Terren Encalade hadn't spent much time on the field during Tulane football practices in the two weeks leading into the Thursday opener.
He showed no clear sign of injury but always was on the sideline wearing something other than a full uniform with pads and a helmet. Regularly asked about his leading receiver from a season ago, Tulane coach Willie Fritz insisted the Belle Chasse product would be healthy enough to play.
Clearly, Fritz wanted to protect his most valued offensive player -- at least one who doesn't play quarterback.
Encalade needed only three plays on offense to show that whatever kept him off the field wasn't so serious that it would impact him much in the game.