Today, Tulane faces Army in an American Conference tilt. Kickoff is early, set for 11:00 a.m. in Yulman Stadium on the Tulane University campus. The Green Wave are 5-1 on the season, 2-0 in conference play. Tulane’s American victories have come against Tulsa and East Carolina. The Black Knights are 3-3 on the year, 2-2 in league games. They’ve beaten UAB and Charlotte, falling to North Texas in overtime and to East Carolina.
To re-quote coach Bam Hardmon, “It’s going to take discipline and patience (to beat Army).” He’s not kidding. The Black Knights do not beat themselves. They do not make mistakes, Army is the least penalized team in the American Conference, averaging around three flags a game. Tulane’s flags-per-game are almost triple that, the most in the league this year. Playing with discipline is not something the Green Wave have shown when it comes to getting flagged. As the schedule gets tougher, Tulane has got to find a way not to beat themselves.
This is not a passing team. They are dead last in the American, averaging a paltry 79-yards a game. What they do, and do well, is run the ball. Army averages over 280-yards a game on the ground, second only to unbeaten Navy in that league category. Stop the run, you stop Army.
The Green Wave has to finish drives. It sure is nice to have Patrick Durkin on your side if you need a field goal. The operative word there is need. Tulane must figure out how to finish off their drives and not peter out once they’re inside the 20.
Last week, the Green Wave were uncharacteristically held to under 100-yards on the ground by East Carolina, and not a rushing touchdown to be seen. Under Jon Sumrall, Tulane is at its best when it can run the ball and run it well. It not only sets up the pass, it will help win that time of possession battle that Army usually wins so well.
Tulane and Army play Saturday, October 18th at 11:00 a.m. in Yulman Stadium in a game that can be watched on ESPNU and listened to on the Tulane Radio Network.
