Iron Dragon's Tulane Green Wave Dynasty

[Iron Dragon]

QUICK NOTES

>> True Freshman OLB Jason Nolen will replace the injured Darryl Farley at middle linebacker against ECU, if he performs well, he will be named the starter for the upcoming weeks. If not, senior Jeremy Minor and true freshman Ralph Hall will step in and fight over the starting job. Farley broke his tailbone and may return in time for a January bowl game, if Tulane reaches one. Either way, Farley will fall short of another 100-tackle season. Also this ends the redshirt junior from heading to the NFL Draft early, as some projected him as a 3rd-4th round pick, due to the injury, Farley has said "there is no chance he is declaring".

>> Sophomore safety Samuel Brooks has been upgraded to a game-time decision, if he can play, it will be the first time he has taken the field since opening night against Rutgers (27-21 victory), Erik Madison will start at safety if Brooks is ready to go or not, but Brooks will see time in the secondary if he's ready to play. Brooks has been out with an abdominal tear.

>> One-year and quick impact player junior wide receiver Jarmon Fortson could be Tulane's first early draft entry under coach Ron Draggo as he has been scouted as a first-rounder as he is currently projected as a finalist to the Heisman ceremony by ESPN.com. Fortson said however, "He has not really thought about the draft yet.", scouters like Fortson's playmaking ability and catch-it-all hands, reminding them of former top 50 draft pick, Jeremy Williams.

[Iron Dragon]

Slow start turns into blowout victory over injury-beaten ECU, Wave roll 41-3

ECU can not overcome previous injuries, and losing their starting RB for the game early


Quickie Recap:


>> Tulane limped to a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter, on a 8 yard TD run, ECU surprisingly drove it down inside our 15, elected not to kick a field goal on fourth and three and Christian Martindale sacked Benny Carter, ECU's sophomore QB who was making his first ever start. Not easy for his coach to say, "Alright kid, your first start is against the number 3 team in the nation - go beat 'em!" Carter actually played pretty well.. 11/21 for 111 yards, no TDs, no picks, but he was sacked twice on third and short (led to a punt) and fourth and short (costly turnover on downs)


>> A little trickery never hurt anyone.. Emanuel Eluko (SR DT) snuck onto the field in a goal line situation as an extra "blocker" at ECU's 6-yard line. The ECU defense obviously didn't realize he was an eligible reciever and the 6'3", 289lb defensive tackle snuck out of the Tulane offensive line, and broke free into the endzone while an ECU linebacker picked him up late and Eluko caught an easy TD pass, even though he's only got 53 CTH. Eluko let go his inner-MC Hammer and broke into a dance after scoring the TD. Good for you, Emanuel.


>> The rest of the first half.. D.J. Ponder who took 11 carries today scrambled in for an untouched 7 yard TD to put the Green Wave up 21-zip, and ECU kicked a 28 yard field goal with :02 left to cut the lead to 18.


>> Then the Wave rolled.... in the second half, at least. Ponder found a wide open D.J. Banks in the back of the endzone for a 14 yard TD pass and he dragged a foot in bounds. Nice effort, I guess. The XP got blocked, ECU's lone highlight, really, of the night. Donny Richardson broke into the endzone in the late third on a 3 yard TD run.


>> And a sixth different player scored.. after five TDs have been occured by five different players (not counting D.J. Ponder being a part of TD passes), freshman Dan Thomas came in late and scored on his lone carry of the day - a 4 yard TD where he stiff armed a much larger defender and waltzed into the endzone.


- Final Score: #3 Tulane 41, ECU 3.. so much for Friday Night Upset.


