Newsstand: Tulane plans to stay put and face Isaac head-on
News you can use to sound smart with all of your friends.
Tulane is staying put as Hurricane Isaac bears down on the city of New Orleans.
The tropical storm is currently heading for the Gulf of Mexico where it is expected to turn into at least a Category 2 hurricane and hit New Orleans by Tuesday afternoon.
[Also: Jacksonville State turns end of practice into a carnival]
Tulane spokesman Roger Dunaway told Yahoo! Sports safety precautions are in place, but that the team plans on practicing Monday and will determine its course of action for Tuesday and Wednesday. Dunaway said the team has no plans to evacuate as it prepares for its season opener against Rutgers at the Superdome on Sept. 1.
Tulane isn't exactly a stranger to a hurricane disrupting the season. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the team bussed to Jackson, Miss., then bounced to Dallas and ultimately landed in Shreveport, La., where the Green Wave lived on the Louisiana Tech campus and shared the Bulldogs' facilities for the entire season.
In 2008, Hurricane Gustav displaced the Green Wave again. They headed to Birmingham, Ala., where they were taken in by a Marriott hotel and Samford University as they prepared to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
But this time Tulane is content to ride it out — for now.
Louisiana Tech monitoring the hurricane as well: As of right now, Louisiana Tech has no plans to cancel its season opener against Texas A&M in Shreveport, La., but the university said in a press release it's tracking Hurricane Issac and will make a definitive decision on the game by Tuesday afternoon.
[Louisiana Tech athletic director Bruce] Van De Velde said he has been in constant contact with the City of Shreveport, the National Weather Service, FEMA and other agencies that can provide intelligence that will aid in making a decision on the kickoff of the Bulldogs opener against Texas A&M scheduled for Thursday.
The press release said as of right now there are no plans to use Independence Stadium as a possible evacuation station should Issac leave many in that area displaced. Louisiana Tech is using its emergency response team website (ert.latech.edu) to inform everyone of any weather-related changes that might affect Thursday's opener.
[Also: PSU foe to wear helmet decals honoring victims of child abuse]
Fewer Irish in Ireland: Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood and defensive end Justin Utupo have been suspended for the first two games of the season following a violation of team rules. Included is Saturday's contest against Navy in Dublin, a game that was already missing quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese.
The loss of Wood is big for the Irish, especially as new quarterback Everett Golson was trying to settle in. Wood rushed for 1,000 yards last season and averaged 5 yards a carry.
Quick reads: South Carolina sophomore running back Brandon Wilds will miss two or three more weeks with a sprained ankle. He also could redshirt… Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn has suspended receiver Tres Houston for the entire 2012 season and sophomore receiver Earl Jones has been dismissed… Georgia coach Mark Richt takes his tradition plunge… Les Miles is excited to try out the new grass in Tiger Stadium.
- - -
"Like" Dr. Saturday on Facebook for football conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog. And follow Dr. Saturday at its new home on Twitter: @YahooDrSaturday
Related college football video on Yahoo! Sports
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
• Hurricane Isaac forces Saints to leave New Orleans early
• The Juice: Tyler Flowers beats the rain in White Sox's win
• If NHL players are locked out, is Alex Ovechkin heading to the KHL?
• Y! Business: Five things not to say at a job interview
