Louisiana Tech to meet Arkansas State in R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

In a week full of fun and distractions, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs regained focus for one final full practice at Yulman Stadium before Saturday’s R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against Arkansas State.
“This team has really impressed me with their maturity,” Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz said in a news release. “As much as we want to be here and have a good time, it is about the game. They have really done a great job with the leadership we have in the four captains and some of the upperclassmen. I think they will be excited to get in the dome and see it all on Friday and probably will be a little wide-eyed, but by the time we get to Saturday, this game is going to be about what goes on between the lines and not the circus that surrounds it. I think the players have done a really good job of keeping their heads. They are really focused and dialed in and really excited to play.”
The day started early for Holtz and captains Kenneth Dixon, Jeff Driskel, Kentrell Brice and Vernon Butler, as the group took center stage in a media luncheon at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Thursday.
Following a 30-minute interview session, Holtz and Co. raced over to Yulman Stadium, home of the Tulane Green Wave football team, for an afternoon practice.
“We really focused in after we found out who we were playing,” senior Paul Turner said in a news release. “We stressed that we wanted to stay focused this week. We knew that we were going to have a lot of distractions, and we were going to have some time for leisure, but we have to stay focused. Coach Holtz and the other coaches have done a great job of keeping us focused.”
The Bulldogs went through a final walk-through at the Superdome this morning before taking a team photo and having lunch in the afternoon.
“It has been a blessing,” Abraham said in a news release. “The New Orleans bowl has done a great job of welcoming us in. We have been having a great time together. It has just been great, especially for all of the seniors. We are looking forward to this bowl game, and we are ready to compete and play to win.”
The Morgan City area will have a local connection in the game as Central Catholic alum Lloyd Grogan is a reserve linebacker for Louisiana Tech.
Grogan, a redshirt junior, has 28 total tackles (20 solo and eight assists) one interception, three pass breakups and four passes defended in 10 games this season.
Tickets for the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl still remain on sale from the LA Tech Ticket Office. Louisiana Tech has sold its allotment of the $60 range and has $40 level tickets on sale.