What a magical season this has been for college football in Louisiana, with Tulane, LSU, Southern and Southeastern all chasing championships. The efforts by these teams reflect years of preparation, practice and athletic excellence. They also represent the very best of their respective schools and cities, and our state.

At Tulane, we have been overwhelmed by New Orleans’ embrace of our student-athletes who, through their service and scholarship, are as impressive off the field as they are on it. A huge “thank you” to our fans, alumni and our hometown for their support and faith in our program. They have filled Yulman Stadium and our hearts.

No city in the world knows how to come together quite like New Orleans – whether to face challenges such as hurricanes and pandemics or to joyously celebrate their hometown teams.

We are also indebted to our coaches, especially Willie Fritz, who is staying in the Crescent City to continue to lead the Green Wave to greatness.

College athletics is more than thrilling competition, tradition and pageantry. It is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through teamwork. A select number of the students who take the field on Saturday will go on to play professionally, but most will serve in critical roles as future doctors, artists, lawyers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and more. The lessons these students learn about working together for a common goal will serve them in whatever profession they choose.

Tulane’s current gridiron glory is the exclamation point at the end of a year of excellence that has included the Green Wave sailing team capturing the ICSA National Championship and women’s golf taking home its first ever AAC Championship. These student-athletes are making history on the field (and on the water!).

The uptown campus, where Saturday’s contest will take place, is abuzz with major construction and renovations of academic and residential buildings all designed to take our research mission, scholarship and student experience to the next level.

Downtown, we are pursuing a partnership with LCMC Health that promises better patient care, more medical research, enhanced training for future healthcare professionals and the opportunity to transform New Orleans into a healthcare destination. Our partnership with LCMC Health will also deepen our collaboration with LSU, as medical personnel from both universities work within the same system.

No one knows the outcome of any athletic contest, but the winner of the Tulane/LCMC Health partnership is clear – the patients who will benefit from combining cutting-edge academic medicine with the compassionate, patient-centric care of community medicine.

This partnership, coupled with Tulane’s rebirth of the old Charity Hospital as a hub of research and discovery, represents a once-in-a-generation investment in the heart of our town. Cities throughout the country, have seen their fortunes turned around and their futures renewed by major research universities investing and innovating in their downtowns. Now, it is New Orleans’ turn.

We are facing a historic football weekend. But long after the final whistle blows, fans should remember that there is much more magic to come.

Michael A. Fitts is president of Tulane University.