> D.J. Ponder: 14-for-19 passing, 211 yards, 2 TD, 11 carries, 32 yards, TD

> Stephen Barnett: 12 carries, 138 yards, TD

> Donny Richardson: 8 carries, 29 yards, TD

> Jarmon Fortson: Carry, 22 yards, 5 rec, 100 yards

> D.J. Banks: 4 catches, 51 yards

> Nolen: 3 tackles, TFL | Martindale, Williams: Sack each

> Hallinsworth: 2 tackles, FF, FR
C-USA & NCAA UPDATE

Spoiler: show

>> Tulane will play in C-USA title, most likely facing winner of USM/Memphis

--

1-7 UConn upsets #6 WVU

Fraud Tech: #9 Georgia Tech routed by 5-4 Maryland

#1 Notre Dame, #2 LSU win easily over 1-win opponents

Top 5 teams win by an average of 4 TD's on week 10

--

LSU, ND deadlocked in BCS at #1.. Alabama/Ohio State deadlocked at #4, Tulane sits in the middle at #3

> Fortson 4th in Heisman watch

> Jordan Jefferson leads Heisman Watch still (23 TD, 1 INT, 64 comp percentage), Russell Wilson second (29 TD, 6 INT, 68 comp percentage), Terrelle Pryor third (21 TD, 7 INT, 63 comp percentage, 5 rush TD)

UP NEXT: Bye Week Recap

[Iron Dragon]

We might be the no. 3 team - but we're surely not recruiting like one


NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- Tulane is playing with the big boys. They are ranked number three in the nation, they've beat BCS-conference teams, won big, won small, they've won 'em all so far this year. But in one category - they aren't winning.


Recruiting.


Tulane's success under Ron Draggo has helped somewhat with Tulane's recruiting but so far this year - Tulane has a goose egg in their commits. Zero. Zilch. Nothing. Nada. No one. Yet, at least. Tulane looked to reel in Louisiana's Michael Whitlock, a five-star offensive tackle, but Tulane ended up being third but Whitlock went to Turner Gill's Penn State Nittany Lions.


But, he's not the only top prospect looking at Tulane. Tulane currently seems to have four or five soft commits from three and four-star prospects, all from the state of Louisiana. "We've got to start winning in our home state in the recruiting war - then we'll take the region. It might take awhile, but we'll become the next southern recruiting power.", said coach Ron Draggo.


Draggo says that he hopes that this incoming class will help Tulane help give interest to more big-name prospects by hauling in some nationally-recruited prospects. They aren't five-stars, but maybe someday they will be recruiting and getting some of the highly-recruited players.

[Iron Dragon]

WEEK 11 (BYE WEEK) UPDATE


C-USA NEWS

Entering the week:

East Standings: UCF (4-2), Southern Miss (3-2), Memphis (3-2)

West: TULANE (7-0)



> Head to Head in the East: UCF beat Memphis and Southern Miss.


- UCF 34, UAB 7 - Memphis 41, Rice 27 - UTEP 37, Southern Miss 31 OT


Now: UCF (5-2), Memphis (4-2)


NCAA NEWS

#2 LSU makes case for #1, travels to #5 Alabama and wins 24-14.. Jefferson 23/34, 207 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

#1 Notre Dame yawns past lowly Akron, 41-10.. Walker 5 rec, 162 yards, 2 TD

#4 Ohio State beats Purdue

#8 Washington travels to #10 USC and wins 34-23


BCS TOP 25

1. LSU (1.000)

2. Notre Dame (0.993)

3. Tulane (0.989)

4. Ohio State (0.983)

5. Washington (0.978)

6. Oklahoma

7. Florida

8. Alabama

9. Texas

10. Virginia Tech

11. Oregon State

12. aTm

13. Georgia Tech

14. Nebraska

15. Arkansas (8-1) <-- lost to Alabama on week 3

16. USC (6-3)

17. Georgia

18. NC State

19. Wisky

20. Cal

21. Florida State

22. Penn State

23. Maryland

24. Clemson (5-4, was #14, steamrolled by Florida State)

25. Boston College


HEISMAN WATCH

Jordan Jefferson, QB, LSU (25 TD, 1 INT, 2 rush TD) ... probably the Heisman winner

Russell Wilson, QB, NC State (32 TD, 6 INT, 2 rush TD)

EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State (30 TD, 13 INT, 4 rush TD)

Jonathan Coleman, WR, Boston College (75 rec, 1043 yards, 14 TD)

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State (21 TD, 8 INT, 5 rush TD)


NEXT UP: Tulsa (7-3) preview

[Iron Dragon]

Five Reasons Tulane needs to be careful on Senior Day against Tulsa


NEW ORELANS, LOUISIANA --- Tulane's won the C-USA West title, they'll be playing for the title at home, and look to play in the BCS at home (Sugar/National Championship), they are 10-0, and looking good. They've got a huge game coming up against #1 LSU in two weeks but they've got a game before "the Game" and here's why they need to be careful..


1. This game has no implication on Tulane's season (or so they might think) - Tulane's got the C-USA West title, they are looking forward to playing LSU for the Tiger Rag, if they lose this game, they still get to play LSU and for the C-USA title and still could play in the BCS. Tulane needs to not look ahead, is what we're trying to say, there are still other games to play. Tulane could still play in the Hawai'i Bowl, if they aren't careful.


2. Tulsa's got nothing to lose - Tulsa's got second place wrapped up in the West, they're going to a bowl game, and are clawing near the top 25 (in the top 35 or so now) - why not pull out everything you got? They have absolutely nothing to lose. If they win - they're still second, if they lose - they're still second.


3. Tulane cakewalked through last year's game for three quarters, then Tulsa "rallied back" - Last year, Tulane went way out in front, 42-0, started to look ahead then Tulsa threw down 28 straight points and they easily could have tied it if they didn't stumble and run out of time. They can't go up by 21 or so and think, "We've got this", and start to celebrate. You got past them once doing this, but you might not get past an improved team the second time.


4. Admit it, you're thinking about playing in the title already - Tulane players can not think, "We're the best around, nothing's ever gonna keep us down, we're going to win easy and then beat LSU, win the C-USA and play for the title at home." Not quite yet, Green Wave. You've got three games to play, not three meaningless games. Three important games. This one's just as important.


5. Admit it, you're already thinking about going to play #1 LSU - And Tulane can't do this either. They can't start thinking about maybe the game of the year for a spot in the national title. They can't think about that yet. Tulsa's tough, get past them, enjoy the BYE, prepare and then you can play LSU.


Ron Draggo has always told his team to "never look ahead", he says. Against Navy earlier this year, it looked like Tulane was looking a little bit ahead to Ohio State but blew out the Midshipmen thanks to a big second half. If Coach Draggo keeps his team in the mindset of playing Tulsa for a full four quarter game, then he might be the best coach around keeping his players thinking week-to-week.


We've seen it before, but we'll have to see if we see it again.

[Iron Dragon]

2011, Game 11





Tulsa Golden Hurricane (7-3, 5-2 C-USA)


Date: Saturday, November 12th


Time: 12:30pm


Stadium: The Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana


The Line: Tulane by 10


Coverage: CBS College


Tulsa's wins: at Troy (17-10), Oklahoma State (20-14), UAB (41-14), Houston (30-17), Marshall (29-17), UCF (22-14), UTEP (47-17)

Tulsa's losses: at #6 Oklahoma (17-40), at Rice (39-40), SMU (29-32)


Analysis: If Tulsa wants to win, then G.J. Kinne needs to play games like he did against UAB and UTEP. Kinne has 17 pass TDs and 10 picks on the year, and 2 rush TDs, with his favorite target being 5'8" speedster Demaris Johnson. He has 63 catches for 908 yards and 6 TDs this year. On the ground the Hurricane go with Charles Opeseyitan, who has 4 rush TDs this year, and 4 receiving TDs, so he's a duel-threat guy. Tulsa knows how to score on defense. They have 7 defensive TDs this year, 3 by Reid Singleton (DB), 2 by Jake Pierce (DB).. all five of those for those guys being on INTs, 1 by Willie Carter (LB) (fumble return), and Leonard Key (FS) (INT return). Also Dustin Bennett who has 8 sacks on the year needs to come up big. Tulsa's kicker/punter is also good.. Fitzpatrick is 20/25 on the year, his career long is 53 yards. He also punts for an average of around 43 yards a punt. Demaris Johnson returns kicks and averages 23 yards a return.


