The state of Louisiana and the southeastern United States in general are typically not known for their snowfall, nevermind getting significant amounts of it. However on Tuesday, Jan. 21, that was most certainly a notation that was turned on its head, as New Orleans received eight inches of snow before noon according to Louis Armstrong International Airport, and in some areas near a foot of snow.
This is completely unprecedented, however, for many it was a day of fun and enjoyment as they had the chance to go outside and enjoy the snowfall, as it was the first significant appearance of snow in Louisiana since 2021. The state also issued its first-ever blizzard warnings, with many roads eventually being closed due to the occurrence.
Here are some notable posts from around social media about the snow and the winter fun that was had:
Audubon Zoo has transformed into a winter wonderland!
Special shoutout to our animal care, security, and facilities teams who are hard at work making sure everyone is warm and safe! pic.twitter.com/VJZ2R08Lcc
I’m still in disbelief this happened. Here it is. Timelapse of historic New Orleans snow storm. Snow got up to 12 inches on my snowboard in the French Quarter. pic.twitter.com/M9byQeZJGL
Snow in New Orleans
(I accidentally delete this post after 22k of you had liked it I’d be grateful if you could like/repost it again) pic.twitter.com/dI1U36JSWv
Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Ty Thompson will reportedly be moving from quarterback to tight end with the Tulane Green Wave.
It’s been a long and windy road for former Oregon Ducks quarterback Ty Thompson, who spent his first three years in Eugene as a backup for both Anthony Brown and Bo Nix.
After the Ducks brought in Dillon Gabriel ahead of the 2024 season, Thompson decided that it was time to find a new team, and a better path to playing time. He ended up transferring to the Tulane Green Wave, where he would compete with true freshman Daian Mensah, ultimately being named the backup.
After playing sparingly throughout the season, Thompson entered the portal, but then later withdrew his name, choosing to stick with Tulane.
That wasn’t the only bit of news, though. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Thomspon is now expected to change positions with the Green Wave, moving from quarterback to tight end.
Thompson, who was a former 5-star recruit when he committed to the Ducks, has thrown for 9 touchdowns in his career, while rushing for six more. He has one year of eligibility remaining at the college level.
Standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Thompson could present a nice target at the TE position and find a path to success at the next level there. We will see how things translate over the next year for this former Duck who was a fan favorite in Eugene.
Looking at the good, bad and ugly aspects of Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl victory over Tulane to finish the season with eight wins.
Florida football won its first postseason game since 2019 and the first of the [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] era on Friday against the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators nearly pitched a shutout in this one, grinding their way to a 33-8 victory inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
It was not the most exciting matchup, but the win gave the Orange and Blue an 8-5 final tally for the 2024 campaign after surviving a schedule that was among the toughest in the sport this fall. Florida kept Tulane scoreless until a touchdown with just 0:29 remaining spoiled the first shutout since 2021 in an overwhelming display of defensive domination.
It was a satisfying conclusion to an unexpectedly exciting college football campaign for Napier and Co. The Gators Wire crew provided their takeaways in a good, bad and ugly format following the game now that the final horn has sounded on the season.
Florida’s defense was outstanding today
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
GOOD: Florida’s defense was absolutely outstanding today, almost shutting out their opponent to give the Gators their 12-straight win over the Green Wave. The corps may have only had one sack, but it also grabbed a trio of interceptions while holding Tulane to 194 total yards (just 62 yards in the first half).
The one touchdown and two-point conversion came against bench players, for what it is worth.
Also give a gold star to Trey Smack, whose four field goals (in four attempts) set a new Gasparilla Bowl record. Of course, earning the win is in itself worthy of the “good” category as well.
BAD: Florida’s red zone offense was weak, being forced to take the field goal instead of pushing across the goal line in three of five the first five visits inside the 20-yard line while getting a TD once. At least points were put on the board, but it felt like a lot more were left off.
Also, Lagway did not necessarily have a terrible game — his numbers were perfectly solid — but he certainly seemed off at times, and both of his interceptions were very ill-advised. Additionally, it looked like he simply stopped planting his feet when he threw, which led to a few errant throws and those picks.
Sure, Tulane put some pressure on him, but his first half was a bit puzzling. He did manage to earn the MVP award thanks to a much stronger second half.
UGLY: Man alive, this game was a pure snoozefest — the first half was downright painful. Members of the media who ranked this game near the bottom of the bowl game roster made the right call. The overall officiating also left a lot to be desired, but hey, a win is a win. — Adam Dubbin
Another incredible display of defense
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
GOOD: Another incredible display of defense. I might sound like a broken record here, but this Florida defense looks like a completely different unit out there compared to the first few games of the season.
