Tulane displays depth after five days of preseason camp

NEW ORLEANS – Depth and competition have marked the first week of Tulane football preseason camp, as the Green Wave completed its fifth day of practice Friday night with a workout at the indoor facility of the New Orleans Saints.

Tulane, donning helmets and shoulder pads for the third straight day, moved to the Metairie location again on Friday to ensure they would get in a full practice and avoid delays and complications by storms in the area. Head coach Willie Fritz likes where his team is after five days on the field, especially in comparison to last season.

“I think we’re just a whole lot better than we were last season at this time,” Fritz said. “The players understand what we’re doing. We have much more depth than we had last season. It’s fun getting out here and watching competition at positions. That’s what you want to have. You don’t want to have 22 guys and no one is close to them. We have a lot of competition at positions.”

The depth has resulted in some competitive plays during offense/defense sessions in practice. On one occasion Friday, junior cornerback Donnie Lewis Jr. closed on a receiver and stripped the ball just after the catch, then picked up the fumble and returned it the other way. Fritz complimented his team’s second straight workout in the indoor facility.

“I thought we had a good one tonight,” said Fritz. “Some parts are tougher than others, but the great thing is we have this opportunity to come over here. I think it’s kind of hard not to practice well when it’s 70 degrees.”

The Green Wave will practice at the Saints facility in Metairie again Saturday night, before taking a day off on Sunday. The Saints will hold a practice at Yulman Stadium on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tulane practices are closed to the public.

Season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging onto TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center. Season tickets that includes all six home games during the 2017 season start as low as $200 for a single book and $300 for a family four-pack. Mini plans include the 3rd & Goal package for $75 and the Homecoming & Lagniappe package for $65. Seats are available in locations throughout Yulman Stadium.

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