BeeDee
05-19-2005, 04:13 PM
LSU-Tulane football rivalry renewed
Will begin 10-game series for 2006 season
Thursday, May 19, 2005
By Fred Robinson
Staff writer
Louisiana's No. 1 rivalry -- the LSU-Tulane football game -- has been rekindled.
The schools announced Wednesday that a 10-year agreement has been reached to resume the storied football series on a home-and-home basis, beginning with the 2006 season.
LSU and Tulane school officials were excited about the deal, saying it's a "win-win situation" for everyone involved, especially the fans.
"We think most LSU fans will be happy about playing Tulane," LSU associate athletic director Dan Radakovich said. "We will still have the ability to look for games with BCS conference opponents."
The first game of the 10-year deal will be played in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 23, 2006.
"This puts the exclamation point on the whole relationship between the two schools," Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said.
Although Tulane and LSU met during the 2001 season, the home-and-home series between the two schools was halted at the end of the 1994 season after 76 consecutive games. The series first began in 1893. The winner receives "The Rag," a flag bearing colors of LSU and Tulane and the state seal.
Reviving the series, according to Dickson, was a no-brainer. He said it was something he wanted to do since becoming Tulane's athletic director in late 1999. The hardest part, he added, was getting everything worked out to please both sides.
"For something that's 94 or 95 years old, there's value in it," Dickson said. "A relationship of value is something to build upon and create interest in. It made perfect sense to make this happen. From the standpoint of a student-athlete, it's one of the unique opportunities in college to be involved in a true rivalry."
Dickson and Radakovich said the NCAA adding a 12th game beginning with the 2006 season gave both schools room to make the game work.
"Probably the single-most thing, from both schools' perspective, was the 12th game," Dickson said. "That opened the door."
Dickson said Tulane will get a guarantee when it travels to Tiger Stadium, and LSU will receive a ticket allotment when the series switches to the Superdome.
Although Dickson would not elaborate on the financial figures, sources close to the schools said Tulane's guarantee will be $600,000 and 7,000 tickets, and LSU will receive 40,000 tickets for each game in the Superdome.
In 2007, when LSU travels to New Orleans, it will sell its tickets for $40 each, which will net the school $1.6 million, sources said.
"When we play there, there's a guarantee. On the flip side, (the deal) makes it feasible for LSU to leave Tiger Stadium," Dickson said. "We've agreed in principle on what it should be, and we just need to button up a few things during the upcoming weeks."
Tulane coach Chris Scelfo said this is one tough game Scelfo welcomes with open arms. "I grew up in Louisiana with this game, and this is a game that has to be played," Scelfo said. "When you've got something positive happening in Louisiana, it's something the whole state will get excited over."
Tulane's six largest crowds since moving to the Superdome in 1975 were for games against LSU. The biggest draw was 73,496 in 1979, a game won by Tulane, 24-13.
"I think a lot of LSU fans recognize the historical significance of playing Tulane," LSU associate athletic director Herb Vincent said. "The financial benefits make it work out like it's not an away game."
Before the deal was completed, Radakovich said, new LSU coach Les Miles endorsed the idea.
Radakovich said LSU and Tulane have been in discussions for nearly six months.
"The hardest part was keeping it under wraps," Radakovich said. "(LSU athletic director) Skip (Bertman) and Rick deserve a lot of credit. We wanted to do it the right way, and it worked out."
Will begin 10-game series for 2006 season
Thursday, May 19, 2005
By Fred Robinson
Staff writer
Louisiana's No. 1 rivalry -- the LSU-Tulane football game -- has been rekindled.
The schools announced Wednesday that a 10-year agreement has been reached to resume the storied football series on a home-and-home basis, beginning with the 2006 season.
LSU and Tulane school officials were excited about the deal, saying it's a "win-win situation" for everyone involved, especially the fans.
"We think most LSU fans will be happy about playing Tulane," LSU associate athletic director Dan Radakovich said. "We will still have the ability to look for games with BCS conference opponents."
The first game of the 10-year deal will be played in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 23, 2006.
"This puts the exclamation point on the whole relationship between the two schools," Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said.
Although Tulane and LSU met during the 2001 season, the home-and-home series between the two schools was halted at the end of the 1994 season after 76 consecutive games. The series first began in 1893. The winner receives "The Rag," a flag bearing colors of LSU and Tulane and the state seal.
Reviving the series, according to Dickson, was a no-brainer. He said it was something he wanted to do since becoming Tulane's athletic director in late 1999. The hardest part, he added, was getting everything worked out to please both sides.
"For something that's 94 or 95 years old, there's value in it," Dickson said. "A relationship of value is something to build upon and create interest in. It made perfect sense to make this happen. From the standpoint of a student-athlete, it's one of the unique opportunities in college to be involved in a true rivalry."
Dickson and Radakovich said the NCAA adding a 12th game beginning with the 2006 season gave both schools room to make the game work.
"Probably the single-most thing, from both schools' perspective, was the 12th game," Dickson said. "That opened the door."
Dickson said Tulane will get a guarantee when it travels to Tiger Stadium, and LSU will receive a ticket allotment when the series switches to the Superdome.
Although Dickson would not elaborate on the financial figures, sources close to the schools said Tulane's guarantee will be $600,000 and 7,000 tickets, and LSU will receive 40,000 tickets for each game in the Superdome.
In 2007, when LSU travels to New Orleans, it will sell its tickets for $40 each, which will net the school $1.6 million, sources said.
"When we play there, there's a guarantee. On the flip side, (the deal) makes it feasible for LSU to leave Tiger Stadium," Dickson said. "We've agreed in principle on what it should be, and we just need to button up a few things during the upcoming weeks."
Tulane coach Chris Scelfo said this is one tough game Scelfo welcomes with open arms. "I grew up in Louisiana with this game, and this is a game that has to be played," Scelfo said. "When you've got something positive happening in Louisiana, it's something the whole state will get excited over."
Tulane's six largest crowds since moving to the Superdome in 1975 were for games against LSU. The biggest draw was 73,496 in 1979, a game won by Tulane, 24-13.
"I think a lot of LSU fans recognize the historical significance of playing Tulane," LSU associate athletic director Herb Vincent said. "The financial benefits make it work out like it's not an away game."
Before the deal was completed, Radakovich said, new LSU coach Les Miles endorsed the idea.
Radakovich said LSU and Tulane have been in discussions for nearly six months.
"The hardest part was keeping it under wraps," Radakovich said. "(LSU athletic director) Skip (Bertman) and Rick deserve a lot of credit. We wanted to do it the right way, and it worked out."