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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Chris Scelfo (9th season, 33-49) 2005 record: 2-9 C-USA finish: 1-6 (t-5th West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 112th (89.0 ypg) Passing: 44th (231.9 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 101st (192.8 ypg) Passing: 13th (178.6 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 9 at Houston Sept. 16 at Mississippi State Sept. 23 at LSU Sept. 30 SMU Oct. 7 Rice Oct. 14 at UTEP Oct. 21 at Auburn Oct. 28 Army Nov. 4 at Marshall Nov. 11 Southern Miss Nov. 18 UCF Nov. 25 at Tulsa Depth Chart: Offense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 81 Preston Brown Sr. 3 Chris Dunn Fr. WR 83 Brian King So. 20 Jeremy Williams Fr. WR 11 Damarcus Davis Sr. 13 Fred Smith Jr. LT 77 Troy Kropog So. 70 Travis Olexa Fr. LG 51 Aryan Barto Jr. 76 John Landa Fr. C 65 Michael Parenton So. 71 Percy Huff So. RG 66 Donald Madlock Sr. 74 Scott Holt Jr. RT 64 Derek Rogers Sr. 75 Tyler Rice Fr. TE 19 Jerome Landry Sr. 5 Gabe Ratcliff Jr. QB 8 Lester Ricard Sr. 16 Scott Elliott So. RB 25 Matt Forte Jr. 22 Ray Boudreaux Jr. Depth Chart: Defense 4 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 57 Antonio Harris Jr. 42 Billy Harrison Sr. DT 90 Alvin Johnson Jr. 99 Frank Morton Jr. DT 93 Taurean Brown Sr. 56 Avery Williams Jr. DE 94 Sean Carney So. 97 Julian Shives-Sams So. SLB 17 Terrence Peterson Sr. 55 David Kirksey Fr. MLB 44 Jordan Ellis So. 34 Evan Lee So. WLB 48 James Dillard So. 36 James McMurchy Fr. CB 21 Jeremy Foreman Sr. 12 Josh Lumar So. CB 4 Israel Route Sr. 1 Matt Harding So. SS 18 Joe Goosby Jr. 19 David Skehan Jr. FS 14 Carlis Jackson Jr. 39 Louis Thomas Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 29 Barrett Pepper Jr. P 45 Chris Beckman Sr. PR 13 Fred Smith Jr. PR 13 Fred Smith Jr.

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane's football team was displaced. Much like the thousands of citizens who were forced to flee New Orleans, the Green Wave relocated, too. After a brief period spent practicing at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, Tulane settled in its temporary quarters at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., and began a season in which it played each of its games away from home.

After such a demanding and mentally exhausting experience, who could have blamed a Tulane assistant or two for seeking stability and a reprieve at another school? After all, several members of coach Chris Scelfo's staff lost houses or had their homes sustain extensive flood damage.

But when the Green Wave opens its season, Scelfo will welcome the same nine assistants who were with him a year ago.

"You have two choices when you go through something like this," says offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. "You either pack up and run or you fight through this."

The Green Wave had to fight through a remarkable experience, a difficult journey that resulted in a 2-9 season but earned the program several national awards for courage and resilience, including the Football Writers Association of America Annual Courage Award. Tulane played 'home' games in Mobile, Ala., and five Louisiana cities - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe, Shreveport and Ruston.

There will be some sense of normalcy to 2006. The Green Wave returned to their practice facility in April and are scheduled to play five home games in the Louisiana Superdome this fall, starting with a nationally televised game Sept. 30 against SMU.

OFFENSE

Like everyone, quarterback Lester Ricard was affected by the loss of routine last season. After completing 62 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,881 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2004, he couldn't duplicate those numbers during a trying 2005, a Hurricane Katrina-displaced season that saw the Green Wave play 11 games away from home. By late last fall, Ricard had lost his starting job. But he recovered this spring and displayed the same enthusiasm and focus that he possessed in 2004. Coach Chris Scelfo says Ricard, like the other quarterbacks, entered the spring somewhat behind because the team's practice fields were unavailable during the winter months as post-Katrina repair work was being completed.

A member of the C-USA All-Freshman team two years ago, junior Matt Forte should move into the starting tailback spot vacated by Jovon Jackson. A slashing-type runner, Forte also is an excellent receiver. He finished as the team's leading rusher last year and has gained 1,279 yards in two seasons.

The Green Wave returns senior Preston Brown, its top wideout. The New Jersey native caught 47 passes for 720 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Tulane lost starting offensive linemen Chris McGee and Joe and Matt Traina, who had combined for 70-plus starts. But there is experience returning in senior Donald Madlock, a starter at right guard for the Green Wave in 2003 and 2004 who missed last season with a shoulder injury.

DEFENSE

A defense that sustained heavy losses at linebacker will rely on depth and experience up front while the newcomers adjust.

The line will be led by junior defensive tackle Alvin Johnson. Defensive coordinator Eric Schumann says Johnson "is a tremendous athlete who probably has the whole package." Schumann would like for him to add strength.

At linebacker, Terrence Peterson moves from his strong safety position, where his playing time was limited. Peterson is a physical, hard-hitting athlete, but he appeared in only eight games a year ago.

Much like the defensive line, there is experience in the secondary. Seniors Israel Route and Jeremy Foreman give the Green Wave two solid cover corners. Route possesses exceptional quickness, is a solid tackler and has a penchant for making plays. Foreman will be in his third year as a starter, and his cover skills have been consistently improving.

SPECIALISTS

Senior Chris Beckman, a first-team All-C-USA pick in 2004, failed to make any of the all-league teams a year ago, but he still averaged a more-than-respectable 40.9-yards per attempt. Barrett Pepper, who handled kickoff-duty last year, will take over as the placekicker after Jacob Hartgroves transferred to Texas A&M. Tulane ranked third in the league in punt returns (11.3 yards-per-return) and fourth in kickoff returns (21.0) last year.

FINAL ANALYSIS

After a courageous 2005, the Green Wave should benefit from a return to a relatively normal existence in 2006. The key will be having Ricard return to the form he displayed in 2004 when he ranked 11th nationally in passing efficiency. If the newcomers on the offensive line quickly mesh, then Ricard, Brown and Forte could make this a productive offense. Defensively, there's a gap that must filled at linebacker. A strong defensive line and a capable secondary could help the new linebackers grow accustomed to the spotlight, but playmakers must emerge there.