The Gators’ defense held Tulane to just eight points and 194 total yards, including only 23 in the second quarter. Florida also did a good job of generating multiple turnovers. The Green Wave gave up three interceptions, one to defensive back Trikweze Bridges, defensive back Alfonzo Allen Jr. and inside linebacker Myles Graham.
If this defense can continue this play heading into next season, the Gators have a chance to become a serious threat in the SEC.
BAD: DJ Lagway’s rusty first half. Lagway did not look like himself at all today, especially in the first half. He just didn’t look comfortable out there and he missed on some of his throws including the deep balls, which is one of the strongest aspects of his game.
The freshman threw two interceptions in the first half, one of them coming in the end zone that took away a Gators touchdown opportunity. At least in the second half, he looked more comfortable. I don’t think nerves played a factor in this game but rust might’ve had something to do with his poor play in the first half.
Nonetheless, Lagway threw for over 300 yards, set a single-game Gasparilla Bowl record, and did enough for the Gators to win.
UGLY: Red zone offense. The Gators just couldn’t find a way to get the ball in the end zone when they got in the red zone. They had six red zone opportunities and had two touchdowns.
When they called run plays, the running backs struggled to get yardage and when they called passes, Lagway struggled to hit an open receiver. Luckily, kicker Trey Smack was able to knock down all of his field goals to help the Gators point points on the board but it was a bit shaky for the Florida offense today. — Aidan Gallardo
Walk-on touchdowns are a beautiful thing
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
GOOD: Florida has played inspired football since the first month of the season, and it’s a big positive to see this team close out the year on a four-game win streak against mostly winning teams (sorry, not sorry, FSU).
While this might not have been DJ Lagway’s best game, he still put up decent numbers and led the team to several scoring drives in the second half. I’m not worried about the two picks at all.
Of course, the defense deserves its typical weekly praise, even if the walk-ons couldn’t hold the shutout intact. Keeping a conference championship-caliber club under 200 yards of total offense is the ideal way to build confidence going into the offseason.
BAD: I’m not of the mind that scoring points on 5-of-6 red zone drives is a bad thing, even though touchdowns are more desirable than field goals. Instead, I’ll point to Florida’s nine penalties. Okay, let’s call it eight because the team absolutely deserved to mob the end zone and celebrate with Rubio. Walk-on touchdowns are a beautiful thing. A reserve defensive back committing a late pass interference call is forgivable, too.
But the false start, two holding calls, personal foul, offsides and roughing the passer were all avoidable. Billy Napier has preached discipline for the entirety of his tenure as head coach at Florida, and this was not a disciplined performance. Something to work on for next year.
UGLY: Tulane looked lost on offense for most of the night, so the ugly goes to the Green Wave’s quarterback Ty Thompson. I know this is a guy who’s spent the year as a third-string option, but maybe he’ll reconsider his transfer portal decision after this performance.
He certainly didn’t help himself out with three interceptions, but maybe Tulane doesn’t want him back after this either…. You lie in the bed you make, I guess? — David Rosenberg
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Taking a look at the factors that helped the Gators secure a near-shutout victory against Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Florida football finished their 2024 season on a high note, as they defeated the Tulane Green Wave, 33-8, in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Although the Gators won, it looked as if they were leaning more on the side of trying not to lose. It was sloppy, ugly and unlike the well-executed Florida team that was displayed in the final stretch of the regular season.
It wasn’t necessarily pretty for head coach Billy Napier and his Florida football squad, but they found a way to get the job done. DJ Lagway did not look like himself in the first half, but the defense and special teams delivered when the Gators needed them.
The Gators head into the new year with their heads held high and a ton of momentum on their side.
Here are five key factors that contributed to Florida football’s win over Tulane.
Defense wins championships?
The Gators’ defense held Tulane to 194 total yards including just 23 in the second quarter. When compared to the first few games to now, this defense looks like a completely different unit.
Not only did Florida limit Tulane to minimal yardage, but they were able to come up with multiple interceptions.
On Tulane’s first play, Florida defensive back Trikweze Bridges came up with his second interception of the season. On Tulane’s second offensive drive in the third quarter, Green Wave quarterback Ty Thompson’s pass was tipped up in the air and intercepted by defensive back Alfonzo Allen Jr.