TULSA STARTING LINEUP

[Iron Dragon]

Game of the Year: Part One

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- Yes, I'm actually doing a game report in more than one post. Tulsa comes in to New Orleans with nothing to lose or gain but respect from the nation. Tulane looking for a BCS bowl. We're not there yet...

Tulane won the toss and defered, Tulsa went three and out. Five plays later, Stephen Barnett rumbled and stiff armed and juked his way to the endzone on an impressive 33 yard run. D.J. Ponder accounted for 21 rushing yards on this drive.

Tulsa stalled again and punted again, to Tulane's two-yard line. Not a good spot to start. Draggo calls play action and Taylor Echols is wide open out of the tight set.. looks to be a 20 yard gain and it slips through his hands. Ponder then sneaks for five for a third and five. Pass again. Sacked. To inside the one. It was reviewed and the ball never went past the line. Whew. So we had to punt with our team at the one, and it may have been better to take a safety as this left a huge lane open for speedster DeMaris Johnson. Ubekista actually hit a 56 yard punt but Johnson went 57 yards for the score. Never even touched.

That was the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a Green Wave punt, then a long Tulsa drive ending with a Opeseyitan TD run. Then the teams traded punts. Then Tulsa went pass happy and got 3 on a 30 yard field goal. 14-10 Tulsa at the break.

"I'm not happy with how we're playing right now.. we're shutting them down but we can't get nothing started.. come on guys, we got to get our heads in the game.. we're not to Baton Rouge yet..", said coach Ron Draggo at the half.

Tulane came out good. Two plays, 26 yards. Then D.J. Ponder was presurred and picked off. Tulsa did nothing and punted, luckily. But once more, Tulane was stuck inside their own ten. Two plays, loss of four. Not good. Third down, we pass and Ponder's taken down in the endzone for a safety. On the play, he got hurt and did not return. That means senior Joe Kemp has to step in for Ponder, who hasn't really done that great today.



Now we had to stop Tulsa. Being down 16-10 isn't a good thing. And we could not. Tulsa marched their way down the field, including a costly 15 yard PI on a 32 yard completion, which really helped them out. Kinne found his big TE Brown who was wide open for a 2 yard score. 23-10 Tulsa.

And at this point and time, all of New Orleans had a sick feeling in their stomach as the #3 team in the nation trailed by 13 with 2:28 to play in the third quarter..

Now it was time for Joe Kemp to lead us back into this game. Or so we hoped. We got the Barnett train back going. 3 carries, 21 yards. Kemp to Banks for 21. Richardson got 10. Kemp to Harrison for 15. And then Barnett runs to a side where no one is and walks in for a 15 yard TD run, his second of the day. Relief. 23-17 Tulsa, 0:55 left in the third.

They had to stop Tulsa. Fourth quarter. Third and ten. Kinne fires and he finds a wide open man behind the first down marker. Can't tackle him. He gets thirty-six yards. Then they got ten more. Then they lost two, got pushed back for 10 more. Then Kinne fired.. to Demaris Johnson for a 23 yard score. 29-17 Tulsa. And hey, they're going for two. HB Draw. Tulane's fooled. 2 points. 31-17. 5:11 left.

Now we go pass happy. Kemp starts to lead us down the field. We get past midfield. He's pressured, wobbly pass, Banks is open but the Tulsa DB picks it off. "Oh shit.", muttered everyone in the stands.

"Oh shit.", muttered Ron Draggo.

Tulsa 31, #3 Tulane 17
4:02 to play - 4th quarter
Tulsa ball at their own 39

[Iron Dragon]

Good spot to stop? I think so.

[Kingpin32]

Good spot to stop? I think so.

Weeeaaak!! I want to know what happens next lol.

