Tulane QB Darian Mensah, WR Mario Williams break down Wave's opening win, Mensah's debut performance

[Music] for Daren uh one when did you find out that you were going to be the first quarterback out there and then when you found out that that was the case like how much did you relish the opportunity to maybe potentially see his Q uh yeah just like coach sh said it was about 10 days ago they pulled me aside and told me that I'll be taking reps with the ones he told me they weren't going to name a starter um so that just made me want to bring it every day like kind of like a challenge um so I just brought it every day prepared even if I wasn't going to be the starter I would prepared the same way so um it was yeah it was like 10 days ago your first three third Downs you converted them all with your completions I think um just how you're a confident guy but how much just getting off to that right start help you tonight yeah I feel like starting the game is super important uh definitely helps when you got guys like Rio out there catching the ball for you but um yeah it's a it's a big confidence booster especially on like third down um to see like coach just said like it's like seeing the ball go through the net like you see like you can burn on third down it's it's a big uh confidence boost Daren how were you feeling you know head into the game knowing it was going to be your first start your first college game experience what were the feelings you were having prior to kickoff I was just ready to execute um I wasn't very nervous I don't really get nervous like that um I'm just really confident I got a lot of guys around me who believe in me and uh I just I've prepared for this moment like my whole life really so um really just excited I was really excited uh going into this game Mario you having the performance that you did first game with t Lan just kind of talk about the feeling of going into this contest and just kind of what you wanted to show uh yeah um you know it was hard because you know um we didn't have a starting quarterback uh coach was making it tough on us but you know I think every quarterback brought it to practice and um without them and the scout team and the whole team really just preparing me for this moment um I appreciate them and that's really what happened the whole team I think prepared me for this moment to come out here and showcase my talent so Mar that first catch it looked like you had but they reviewed it looked like you had the ball pin on your back at the end of the play just what did you how did that play develop for you oh that's crazy I I actually had a catch on my career where I pinned it on my back and it was kind of similar in that moment I it was weird I kind of like had a flashback and it was like dang I did this before so um you know just going out there with confidence um I think Daren delivered a great ball he hit me right in the face mask people don't know that but yeah he hit me right in the face mask he gave he gave me a chance to uh move the chains and get the job done so just going to follow up what were your impressions of Baran tonight uh he did his job uh he wasn't nervous he wasn't scared he he he did what he was told to do uh he executed he prepared very well um he did what he supposed to I'm I'm very excited to see where he goes and Daren kind of similar question um if you have a guy like Mario like how much does that help you as a quarterback uh yeah it's a huge part of our game you know our game plan Mario um and he's a guy who's just like extremely smart like when it comes to football like he knows when when and where he has to be every single snap and he's always it just always seems like he's in the right spot um so to have a guy like Rio is just a huge especially like me being young too like to have an older guy like I look up to Rio in a lot of ways like so um with all that being said like he's definitely a great addition to our team for both guys and even the start coach mentioned that you going to take the win right always going to take a shut out but that y didn't necessarily play to the standard right and that with these um games coming up against Kansas State Oklahoma it has to go to a different level like how much do y'all like realize that or or feel that and like and what do you feel like it it takes to go maybe to that next yeah absolutely uh I I feel the same way um we're definitely going to have to step it up next week um with K State but um I mean happy with the shut out but um just got some things to clean up like the penalties and stuff on third down but um I feel like it was it was a good first game for us but I yeah like I said we just got to step in next week uh s to what Darren and coach said um I think I'm happy for a shout out I'm happy for a win that's that's the most important thing uh Team great team winner um but like you said we didn't play to our standard like we're a lot better than that um penalty killed us on third down made us get off the field punt the ball we usually we we not trying to punt the ball we trying to convert every time so um just little things you know um lining up being where you're supposed to be doing the right thing making the right decisions um playing smart cuz we had a lot of dumb penalties um and that's what I think he was kind of mad about uh you know and was saying like we didn't play to our standards so just making sure sure we clean up our game and go out there and execute and do what we supposed to do Mario you've been part of offenses that have seen quarterbacks come in and get their first start and then just start to Skyrock and have great collegate careers what do you think about Daren in comparison to maybe them and and how he can you know Elevate himself going forward after his performance uh I don't think it's no comparison uh I think uh he did what he's supposed to do um we focus on Tane and this season um I'm not focused on like the past so I'm excited for Darren and this team where it goes so Jen this for you uh you haven't played a game since fall of what 2022 I just how great of a feeling was to go out there through a touchdown pass like be with your team be on the field how was this experience for you this is what you live for really um I've been a competitor my whole life and you know just to play against another team like you work all spring all summer to to play the first game and you know it was really exciting uh especially in front of everybody we had a pretty good turnout tonight uh to have everybody out there and just being out there with my teammates all that it was just a great feeling all night so uh super happy with the way we competed tonight that first touchdown pass though man that have been a fantastic feeling to finally you know give him yeah you'll say save me right there it was a little undertone but he made an amazing catch [Music]