In the fourth quarter, the Gators were able to come up with another interception. Inside linebacker Myles Graham came up with Florida’s third interception of the game.
Despite the Florida offense not playing their greatest today, their defense came through and allowed just eight points.
Shaky first half doesn’t affect DJ Lagway
Even though it wasn’t Lagway’s best performance this year, he did enough to secure the win for Florida.
Lagway did not look like himself in the first half, missing on throws and struggling to connect with his receivers on the deep balls. That’s something that is typically the strong part of his game.
Lagway threw two interceptions in the first half, one of them coming in the end zone that took away a Gators touchdown opportunity. But in the second half, he played much better and did a good job in limiting the turnovers.
The freshman finished the game throwing for 305 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. His 305 passing yards set a new Gasparilla Bowl single-game record.
Nonetheless, Lagway was able to do enough for the Gators to come out with the win. He was also named the Gasparilla Bowl MVP.
Trey Smack kept smacking the field goals
Florida kicker Trey Smack was automatic today, going 4-for-4 on field goals including a long of 44 yards.
With his four field goals, the junior set a single-game Gasparilla Bowl record.
Smack has continued to be “Mr. Reliable” for Florida this year, drilling 18 out of his 21 (85.7%) field goal attempts. Smack’s longest field goal of the year came against the LSU Tigers when he nailed a 55-yarder.
Dominating time of possession
The Gators had possession for 38:57 of the game compared to Tulane’s possession of 21:03. Part of that was due to the Florida defense forcing quick offensive possessions for Tulane. Another part was due to the Gators taking their time on offense and running as much clock as they can.
Because Florida dominated the time of possession, they were able to maintain control of the game and keep everything steady. Also, it allowed the defense to stay rested and come out physically and energetic every time they stepped out onto the field.
Gator Nation showed out
Florida was able to ride the wave with Gator Nation on their back throughout this game. Florida fans swarmed Raymond James Stadium and it felt like a game in the Swamp.
Tulane did have a good number of fans but they were clearly outnumbered by those of Florida.
Whether it was making noise when the Gators were on defense or cheering on the Orange and Blue when they scored a touchdown, Florida fans played a contributing role in the Gators’ victory against Tulane.
There’s a reason Florida has one of the best fan bases in the country and they put it on full display in this Gators “home” game.
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Florida capped off the 2024 season with its first bowl win since 2019, and a four-game streak to close out the year has fans looking forward to 2025.
Despite some early struggles, Florida won the Gasparilla Bowl game, 33-8, against Tulane Friday night.
The win is significant for many reasons. It’s the first bowl win for the Gators under Billy Napier and also the culmination of one of the most up-and-down seasons in Florida football history.
Most fans and pundits wouldn’t believe that Florida could nearly shut out a 9-4 team that made it to a conference championship if asked a month into the season, but Napier managed to turn the program around following the first bye week of the year and it’s been nothing but improvements — save for the Texas game — ever since.
[autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], who set a Gasparilla Bowl record with 305 passing yards, has Florida on the rise, but the defense has improved the most over the past three months. Finishing things off with a goose egg is a poetic way to end the year.
Defense puts on a clinic
Even though Florida played without a good chunk of its starting lineup — due to both transfers and injuries — the defense played with a first-string effort. They limited Tulane to 194 total yards and forced three interceptions in perhaps the most dominant performance of the season.
From big Desmond Watson picking up the Green Wave’s running back for a stop to reserve Alonzo Allen Jr. securing a pick, Ron Roberts proved that he’s the miracle worker on the defensive side of the ball. Florida will be just fine without Austin Armstrong next year.
Tulane averaged 2.6 yards per carry and had under 100 yards passing until a garbage time touchdown drive in the game’s waning minutes; against Florida’s walk-on/reserve unit at that.
A little rust from DJ in the first quarter, but vintage Lagway the rest of the way
Lagway didn’t have his best stuff at the beginning of this one. He threw a pair of first-half interceptions but still managed 190 yards on 14-of-22 passing. The second half was far more fruitful from a scoring standpoint, with Florida going field goal, touchdown, field goal on its first three drives. The Gators punted just once, ending the game with a pair of touchdown drives — the second of which was scored by walk-on running back Anthony Rubio.
Chimere Dike went out with a bang, catching six passes for 96 yards, and several young players performed well behind him. Tight end Tony Livingston hauled in four for 58 yards and a touchdown, and redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell also caught four passes for 50 yards. Both figure to be crucial pieces of Florida’s offense next season.
