by a freshman. Most noticeably absent from the 2000 offense are starting wide receivers Adrian Burnette and Kerwin Cook, who combined for 122 catches, 1,699 receiving yards, and 20 touchdown catches. Senior Terrell Harris (5-10, 197) is the top returning receiver. Harris caught 64 passes for 694 yards and one touchdown last season. Scelfo will have a new starting tackle and two new starting guards on his offensive line this season. The biggest loss will be tackle Bernard Robertson, an All-C-USA first-team player last season. He started since his freshman year when he was chosen to the league’s all-freshman team Returning starters are senior center Torie Taulli (6-0, 272) and senior right tackle Corey Sewell (6-2, 281). Sewell will undoubtedly be the anchor of the line. He was chosen to the All-C-USA freshman team in 1999 and has started since that season.
Defense and special teamsTwo starters return to the defensive line in juniors Floyd Dorsey (6-0, 248) and Roxie Shelvin (6-2, 272), and Scelfo is confident the backups from 2000 can get the job done.“We’re based out of an eight-man front,” Scelfo said. “We’re to the point now where I think our defensive line, most of those guys have been in the program for a year or two or three and they’ve been fighting through the freshman and sophomore years. I feel good about that position.” Perhaps the heaviest loss on the defensive side was the departure of middle linebacker Jerry Phillips, who led the Green Wave in tackles with 104 and ranks among the top 10 career tacklers at Tulane. Senior David Dorsey (6-1, 224) should start at strong-side linebacker. He played in 11 games last season and had 36 tackles and four tackles for loss. Left cornerback Lynaris Elpheage (5-9, 156) and free safety Quentin Brown (5-9, 160) return as starters in the defensive backfield. Elpheage, a sophomore, was an impact player as a true freshman last year. Chosen to the All-C-USA freshman team, Elpheage led the Green Wave in interceptions with three, including two against Cincinnati. He also led the team in pass break-ups with 14, which ranked third in the conference. Junior Seth Marler (6-0, 178) will start for the third straight year as the place-kicker. Last season, Marler led the Green Wave in scoring with 85 points, making 16-of-21 field-goal attempts and 37-of-39 PAT kicks.
Bottom linePiling up the yardage and pouring on the points won’t be the problem for the Green Wave. Not with Ramsey running the offense and Moore running the football.It’s the defense that must step to the forefront. That appears to be no small task with the departures of several key defenders, including linebackers Phillips and Ellis. Unfortunately, the Green Wave’s schedule isn’t an easy one. While it opens with three of its first four games at home, Tulane finishes with five of its last seven on the road, and the two home games in that stretch are against TCU and Louisville. Not an easy task. |
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