[JBHuskers]

Good spot to stop? I think so.

Oh shit is right Mr. Draggo

[Jayrah]

Washington went up to #5 in the polls??? HAHAHAHAAA

[steelerfan]

Good spot to stop? I think so.

Oh shit.

[souljahbill]

Good spot to stop? I think so.

I disagree. It's the WORST spot to stop.

[Iron Dragon]

Weeeaaak!! I want to know what happens next lol.

You will..

Oh shit is right Mr. Draggo

Yes, that's what I thought when I was playing this game back in December. I was really surprised what was going on.

Washington went up to #5 in the polls??? HAHAHAHAAA

Not for long..

Oh shit.

Yup.

I disagree. It's the WORST spot to stop.

That's how I originally did the report (mainly because EASW went down at that time).

[Iron Dragon]

Game of the Year: Part Two


Haven't read part one? Do it now.



Anyways, where were we? Ah yes, Joe Kemp had just fired one to a Tulsa defender down by two scores. Not always the best way to win a game.



Anyways, there's 4:02 to go. Tulsa goes conservative. 6 yards for Opeseyitan. Incomplete pass. Well, that's not conservative. Tulsa on third and four.. no one open, Kinne scrambles and brought down two yards short. Punt. And it was a bad one. 3:39 to go.


Kemp hits Fortson. 22 yards. Figaro for 10. Richardson for nine. Banks for 16. Down to the four yard line. 2:14 to play. Kemp looks.. and finds a wide open diving Donny Richardson. 4 yard TD. 31-24 Tulsa. 2:10 to go. Two timeouts.





We kick it deep. Johnson to their 26. Opeseyitan gets four for Tulsa. 1:38 to go.. Kinne will throw it.. incomplete. Third down. Strange playcalling. Kinne.. to Opeseyitan. Behind the LOS. Gotta tackle him.. Tulane misses. 9 yard gain. Oh damn. 3 yard run. Timeout. Loss of four. Timeout. Third and 11. 1:17 to go. If Tulsa gets this, it's game over..


Kinne stepped back, they would throw, they want to end it now. He looks for Demaris Johnson.. but FRESHMAN Jason Nolen steps in front of the pass and picks it off and returns it to the Tulsa 31 yard line!! We're not done yet!!


Minute and two seconds. No timeouts. Barnett runs for 5. Kemp to Figaro gets 7. Kemp to Figaro again.. 18 more to the one yard line!!!! Spiked with :20 to go. Incomplete pass to Fortson. Third and goal. Draggo calls for senior FB Duplessis to run it in.


Snap gets in Kemp's hands.. here comes Tulsa, handoff's clean.. Duplessis hit at the one..


..breaks the tackle.. AND INTO THE ENDZONE HE GOES!! Touchdown Tulane!! DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?? Tulane rallies from 14 down in the final three minutes and with the XP they tie it.


And it was good. 31-31. 13 seconds to go. Game's not done yet. Johnson returns it to the 35. 10 seconds. Kinne to Kelley for 21. Hold your horses. Timeout Tulsa.. 3 seconds to go. Hail Mary time. Kinne has plenty of time.. throws deep, it's long enough but it's knocked down looking for Demaris.


Overtime. Coin toss. Tulane wins. Defense we go.

Kinne looks to throw on the first OT play. Twenty-two yards. Stellar defense. Kinne sneak. One yard. Then a pass.. nothing there. Third and goal. Do I smell a stand? Nope. Kinne runs around the blob of Tulsa and Tulane players for the easy score.





Don't worry, we'd make it look easy too. Kemp to Fortson, 8 yards and then Barnett just runs away from everyone for a 17 yard score. XP good. Overtime two.





Kemp finds Harrison for a 16 yard gain. Then he'd find D.J. Banks for a 9 yard score. This overtime thing is pretty easy, isn't it??





45-38 Tulane. First lead in ever. Kinne to Mills.. three yards. Loss of one. Third and seven. Sack for a 3 yard loss. Well, this is it. The call on CBS by Mr. Gus Johnson..



