Tulane HC Will Hall discusses disrespect, Week 1 matchup with Duke

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Despite returning 68 scholarship players, Tulane, the defending American champion, fresh off a college football playoff appearance, was projected to finish fourth and seventh in preseason conference media polls.

The disrespect following Jon Sumrall’s departure is felt. And now, Green Wave players and coaches say it’s time to prove the doubters wrong.

"We’ve been getting disrespected. Saying we’ll win 7-8 games," linebacker Dickson Agu said. "We’ve been to the championship four years in a row. That doesn’t mean anything this year. Now we have to prove it."

"I’m excited to be the head coach here and I deserve to be the head coach here. Now we gotta make it happen," head coach Will Hall said.

It won’t be former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah on the other sideline. He bolted from the Blue Devils to Miami right before the portal window closed.

Former San Jose State starting quarterback Walker Eget will get the nod for Duke. And even though the Spartans went 3-8 in his starts last year, the opening line for this matchup had the Green Wave as almost a 10-point underdog.

"I believe in our young men who stayed, and I believe in the challenge in front of us. There’s a standard we’re 10 years into here that I believe in," Hall said.

Duke will still be a handful. A big reason for that is former Mandeville skipper Nate Sheppard. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns during his freshman season in 2025.

Tulane and Duke kick off Saturday at 2:30.