There’s nothing like true home field advantage, and that’s a crucial component that the Tulane Green Wave hope to have this Saturday against the Duke Blue Devils.
When the opposing offense is trying to convert third downs – like the UCF Knights in the 2022 conference championship – roaring crowd noise forced false starts and the Knights to use timeouts.
The Green Wave’s season opener against the Northwestern Wildcats was packed to the brim at kickoff. Then the cloud cover burned off and temperatures rose considerably at halftime.
It’s somewhat understandable with a 20-3 lead at half, in a game that was never close, in New Orleans, La., in August with an 11 a.m. kickoff.
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff is looking forward to what he hopes to be a crowd that sticks around this time, expressing some disappointment in the way the stands looked in the second half when speaking after practice on Tuesday.
“I'm excited to get this place rocking,” Retzlaff said. “I've been in some really fun stadiums in my career, so I'm hoping to see this one all the way through.”
“Hopefully these guys, everybody sticks around no matter what the score is and cheers throughout the fourth quarter. That's what I'm looking forward to.”
There won't be any temperature excuses with a night kickoff.
Head coach Jon Sumrall urged fans to create a “raucous environment” – the way it should be when you only get six home games a year, no matter the opponent.
“We need the stadium to be electric,” Sumrall said.
Safety Jack Tchienchou explained a bit from a football perspective why that home field advantage matters.
“If we can get the stadium rocking, that's kind of the goal,” Tchienchou said. “Get them rattled... the whole home field advantage thing. I feel like that's going to play a part when it comes to trying to get an offense to make their checks and things like that. If we can hinder their communication even a little bit, I think their fans are doing their job.”
There’s been plenty of talk already about the emotions surrounding this matchup. Tulane is focused on winning the game on the field.
This isn’t about getting back at a former quarterback who left the program in a somewhat hasty departure that fans are still reconciling with.
Fans are still reconciling with it, and emotions from fans are part of the beauty of this sport. It’s exactly what creates a rowdy environment the team is plainly asking for.
But for the Green Wave, this isn’t about getting back at a former quarterback who left the program in a somewhat hasty departure.
It’s about the opportunity on a home stage to make a stand as a Group of Five team that can hang and defeat Power Four teams handily – one possessing a top five passing offense in the nation.
It opens a lane for real respect, and a shot at the College Football Playoff becomes clearer.
If fans want to see that through, then that four-quarter stand plays a large part in the Green Wave’s path to victory this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CT.