"Kinne into the shotgun. Opesetyitan next to him. Four WRs. Fourth and ten. Twenty-five yard line. This could do it. Kinne gets the snap. He looks, pumps one to the endzone.. tipped.. and OH CAUGHT KELLEY OH KELLEY OFF THE HELMET OF A TULANE DEFENDER CAUGHT TOUCHDOWN WOOOWWWW!"



You've got to be shitting me. But I'm not. Freeman Kelley rips the ball basically off Gregory Hallinsworth's helmet and somehow makes the catch and finds the endzone. One of the craziest plays all year. Jeez.


Three overtimes. Here we go. 45-45 with the XP and it was good.


Tulsa's got to go again on offense. Two incomplete passes. Third and ten. Kinne would look.. fires one to a man..













.. AND HE FINDS DEVIN WILLIAMS! AND HE GOES THE DISTANCE! DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES??? YES!!! TULANE HAS WON IT ON A 75-YARD INT RETURN BY DEVIN WILLIAMS! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??


Tulane 51, Tulsa 45 3OT


What a crazy game. Who woulda thunk it? Not the performance or the way we wanted to do it, but a win's a win. 51-45. This might just be the game of the year. Now we can focus on LSU.

______________________________

SENIOR Joe Kemp: 15/24 passing, 172 yards, 2 TD, INT [Ponder: 11/21, 171 yards, INT | left game with injury, did not return]

Stephen Barnett: 14 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD

Duplessis (SR): TD run, 3 'cakes

D.J. Banks: 8 catches, 94 yards, TD

Jarmon Fortson: 5 catches, 71 yards

George Harrison: 5 catches, 88 yards

Devin Figaro: 5 catches, 66 yards

Donny Richardson: 2 catches, 13 yards, TD

Abrams, Patterson: 5 'cakes

Jones, Ray (SR): 4 'cakes


Erik Madison: 7 tackles, TFL

Gregory Hallinsworth: 6 tackles

Cody Leford: 6 tackles

Jason Nolen: 5 tackles, INT

SR Cedric Wilson: 4 tackles (2 TFL)

SR Emanuel Eluko: 3 TFL, 2 sacks

Black, Boudreaux: 3 tackles each

Harry CiGar: 2 TFL, Sack

Devin Williams: 2 tackles, INT, GW Def TD in 3rd OT

SR Jeremy Minor: 2 tackles


TULSA: Demaris Johnson 6 rec 116 yards TD - 93 KR yards - 67 PR yards TD


UP NEXT: Bye Week Recap

[/SPOILER]

[Iron Dragon]

AROUND THE NCAA WEEKS 12 & 13

WEEK 12

C-USA UPDATE
> OOC Navy whips ECU 27-7, OOC Northwestern 34, Rice 16, OOC Fresno 13, UTEP 10
> Houston gets 6th win with 41-3 win over UAB, Hollinshead's finally getting his play on the right track..
> UCF pounds SMU 47-7 .. Weatherford throws 4 TDs.. they are still without Rainey
> Southern Miss beats up Memphis 38-7 .. UCF takes East title.. Assad: 10 rec, 83 yards, TD, 2 4th quarter punt return TDs (38, 78 yards)

NCAA UPDATE
#1 LSU beats Ole Miss 34-10
#2 Notre Dame survives Hawai'i vacation 34-24 (UH: 17 points in final 3:10)
#4 Ohio State handles lowly Illinois 41-7
Frauds: #5 Washington falls to #19 Cal | #6 Oklahoma falls to Texas Tech | #11 Oregon State falls to Miami (FL)

>> BCS: LSU (1.000), ND (0.994), Tulane (0.989), Ohio State (0.983), Florida (0.978), Alabama (0.969) (Florida lost to Alabama..)
>> Bowl projection: The one in our stadium, vs Big East leader #22 Boston College (8-2, 4-2)

