Now this is CLASS !

[MeanGreen61]

Off the CUSA board.

Football: Navy picks up travel costs for Tulane

By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer

Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson hasn't held a staff meeting in

months.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, it essentially shut down

the

university that has been based there since 1834.

With its facilities destroyed or damaged, Tulane's entire athletic

department has been forced to pick up and move.

Dickson is based in Dallas while his basketball team is across the

state in

College Station. Meanwhile, Tulane's football team is operating out of

Ruston, La.

Dickson was personally affected by the hurricane, losing his home in

New

Orleans along with most of his personal belongings.

"Rick asked if he could come casual to dinner on Friday night because

he

currently doesn't own a necktie," Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk

said.

Gladchuk has an emotional attachment to New Orleans and especially

Tulane

University since he served as the school's athletic director from

1987-90.

Hearing that such a great institution is in danger of financial

collapse

sends shivers down his spine.

Tulane is coming to Annapolis this weekend to play Navy in football,

and

Gladchuk is making certain the trip doesn't cost the visitors a dime.

With the support of Adm. Rodney Rempt, the Naval Academy

Superintendent,

Gladchuk has wiped out all the travel costs normally associated with a

football road trip.

"We've tried to come up with a way to make this trip on Navy," Gladchuk

said. "We're just doing everything we can to help them, to support

them."

Visiting teams are normally guaranteed an average of $120,000 from the

host

school. Gladchuk upped that amount by $50,000 and sent the check to

Dickson

in advance. Tulane is using the additional money to cover air fare for

the

entire football traveling party.

"Everything involving Tulane athletics is so disjointed right now.

There's

no cash flow and the school president has basically told Rick Dickson

to

figure it out," Gladchuk said. "They're really worried about losing

everything. We feel compelled to do what we can to help ease the

burden."

Navy has come up with ways to save Tulane approximately $50,000 more in

expenses for this trip. At the academy's urging, the Wyndham Hotel in

Baltimore is providing complimentary rooms for the entire traveling

party.

When players, coaches and support staff arrive at their hotel rooms,

they

will find gifts bags filled with all sorts of goodies as a welcome

offering

from the Naval Academy.

Navy has also arranged for free bus transportation for the team

throughout

its stay in the area. The entire Tulane traveling party has been

invited to

a dinner at the academy on Friday night.

Finally, all Tulane students that wish to attend the game will receive

a

free ticket by simply presenting a valid student identification card.

Gladchuk estimates the total relief Navy is offering the Tulane

athletic

department to reach roughly $200,000.

"We just want this entire trip, except for the 60 minutes on Saturday,

to be

very enjoyable for the Tulane folks," Gladchuk said.

[FirefightnRick]

That's what it's all about.

Rick

[eulesseagle]

Navy, that is a class act.

Kudos also to SMU for housing the Football team for a while.

Kudos to LaTech for letting them play in Ruston.

Kudos to Texas A&M for the BB support.

Kudos to all the other NCAA institutions for allowing Tulane's students attend their schools either without charge or by letting them in with "in state tuition" including TCU.

Makes you proud that you are an American.

[MeanGreen61]

Makes me proud to be an 'old Navy guy'

Edited November 2, 2005 by MeanGreen61

[DeepGreen]

Makes me proud to be an 'old Navy guy'    

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Ex Swabby, eh?

[GreenBrigadeDebbie]

I commend everyone who lent a helping hand (and in the case of LA Tech fans who lent their voices in cheering when Tulane played in Ruston). Really remarkable!!!