The best part of Monday's spring football practice opener for Tulane may be the opportunity to look forward rather than continuing to reflect on the gut-wrenching end to the 2017 season.
A hangover was unavoidable after the Green Wave's quest for its second bowl game in 15 years ended when a referee marked quarterback Jonathan Banks an inch short of the goal line on the last play of the finale against SMU. That decision was upheld by the replay official even though the television commentators were convinced Banks had scored the winning touchdown.
The controversial loss left Tulane 5-7 in coach Willie Fritz' second year and with no reward for significant improvement in its fourth season in the American Athletic Conference.