WEEK 13: Rivalry Week

C-USA UPDATE
OOC games: #8 VT 45, Tulsa 20 | UCF 38, Army 20
Houston 32, Rice 27
Memphis gets 6th win, beats Marshall 21-10
UTEP upsets SMU denies them their sixth win 37-17
ECU handles 1-win UAB

NCAA UPDATE
Lone Star Showdown: #9 aTm 27, #6 Texas 10
The Game between schools in Georgia: #12 GT 27, #14 UGA 24
"The Game": #4 Ohio State 27, Michigan 3
#1 LSU rips apart #11 Arkansas 41-17.. Jefferson 23/32 302 yards 4 TD
de facto Big East title game: #22 Boston College 42, Syracuse 10 (and yet, they aren't bowl elligible)
#2 Notre Dame survives Stanford 34-29
Eastern Kentucky becomes bowl elligible
de facto Sun Belt title game: FIU 17, FAU 13

>> Polls.. stay the same. aTm jumps 'Bama.

UP NEXT: Tiger Rag Preview

[Iron Dragon]

2011, Game 12




#1 LSU Tigers (11-0, 8-0 SEC, SEC West Champions)

Battle for the Tiger Rag

Date: Saturday, November 26th

Time: 8:00pm

Stadium: Tiger Stadium, "Death Valley", Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Line: LSU by 9

Coverage: ABC

LSU's wins: Houston (27-14), App St. (FCS, 48-10), at West Virginia (38-37), at Miss State (18-0), #5 Florida (51-17), Kentucky (53-10), Auburn (42-17), at Tennessee (33-6), at #7 Alabama (24-14), at Mississippi State (34-10), #13 Arkansas (41-17)
LSU's losses: None.

Series History: 2-0 LSU

Injuries:
rSR WR Terrance Toliver: 4 weeks
rSR LT Greg Shaw: Out for season
rSR OLB Shomari Clemons: 2 weeks
[they all start]

Analysis: LSU is hands down the best team in the nation. And that's why they are #1. Jordan Jefferson is on his way to a Heisman trophy and this team is loaded. Jefferson has 30 TDs and only 2 INTs on the entire season, he's also ran for two. And if they have too, Russell Shepard will play at QB and he's just as good. Michael Ford is their starting runningback who has 663 yards and 7 TDs on the year. Cody Moore is his backup who's pretty good too. 99 OVR WR Toliver is out for the game, so that's good. Too bad they have a 1000-yard reciever in Rueben Randle, and Chris Toliver and Morris Claiborne are good too. And their TE is good too.. 46 rec, 713 yards, 8 TD on the year. Shaw, their starting LT is out, and their backup is just as good. In fact, their whole offensive line is good. Actually this whole team is good. Conclusion: If we win, we need a miracle. Or something. This team has killed every team it's faced since they starting to get going and have beat the #5 team in the nation by 34. Oh my. Their kicker is 19/20 on field goals, by the way..

LSU STARTING LINEUP

[Iron Dragon]

Ponder out for LSU game; Kemp to make 4th career start in Death Valley

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -- D.J. Ponder will not be suited up to play LSU Saturday night as a hand injury will keep him out from playing quarterback against the #1 team in the nation.

Instead Joe Kemp will be making his fourth career start, who has been a viable backup ever since Ron Draggo has taken over the Green Wave. Kemp threw for 174 yards and 2 TD's in relief for Ponder in Tulane's three OT win against Tulsa. He started three games last year in place of Kevin Moore when he got injured. On Saturday night, Ryan Griffin will backup Joe Kemp if he's needed.

The redshirt senior has 11 TD's and just 3 INT's under Ron Draggo. He's had a 71% completion percentage the last two years, going 70-for-99 since the beginning of last season. Kemp is 9 yards short of 1000 passing yards under Draggo.

Kemp has been fighting for the starting job since 2009, when he was beat out by Kevin Moore, and then this year he was beat out in a close race by D.J. Ponder (155/255, 2179 yards, 21 TD, 8 INT, 252 rush yards, 2 TD this year).

