Tulane Green Wave College Football Pregame Quote, 12/29/2022

How important is it for you to finish the season off? It’s been a big season. What is it to finish it off 1-0?

OL PRINCE PINES: It will definitely be a combination of hard work and perseverance for this program and this culture and what we’re going through, so basically like finishing off strong and it definitely will be monumental and important for our season.

With Michael [Pratt], your quarterback, what have you seen as to his development leadership wise, how he’s developed?

OL PRINCE PINES: Being this is my first season here, I’m seeing like his leadership, not only with offense but the entire team in its entirety. How he plays into the role as a captain, really like one of the leader factors, why we’re so successful and why we attack every game 1-0 and our whole 1-0 mindset brings us together.

How much is it having captains that care about winning so much, with Michael [Pratt], Tyjae [Spears], Sincere [Haynesworth], all these guys?

OL PRINCE PINES: It’s very instrumental, but they don’t only care about one, they care about us as a team. As a people, if we’re down, they check in with us. It’s mostly like a brotherhood , like a family. So that’s what makes going 1-0 and that 1-0 mindset even stronger.

You have had a huge year. How quickly when you got on campus did you realize this was a really good fit for you?

OL PRINCE PINES: I realized it immediately when I got here. Because being at other schools, they have different cultures, different coaches, different programs, different coaching styles. One thing I can say about Tulane, they put the emphasis on brotherhood and family. That 1-0 mindset definitely was a pivotal role.

Obviously, Tyjae [Spears] is going to have an opportunity on the next level. You’ve seen him this year. As the season went on, he got better. Talk about what you’ve seen in him and what do you think is going to translate so well on the next level.

OL PRINCE PINES: He’s one of the best running backs I’ve ever seen. My job in the other college program so basically, he’s explosive in his ways. He gets cuts to the outside. Meets people on the second level. So that will definitely translate well to the next level.

That touchdown you had against UCF (University of Central Florida), what was your role in that play? And how many times have you watched it?

OL PRINCE PINES: I just put everything like – just attack every play the same way. So I just try to, you know, do my job every time. Let them handle it.

How often does Tyjae [Spears] do stuff that amazes you?

OL PRINCE PINES: All the time. All the time. It’s great having a running back like that able to make cuts because they’re able to make miracle plays sometimes. As long as you do your job for at least two, three seconds, Tyjae is going to take it all the way in.

Do you catch yourself, once he breaks the line and gets past you guys, do you catch yourself watching?

OL PRINCE PINES: I try to block so he can get past me first. But sometimes it’s just amazing to watch.

He (Tyjae Spears) was a little banged up in the spring. How long did it take you to realize how special a running back he is?

OL PRINCE PINES: Basically the first day. The first day we put pads on for fall camp. I was new. I came during the summer. I didn’t really know. Basically we made one cut, went all the way down. I was like, all right, we’re about to have a good season.

Kurt Hester, what did he mean for the team? You’ve been under different strength coordinators. What made him different?

OL PRINCE PINES: He cares about us as people. He cares about our goals and dreams. A strength coach that has expertise in this field.

He’s (Kurt Hester) a pretty old guy. He doesn’t look it just looking at him. He’s in incredible shape. How much does that give you guys energy?

OL PRINCE PINES: He definitely hypes us up. Every morning just knowing you’re going in the weight room, Coach Hester is a boost of energy.

I guess I’m just asking you to brag about the offensive line. How has the offensive line been in your perspective?

OL PRINCE PINES: I feel like it’s a brotherhood. When I came, they already had a brotherhood established. Just being able to be a part of that, attack each day. So like just being a part of that and seeing success is great.