I've been running this blog for a few years now. We've pretty much gone through the entire spectrum of human emotion at this point.
There was Bob Toledo "resigning" before we even made it to Homecoming weekend. There was the winningest basketball season in years, followed by the immediate departure of every rising star in the Tulane basketball program. (Side note: I am kind of proud, in hindsight, for dubbing that Black Tuesday. Real dramatic stuff here on this blog...).
And then there was the collective jubilation of Tulane notching its first bowl eligible season since 2003, breaking down a Tulsa team that had thoroughly dominated the program for years.
So yeah, there are serious highs and lows with following this program. At any rate, to summarize what happened on National Signing Day (NSD) 2014, I think this tweet pretty much hit the nail on the head.
@FearTheWaveBlog Been a wave fan since I was born. Have not seen this much excitement since 1998 season.
— Shawn Mefferd (@moose_mefferd) February 5, 2014
It's still early to make a bold prediction that the program is reaching a new stratosphere (at least so we don't jinx it). That said, I think days like today pretty much epitomize the differences between the way Coach Curtis Johnson and Co. are running this program compared to past regimes.1. Louisiana is Tulane Country. 20 of the 24 signees hail from Louisiana. Many of them are in the New Orleans metro. The Green Wave is successfully getting a foothold in one of the country's best recruiting states.
2. The players are noticeably fired up to be apart of it. For anyone following the action on Twitter today, it was pretty clear that the Green Wave's newest members are amped up to leave their mark. That's not to say that previous classes haven't had that kind of energy. This one just seems to be going above and beyond, certainly building on the recent success and "going up" feel of this program, as a whole.
3. Sought-after recruits are taking Tulane seriously now. Grabbing six recruits off of the Nifty Fifty is nothing to sneeze at. Plus, the day got off to a great start with John Leglue of Alexandria flipping from the dreaded University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns to join the program.
Via @MikeCoppage: John Leglue (OL/Menard) has flipped from ULL and will commit to #Tulane. http://t.co/orB3IrCBBc
— Fear the Wave (@FearTheWaveBlog) February 5, 2014
In the end, Tulane captured all 24 of 24 targets on Feb. 5, 2014. Coach Johnson made it clear that this is the class he wanted, and even that it would exceed the "miracle" class of 2013.
We took a big step today with what I believe is already a very memorable signing class! It’s a great day to be a Green Wave! #Tulane
— TUCoachCJ (@TUCoachCJ) February 5, 2014
At any rate, congratulations to the coaching staff and signees who are joining a rising program. I think for any Green Wave fan, you couldn't really have asked for much more, unless Leonard Fournette had decided last night that he would pursue a Tulane University diploma.This will be the first class to start their careers at the new, on-campus Yulman Stadium, and I think it's pretty clear the Wave is headed in the right direction.
Here are some more key moments from today, in no particular order.
Peter Woullard of St. Augustine signs with Tulane during the school's ceremony:
Money💰💰 @StateofTulane @TUJoinTheBuzzFB @Tulane_FB_Blog @TUFB_Alumni @TUCoachCJ pic.twitter.com/ZlPYR1IT3u
— Peter W. (@BallOut56) February 5, 2014
Tulane hosts its NSD Party at City Diner (formerly the Rat):
We've got a packed house here in the basement of the LBC celebrating @TUCoachCJ's third recruiting class! #SigningDay pic.twitter.com/iSph27qvaf
— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) February 5, 2014
WR Leondre James of Donaldsonville takes home "Best NSD Bowtie":
#SigningDay2014 speech GreenWaver🏈 pic.twitter.com/44Dl0Oecgc
— Leondre James (@BigDreams7_) February 5, 2014
Coach CJ lets the media know that he will stop spring practices before Mardi Gras:
CJ joked he doesn't want guys coming drunk to practice, that's why he's finishing #Tulane spring practice before Mardi Gras.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) February 5, 2014
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