The future is bright in Gainesville under center, and there are plenty of elite receivers coming in to replenish the losses of Elijhah Badger and Dike.
It’s finally great to be a Florida Gator again
It’s been a long time since Florida Gators fans could proudly boast that the team is back, but a four-game win streak has everyone in college football excited about the program heading into 2025. Billy Napier managed to reel in a top-10 recruiting class, and the coaching staff has proven that it’s capable of getting results without starters.
The Gators haven’t had a winning season since 2020, but that’s all in the past now. For those who hung in there “through all kinds of weather,” this has to feel good.
That’s a wrap for the 2024 Florida football season. Until next year, Gators fans!
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Here are the Gasparilla Bowl predictions from the Gators Wire crew as the big game quickly approaches.
It was a long journey for the Florida Gators, from the college football preseason to the final game of the schedule.
Alas, the Orange and Blue survived the toughest schedule in the sport this fall, earning a 7-5 overall record and a trip to the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa to face the Tulane Green Wave. The two programs will take the field opposite each other on Friday in a series that UF leads with an all-time record of 13-6-2 dating back to 1915.
Billy Napier and Co. come into this one with tons of momentum while Jon Sumrall’s squad is still smarting from a beatdown in the American Athletic Conference title game against the Army Black Knights. Additionally, the opening of the transfer portal has changed some team dynamics as well.
Ahead of Florida’s first bowl game since 2022, the Gators Wire staff convened to offer their respective takes on this year’s Gasparilla Bowl matchup.
Florida is poised to dominate
Melina Myers-Imagn Images
The upcoming Gasparilla Bowl offers an interesting matchup between Florida and Tulane. Spearheaded by freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, Florida has hit a late-season stride that should terrify any opponent. Lagway’s arm strength and on-field leadership have been instrumental in Florida’s resurgence, propelling the team to notable victories against top-tier opponents.
Although Tulane boasts a robust defense and a talented running back in Makhi Hughes, they face a significant setback with the departure of their standout quarterback. This adjustment might just be too much to overcome against a Gator squad that’s gaining momentum and cohesion at the right time.
Backed by a surging offense and revitalized team spirit, Florida is poised to not only compete but to dominate in the Gasparilla Bowl, making it a game that Gator fans can eagerly anticipate as a display of Florida’s rising prowess. — Aidan Gallardo
Florida 42, Tulane 21
Lagway soars, defense smothers
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Florida is favored by two touchdowns coming into this one despite the stark difference in records. Of course, the difference between the SEC and AAC is night and day, and Tulane got creamed by a top-25 Army squad in the title game.
Additionally, The Green Wave has seen more significant departures into the transfer portal than the Gators. Combine that with Napier and Co’s momentum coming into this one, it should be a slam dunk.
I expect DJ Lagway to put up season-best numbers in this one while the defense smothers an over-matched opponent. The Gators have won the last 11 meetings, albeit the last one coming in 1984. I see victory No. 12 after the final horn sounds. — Adam Dubbin
Florida 38, Tulane 13
Montrell Johnson Jr. will be the stud
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
This Florida team has done a lot whenever it has a week off, and the extra practices that come with a bowl game should benefit the team greatly. Sure, a handful of players will be missing, but most of the departing transfers aren’t starters and the team was already banged up. Tulane has lost more, too.
This should be a relatively easy win for the Gators, especially if the team plays like it did against LSU and Ole Miss. I’m not sure Adam’s prediction of a Lagway season-best is in the cards — the kid threw for 456 yards and three touchdowns against Samford — but he should still show out.
I’m more inclined to believe that Montrell Johnson Jr. will be the stud here. One last big game for one of Napier’s favorite players. — David Rosenberg
Florida 42, Tulane 17
How to watch Gasparilla Bowl
The Florida-Tulane game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 20, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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Sports Illustrated ranks Gasparilla Bowl matchup between the Gators and Tulane.
Florida football’s matchup with the Tulane Green Wave in the upcoming Gasparilla Bowl is the 17th-best bowl game of the season, according to Sports Illustrated.
The Gators are riding a wave of momentum into the bowl game, driven by freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. His leadership was pivotal in helping Florida string together three consecutive wins to finish out the regular season strong.
Lagway’s emergence as a dynamic playmaker has sparked new hope for Florida’s future, with head coach Billy Napier looking to keep the team’s momentum going into this bowl game and next season.
