NEW ORLEANS — Incoming Tulane coach Will Hall wasted little time mentioning the elephant in the room.

“I know I wasn't the first choice for some people in here,” Hall said Tuesday during his formal introduction as outgoing coach Jon Sumrall's successor. “But I can promise you this: I am the best choice and the right choice for this place at this time.”

Hall — who thrived as a Division II coach and Division I offensive coordinator before stumbling through his first and only head coaching job at Southern Miss — was hired on Monday, about two days after LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker removed himself as a candidate and chose to remain with the Tigers and their new coach, Lane Kiffin.

A little more than a week ago, Sumrall accepted an offer to coach Florida, but has been permitted to

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