Tulane wraps up spring ball with annual spring game, looks ahead to 2019 season

Spring games don’t come with quite the same pomp and circumstance that in-season contests do but hey, football is football and we’re happy to see the guys back on the gridiron whatever the form. Around the country, teams took to the field on Saturday to play... well themselves and Tulane was no exception.

Here’s what we saw in New Orleans when the Green Wave hit the field for the first time in 2019...

In just 25 minutes of action, Tulane’s offense put up some pretty promising numbers including over 200 yards passing and 125 rushing with several guys getting reps in. Justin McMillan split QB time with Southern Miss transfer Keon Howard. Howard, who had to sit out the entire 2018 season due to the NCAA transfer rules, is again eligible to play.

Earlier this week, head coach Willie Fritz beamed at the fact that Howard’s apparent ball control issues that plagued him with the Golden Eagles, don’t seem to have followed him to New Orleans.

“He has certainly done a nice job over here,” said Fritz “He’s had excellent ball security.”

While Tulane appears to have depth under center, though, defensively there have been more questions this spring after several key guys such as Donnie Lewis Jr. and Roderic Teamer departed. Wave fans that might have some uneasiness about the new-look D, however, should breathe a little lighter after this weekend.

The defense forced four turnovers on Saturday, two of which they took back for scores. With guys like junior defensive end Patrick Johnson returning to the lineup, this year’s defense shows great potential.

Overall, Saturday’s pseudo game was short but very productive in the eyes of Fritz.

“This was as close as we could get to simulating a real game,” he said. “Some of these guys have been here four years now and have confidence in what we’re doing.”

Tulane is coming off a successful season in which they claimed the program’s fifth ever bowl win. They now have their eyes set on a conference title this year as Fritz enters his fourth season with the team.