According to Sports Illustrated writer Zach Koons, the Gasparilla Bowl “already lost some of its luster with standout Tulane freshman quarterback Darian Mensah announcing his transfer to Duke.”
Despite the Green Wave’s starting quarterback not taking part in the matchup, this bowl matchup is still going to be a fun one to watch.
Here is everything Sports Illustrated said about the Gasparilla Bowl.
What SI said about the Gasparilla Bowl
“This game already lost some of its luster with standout Tulane freshman quarterback Darian Mensah announcing his transfer to Duke,” Koons wrote.
“Still, the Green Wave’s defense is still one of the best units in the country, running back Makhi Hughes ran for 1,372 yards this season (10th in FBS) and head coach Jon Sumrall spurned interest from major programs to stay in New Orleans, keeping the program as one of the premier teams in the AAC.”
Koon continued, “Florida still features rising star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who helmed wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State to close out the year. If Billy Napier can build off of his team’s performance in the second half of this season, beginning with this bowl game, the Gators may be a team to consider more closely next year in the SEC.”
SI’s top 10 bowl games
This list does not include games from the College Football Playoff.
10. Kinder’s Texas Bowl (Baylor Bears vs. LSU Tigers)
The Florida-Tulane game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 20, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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The Duke Blue Devils found their 2025 quarterback when former Tulane star Darian Mensah committed to the program on Wednesday.
Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah must have been pretty impressed with his Tuesday visit with the Blue Devils, because he told ESPN reporter Pete Thamel on Wednesday that he’d committed to play for Duke next season.
Mensah, a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games with the Green Wave this season. He picked up 9.5 yards per attempt and completed 65.9% of his passes while only throwing six interceptions, and he added 132 yards and another score on the ground.
Duke’s newest quarterback finished with a trio of 300-yard games last season, including a career-high 342 yards against Kansas State back in Week 2, and he threw multiple touchdown passes in eight different games. Tulane ended the year with a 9-4 record, reaching the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
Mensah helps rebuild a Duke quarterback room that last starter [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] and sophomore [autotag]Grayson Loftis[/autotag] to the transfer portal over the previous 48 hours. Murphy threw for a program-record 26 touchdowns this season while Loftis started five games for the Blue Devils in 2023.
The Duke Blue Devils lost quarterback Maalik Murphy to the transfer portal on Monday, but a potential replacement came to Durham on Tuesday.
Duke quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] won’t return to Durham for the 2025 season, but head coach [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his staff might have a lead on his potential replacement.
ESPN senior writer Pete Thamel reported that former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah scheduled a Tuesday visit with the Blue Devils, the first program he’s visited since entering the portal.
As of Tuesday morning, Mensah is 247Sports’ No. 3 overall transfer quarterback prospect. The redshirt freshman and former three-star prospect saw the field for the first time this season and looked remarkably productive, throwing for 2,723 yards and running for 132 more with 23 total touchdowns. He completed 65.9% of his passes and averaged 9.5 yards per attempt, only throwing six interceptions while tossing multiple touchdown passes in eight different games.
Mensah made waves ahead of this season when he beat out former Oregon Ducks quarterback Ty Thompson, a former top-100 prospect from the Class of 2021, for Tulane’s starting job. He guided Tulane to a 9-4 record and an appearance in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
CBS Sports ranks Gasparilla Bowl matchup between the Gators and Tulane at No. 28.
Florida football is set to close an eventful season with a matchup in the Gasparilla Bowl, taking on the Tulane Green Wave.
With both teams looking to end their years on a high note, there’s no doubt this matchup will provide some excitement for the fans.
The Gators, led by coach Billy Napier, turned heads late in the season with signature wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State, showcasing their potential heading into the offseason and next year. For Florida fans, it’s another chance to watch rising star quarterback DJ Lagway in action before he gears up for a pivotal year ahead.
Looking at Tulane, it enters the bowl game with something to prove after a frustrating end to its season. Once considered a potential dark horse playoff team, the Green Wave lost to Memphis and Army in back-to-back games.
CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford ranked the Gasparilla Bowl at No. 28 in his list of bowl games for 2024-25. This is what he wrote about the matchup.
What CBS Sports said about the matchup
“Florida ended Billy Napier’s Year 3 with victories over LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State,” Crawford wrote.”Any opportunity to watch DJ. Lagway throw it around again before the offseason is welcomed. The Green Wave lost to Army in the AAC Championship Game a week after falling to Memphis in a game that squandered dark horse playoff potential.”
The Gators will face the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl held inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 20. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
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