The Tulane Green Wave don't need any extra motivation as they head into their season opening clash against Duke, both defending conference titles.
New Orleans, La. – Last time the Tulane Green Wave met the Duke Blue Devils, there was a real motivator and dominating storyline of the return of quarterback Darian Mensah to take on the team he left for his new one.
It was one that the Green Wave fan base was really fired up for, but the team tried to downplay some of those emotions a bit in the week leading up to that matchup.
This year, there is a different storyline.
Mensah has now departed from the Blue Devils, and both teams will meet again with new quarterbacks in Zeon Chriss-Gremillion and Walker Eget.
For Tulane, they’ve seemed to lean in a bit more this year, but to a different emotion or motivation this time.
It’s about a level of disrespect that these guys feel from the college football world, one that has seen them project seventh or so for the American Conference finish or to win seven or eight games this year.
Meanwhile, it’s a season opener featuring two reigning conference champions and ones who battled for a CFP spot.
“How else would you want to start the year?” Linebacker Dickson Agu said as he spoke to reporters following Tuesday’s practice.
Agu went on to talk about that disrespect in the projections of the Wave’s season without playing a snap or down yet.
“We've been to the championship four years in a row,” Agu continued. “But that doesn't mean anything this year. We have to go prove it again and that's what we're going to do.”
Right guard Reese Baker pointed to that same talk as well as the point spread that has Tulane as decided underdogs in this matchup.
Sometimes, coaches will tell players to block that type of outside noise out.
But there’s something to be said about letting guys tap into their emotions in the right way.
Last season, they downplayed it a bit to media, but it was clear that there was a fire in those players to best Mensah and co.
Agu admitted it was a primary motivator heading into last year’s contest.
This year, it’s about the Wave getting left behind in the national conversation despite being the American Conference champions fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance.
As Agu pointed out, none of that matters now this season.
But it’s hard not to think that that doesn’t get to the players a bit and build a chip on their shoulders.
And they seem comfortable to express that under coach Will Hall.
With both teams defending conference titles, both teams head out there on Saturday with a lot to prove and a lot to display in a marquee Week 1 matchup.
