GRAMBLING STATE at TULANE
Saturday, Sept. 2 • 8 p.m. • ESPN3
Yulman Stadium (30,000/UBU Speed Series 5M)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Television
ESPN3
Joel Meyers and Hutson Mason
Radio
WMTI-FM 106.1 (Tulane flagship)
THE GAME
Despite being separated by roughly 300 miles, Tulane and Grambling State will meet for the first time in 2017 … Tulane has won its last 10 games against FCS opponents after last year’s 66-21 win against Southern … The Green Wave has dropped its last three season-openers and looks for its first Opening Day win since 2013.
GRAMBLING STATE
0-0, 0-0 CAA
Head Coach
Broderick Fobbs (Grambling State ’97)
28-9, fourth season
Notes
Grambling State has made a complete turnaround under fourth-year head coach Broderick Fobbs … The Tigers were 1-11 in 2013, the year prior to his arrival, and came full in 2016 after a 12-1 campaign that was capped by a SWAC title … Grambling State went on to defeat North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl, earning its 15th HBCU national title … The only loss for the Tigers last year was a 31-21 setback at Arizona … The Tigers take an 11-game winning streak into the 2017 season … Grambling State is ranked No. 21 in the preseason FCS coaches’ poll … The Tigers return 12 starters from last year … QB Devante Kincade, a transfer from Ole Miss, threw for 3,022 yards and 31 touchdowns with four interceptions last year on his way to SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honors … RB Martez Carter had 116 carries for 891 yards and 10 TDs.
TULANE
0-0, 0-0 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ’83)
3-9, second season
Notes
Tulane has 17 returning starters, ranking second among American Athletic Conference teams, entering the 2017 season … The Green Wave went 3-9 last year in its first season under veteran head coach Willie Fritz … Fritz has not had back-to-back losing seasons in 20 years as an NCAA head coach … Tulane had at least 100 rushing yards in all 12 games ,but struggled in the passing game, ranking last in The American in pass efficiency (93.12) … Fritz is turning to QB Jonathan Banks, a junior college transfer who originally signed with Kansas State, to take over behind center … RB Dontrell Hilliard, who rushed for 759 yards and nine touchdowns last year, leads a deep group of backs who should see significant snaps … The defense loses two first-team all-conference picks … CB Parry Nickerson has 10 career interceptions.