If Ponder's injury lingers, Kemp may start in the C-USA title game against UCF.

[souljahbill]

That's a heart attack game right there. Did it get an ESPN Classic score?

[Iron Dragon]

EXPOSED... "BY THE TEAM OF THE CENTURY"

Green Wave not surprisingly rolled by "unstoppable" #1 LSU.. and heck, they are down three starters..



BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA --- LSU is unstoppable. They beat the #5 Florida Gators by 34 like it was nothing and Jordan Jefferson is putting his name down in history as he easily sealed the Heisman trophy on Saturday night in a 38-3 cruising of #3 Tulane. LSU "exposed" the #3 team in the nation, but they've exposed everyone since SEC play has started for them, as Tulane lost after an amazing performance by LSU - on all sides of the ball.

Needless to say, this game really will hurt Tulane. This game was a nationally televised whipping. Game of the Week hoopla. And Tulane, yes, we know is without their starting QB, that's an issue, but they got pounded. Luckily, it was by a team that has pounded every one. A loss to Tulsa would have done worse but they way they got rolled may but them back in the Liberty Bowl, or even the Hawaii Bowl if they lose the C-USA title.

Tulane actually led 3-0 in the 1st quarter, but that 1st quarter FG drive was their best of the entire game, as LSU went into entire dominance. LSU held Tulane to negative rushing yards for the first time in Ron Draggo's 39th game as the Tulane head coach. In fact, this is the first time they've been held to under 100 rushing yards. That stat is amazing first of all, and now it's wiped away. LSU's front seven was just too good and too athletic for Tulane.

After leading 3-0, Tulane got rolled. Michael Ford found the endzone from two yards out, then Jordan Jefferson found Mitch Joseph for a TD, and LSU only led 14-3 at the break.

Third quarter.. Joseph again 3 yards from Jefferson. Then Joe Kemp was picked off by redshirt Junior DB Ron Brooks and he went 60 yards for the score. Untouched. That about sealed it at the 28-3 score. That looked like that was going to be the final. Looked like.

In the fourth quarter, Les Miles made a ballsy move and decided to call a HB pass from Tulane's seven. CiGar ripped the ball loose, recovered it. Whew, Tulane thought. And then the RB stripped it right back and took it back to Tulane's 11. Then Jordan Jefferson found wide open sophomore Jay Tanner for a TD. Tanner easily had his best game so far against Tulane.. 4 rec, 57 yards, TD. That made it 35-3. Tulane gave the ball away inside their own 30 late in the game and the game was capped off by a 19 yard field goal.

"It was a big slap in the face. To come in 11-0 and then get thumped like that. LSU's the best team out there, that's why they are #1. They are well-coached, they are extremely talented and I watched a bunch of first-round picks and a Heisman winner beat us, and we had no answer.", said coach Ron Draggo after the game.

And with that, Tulane's 11-1. Next up.. UCF.

PLAYER STATS

Joe Kemp: 17/31 passing, 184 yards, 2 INT, sacked four times, -29 rush yards

Griffin: 3/8 passing, 23 yards, sacked once, -9 rush yards

Stephen Barnett: 10 carries, 10 yards, 11 rec yards

J.T. McDonald: 6 carries, 9 yards

Jarmon Fortson: 4 catches, 42 yards

George Harrison: 4 catches, 48 yards

Cody Leford: 13 tackles (2 TFL)

Cedric Wilson: 10 tackles (2 TFL)

JJ Black: 9 tackles (TFL)

Jason Nolen: 8 tackles

Harry CiGar: 7 tackles

Emanuel Eluko: 4 tackles, Sack

Samuel Brooks: 4 tackles (back, finally)

Hallinsworth, Boudreaux: 2 tackles each


LSU: Jefferson 19/23 176 yards 3 TD | Ford 31 carries 152 yards TD 4 rec 34 yards | Joseph 7 rec 61 yards 2 TD | Ryan Baker 10 tackles (4 TFL), 3 sacks