On 12/16/2013, the Times-Picayune (
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"Tulane's football team will call the Hilton Riverside home prior to the New Orleans Bowl
By Anthony Cave, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
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on December 16, 2013 at 3:38 PM, updated December 16, 2013 at 9:04 PM
Gold beads and brass music welcomed the Tulane football team, as they "arrived" at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel Monday afternoon for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
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Tulane's Orleans Darkwa speaks to the media outside the Hilton Riverside Monday, December 16, 2013. (Photo by Anthony Cave, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
The 10-minute or so commute from the Wilson Athletics Center even included a police escort. The players, many of whom already call New Orleans home, will stay at the hotel this week leading up to their bowl matchup against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Saturday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
It is the first bowl appearance for the Green Wave in 11 years. Tulane football coach Curtis Johnson said the team, especially the seniors, are excited to play in a bowl game for the first time.
"It means everything for the seniors, there's only a couple times you can go out a winner," Johnson said.
Green Wave senior running back Orleans Darkwa expressed the same sentiment. He wasn't having as much fun the last three bowl seasons.
"I was sitting at home getting ready to watch the bowl games. I was really disappointed; it was three years in a row I had to do that," Darkwa said. "Just to be here, to participate in one, is just a true blessing.'"