Tulane not taking Grambling lightly — and for the Green Wave, that's not a chiche

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Although Tulane never has lost to a team from the Football Championship Subdivision, Grambling has the Green Wave’s full attention entering Saturday’s season opener at Yulman Stadium.

Players and coaches always say they take every opponent seriously, but the Tigers have the credentials to make anyone take notice. Ranked No. 21 in the preseason FCS coaches’ poll, they are coming off a 12-1 season, and the loss came with an asterisk.

Grambling led Arizona 21-3 at halftime before falling 31-21. The Tigers played the final 2½ quarters without star quarterback DeVante Kincade. He was hurt after throwing a pair of early touchdown passes, and the Tigers imploded with six turnovers in the second half.

They outscored everyone else 528-174, coasting to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

“I was in the FCS for four years at Sam Houston State, and we really felt like we could compete with most Division I schools in the country, so this (Grambling) is a top flight I-AA program,” Tulane coach Willie Fritz said. “We know it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us.”

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