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Jan. 9, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Long considered among the premier teams in the county year in and year out, the Tulane University baseball program garnered another national honor when Baseball America awarded the Green Wave an "A" impact rating in a recent study based on performance since the NCAA expanded its postseason field from 48 to 64 teams in 1999.

The grades, which were based on a "Conference Report Card" study performed by Baseball America, focused on each programs' national impact, overall competitiveness, fans and facilities, and academics. Of the eight top conferences - all six BCS leagues (Atlantic Coast, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Pacific-10 and Southeastern), plus Conference USA and the Big West - Tulane is one of 16 teams to receive an "A" grade.

"There's no question that Baseball America is the most reputable publication in our industry, and there is a lot of research done in this study," Tulane head coach Rick Jones said. "When you look at a body of work over a decade, there is a difference between a good team and a good program. We've always talked about that and this (study) speaks our program and all the players who played here before who helped build us into that.

"We take a lot of pride in this, there's no question about that. I know the players who have played here over the last 10 years take a lot of pride in that as well because it's through their efforts not only on the field but in the classroom."

The announcement comes one year after Baseball America named the Tulane baseball program the highest rated program on the rise over the past decade. The Green Wave ranked as the 82nd program in the nation in 1997 and rose to No. 16 in 2007, which marked the most meteoric rise of any program nationally.

Using a similar point system as the 2007 study, the 2008 Baseball America study issued five points for each Regional appearance since 1999, seven for each Super Regional appearance, 10 for each College World Series appearance, 20 points for each national title, five points for each first-team All-American, three points for each second-team All-American, and two points for each third-team All-American. The 2008 study added two new categories, awarding five points for producing a National Player of the Year and two points for producing a National Freshman of the Year.

The most recent study also factored in each teams' overall competitive level both inside its respective conference and against the nation's Top 50 programs. NCAA attendance figures and facilities also graded into the equation, as well as the NCAA's new Academic Progress Rate (APR), which Tulane stands well ahead of the national curve.

"The other piece of this that makes this possible is the support from our administration and our fan base," Jones said. "All this figures in. When you have the fans that we have in terms of quality and numbers, the administration's consistent commitment to the program, and the facility that we just built are major factors in a positive way in this (study).

"I just think that's it's a combination of the players who came before us, the coaches that have been in our program, our fans, the administrative support and the commitment that we have from the administration, the players and their performance in the classroom. All of those things are factors in this, and that is what makes this a unique and special place to coach."

Since 1999, Tulane has advance to the NCAA Regional eight times, including trips to the Super Regionals in 2001, 2004 and 2005, and College World Series appearances in 2001 and 2005.

During that time, the Green Wave program has produced a combined eight All-Americans - first-teamers Jake Gautreau (DH, 2001), Michael Aubrey (1B, 2003) and Mark Hamilton (1B, 2006), second-teamers James Jurries (2B, 1999) and Brian Bogusevic (UT, 2004), and third-teamers Jurries (2B, 2002), Bogusevic (LHP, 2005) and Micah Owings (UT, 2005). Jurries and Aubrey, meanwhile, claimed Baseball America National Freshman of the Year honors in 1999 and 2001, respectively.

Over the last nine seasons, Tulane has a combined record of 396-178-1 record (.690 winning percentage), including a 166-82-1 mark in C-USA play (.669 winning percentage) as the Green Wave claimed a pair of regular-season league titles, three runner-up showings and won a trio of C-USA Tournament titles. Tulane has ranked among the nation's top teams in terms of attendance during that stretch as well, including a No. 19 ranking last season despite playing at an off-campus facility.

In 2008, Tulane will play in a brand new on-campus facility which will officially be opened as Greer Field at Turchin Stadium on Feb. 22. The new stadium will feature increased seating to more than 5,000, improved sight lines, more chairback seating, more and expanded bathroom and concession areas and a fan plaza at the entranceway. In addition, the new facility will have four luxury suites and a state-of-the-art press box, and the facility will serve as the site of the 2008 C-USA Baseball Tournament from May 21-25.

In addition, the new stadium features a new playing surface as FieldTurf has replaced the former natural-grass field. FieldTurf is the same surface used by several Major League Baseball and NFL franchises, and with its ability to drain extremely well, the artificial surface all but eliminates the possibility of weather making the field unplayable.

Tulane is joined on the "A" list by fellow C-USA member Rice; Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina of the ACC; Arizona State, Southern Cal, Stanford and Oregon State of the Pac-10; Nebraska and Texas of the Big 12; LSU and South Carolina of the SEC; and Cal State Fullerton of the Big West. Conference USA ranked fifth among the eight conferences listed, posting a combined 2.66 GPA and ranking ahead of the Big West (2.00 GPA), Big East (1.88 GPA) and Big 10 (1.82 GPA) conferences.

Houston and East Carolina received grades of "B" while Southern Miss and UCF were awarded a "C". Memphis recorded a "D" according to the Baseball America study, and UAB and Marshall each received an "F".

The Green Wave begin the 2008 season on Friday, Feb. 22, when they open Greer Field at Turchin Stadium with a 7 p.m. first pitch against Illinois-Chicago. For more ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE. To make a donation to TAF, call the Tulane Athletics Fund office at (504) 865-5356.