Tulane Relocates Season Opener After Hurricane Ida Hits Louisiana

Hurricane Ida forced Tulane to relocate its first game of the season in New Orleans to Norman, Oklahoma.

The game against Oklahoma in New Orleans has been relocated to Norman, Okla., due to Hurricane Ida's impact, Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen announced in a statement. 

We are headed to Oklahoma to open the 2021 season.

Check out the official statement from @Tulane_AD.

Full story: https://t.co/1VSd6CnpBB#RollWave pic.twitter.com/6KzL8MgsPs

— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) August 30, 2021

"In light of the catastrophic damage sustained by the city of New Orleans and, after consulting with our emergency preparedness and response teams at the institutional, local and state levels, we will relocate our Sept. 4 football game against the University of Oklahoma to Norman, Okla.," he said. 

The Green Wave were scheduled to host the Sooners on Saturday at noon ET but will instead start their season on the road. The day and kick-off time remain the same but television information and other game-specific details will be announced by Oklahoma, according to the release.

The entire Tulane athletic department has also relocated to Birmingham, Ala,. and is being hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tulane's athletic department and all of its athletes will return to New Orleans when it's safe, Dannen said.  

Monday morning, Tulane officials told Sports Illustrated there was no chance the game would be played in New Orleans. Dannen then told SI that contingencies were being made and the game could possibly be played in Norman before the eventual decision. 

Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana that left New Orleans without electricity. There was also widespread flooding, power outages and catastrophic damage throughout the state. 

The Saints were also displaced due to Ida and have been practicing at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. 

Tulane finished 6–6 last season while Oklahoma capped off its 9–2 season with a Cotton Bowl win against Florida in 2021.