Tulane’s football game vs. Oklahoma moved to Norman

The symmetry is eerie.

Fifty-six years ago, Tulane was scheduled to open the 1965 football season at home against second-ranked Texas, but a week before the game, Hurricane Betsy paralyzed the New Orleans metro area, and officials from the schools agreed to move the game to Austin, Texas.

Now, history will repeat itself.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida’s landfall in southeast Louisiana Sunday, the game between Tulane and second-ranked Oklahoma – scheduled for Saturday at Yulman Stadium – is moving to Norman, Oklahoma. Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen confirmed the move Monday afternoon:

First and foremost, my thoughts are with those in Southern Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Ida and to all those bravely responding to help. The health and safety of our citizens and of our first responders will remain our primary focus.

In light of the catastrophic damage sustained by the City of New Orleans and, after consulting with our emergency preparedness and response teams at the institutional, local and state levels, we will relocate our September 4 football game against the University of Oklahoma to Norman, Oklahoma. While game time will remain 11:00 AM, television information and other game-specific details will be announced by the University of Oklahoma. We appreciate the understanding, support and communication with the University of Oklahoma, especially Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione.

Dannen also confirmed that Green Wave Athletics has temporarily moved all operations to Birmingham, Alabama:

We have moved all Tulane athletic department operations to Birmingham, Alabama, including our student-athletes, and we will remain in Birmingham until it is safe to return to New Orleans. I want to thank UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram, Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne and the City of Birmingham for receiving our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families.

The status of future home competitions in football and volleyball will be determined in the days ahead.

Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with all of those impacted by this devastating storm.

Tulane had not been scheduled to open a football season with a top-5 team at home in the 56 years since Betsy.

The scenario was a little different in 1965, with no computerized ticketing and the like, as former Texas sports information director Bill Little recalled when the Longhorns were poised to visit the Green Wave in 2002.

The Tulane football team will practice this week at Legion Field in preparation for the season opener.

Instead of coming home, though, they’ll be headed to Oklahoma.