Skip to main content

Tulane opens new stadium against Georgia Tech

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After four decades in the Superdome, Tulane football is back on campus.

Whether a new environment brings more winning remains to be seen, but the fan support will be there.

Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said the home opener Saturday against Georgia Tech (1-0) — the first game in newly completed Yulman Stadium — is a sellout. A standing room crowd of around 30,000 is expected, and Dickson added that the rest of the home schedule is on the verge of being sold out as well.

“I love the intimacy of the stadium,” coach Curtis Johnson said. “The crowd is right on top of you. That’s what this whole thing is all about, just getting as many people to see our kids play.

“What we have to do now is distinguish the event from the game,” Johnson added. “This game will hardly mean anything to us if we don’t win. We have to win this game and not just open up a new stadium.”

The last time the Green Wave (0-1) played on its tree-lined campus in New Orleans’ historic Uptown neighborhood was Nov. 30, 1974, when Tulane lost its regular-season finale to Mississippi, 26-10. That game was played in 80,000-seat, oval-shaped Tulane Stadium, the same stadium that hosted Sugar Bowls and even Super Bowls before the Superdome opened.

After Tulane home games moved off campus, crowds diminished. A crowd of 25,000, which would make Yulman Stadium look full, still left around 45,000 seats unoccupied in the cavernous Superdome.

Former Tulane quarterback Ryan Griffin, now with the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, said the Superdome was an attraction for recruits, but that playing on campus should be better for the program in the long run.

“When I got offered by Tulane … I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is my chance to play in a legendary stadium where they hold Super Bowls,'” Griffin recalled.

Yet, after that novelty wore off, he felt the dome lacked the atmosphere one expects at a college game.

“Being on campus and having more fans — it will look more full — so that will be big,” said Griffin, who had a chance recently to tour the stadium and sit in the second deck running along one sideline. “It’s beautiful. I can’t wait to go there and see a game.”

___

Here are some things to know about Tulane’s return to campus against the Yellow Jackets:

RIVALS UNITED: The Glazer and Benson families, rivals in the NFL, both made major donations to help get Yulman Stadium built. A premium seating section is called the Glazer Family Club, named for the same family which owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The action will take place on Benson Field, named for Saints owner Tom Benson.

UNDER CENTER: Both Georgia Tech and Tulane have new starting quarterbacks this season. Spearheading the Yellow Jackets’ spread-option offense is Justin Thomas. He had 353 yards of total offense in his first start, a season opening 38-19 victory over Wofford. He hit 11 of 15 passes for 282 yards. Tulane redshirt freshman Tanner Lee was 22-of-44 for 262 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 38-31 double-overtime loss at Tulsa.

HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: The energy surrounding the opening of a new stadium is only one reason Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson expects a tough game. The Green Wave missed a potential game-winning field goal near the end of regulation a week earlier. “They had every opportunity to win the game and probably should have won,” Johnson said. “So playing at their place in the first ever game in a new home stadium, I’m sure they are going to be jacked up. … So hopefully our guys are ready.”

FULL HOUSE: With much of this season already sold out, Dickson addressed the potential for stadium expansion. If the stadium continues to sell out routinely for multiple seasons, seating for up to 15,000 more spectators could be added by building a third deck along one sideline and upper decks behind both end zones.

FORMER RIVALS: The matchup of Georgia Tech and Tulane bring together two founding members of the Southeastern Conference who both left the league about a half century ago. The Yellow Jackets, now in the Atlantic Coast Conference, dropped out of the SEC after the 1963 season. Tulane, now in its first season as part of the American Athletic Conference, played its last season in the SEC in 1965.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote