Jump to content

Tulane Green Wave football

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tulane Green Wave football
2025 Tulane Green Wave football team
First season1893; 132 years ago
Athletic directorDavid Harris
Head coachJon Sumrall
2nd season, 9–5 (.643)
StadiumYulman Stadium
(capacity: 30,000)
Year built2014
Field surfaceUBU Speed Series S5-M[1]
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceThe American
Past conferencesSIAA (1896–1922)
SoCon (1922–1932)
SEC (1932–1965)
Independent (1966–1995)
C-USA (1996–2014)
All-time record564–677–38 (.456)
Bowl record7–10 (.412)
National finalist1 (1931[2])
Conference titles10
SIAA: 1920[3]
SoCon: 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931
SEC: 1934, 1939, 1949
C-USA: 1998
AAC: 2022
Division titles1
RivalriesAuburn (rivalry)
LSU (rivalry)
Ole Miss (rivalry)
Southern Miss (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans5
ColorsOlive green and sky blue[4]
   
Fight songThe Olive and the Blue
MascotRiptide
Marching bandTulane University Marching Band
OutfitterNike
WebsiteTulaneGreenWave.com

The Tulane Green Wave football team represents Tulane University in the sport of American football. The Green Wave compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The football team is coached by Jon Sumrall, and plays its home games in Yulman Stadium on its campus in Uptown New Orleans.[5]

History

[edit]

Conference affiliations

[edit]

Tulane has been both an independent and affiliated with multiple conferences.[6]: 183–210 

Championships

[edit]

Conference championships

[edit]

Tulane has won 10 conference football championships in five different conferences. As of 2025, Tulane's three Southeastern Conference titles are more than seven current members of the SEC: Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas A&M, or Vanderbilt.[14]

Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conf. Record
1920 SIAA Clark Shaughnessy 6–2–1 5–0
1925 SoCon 9–0–1 5–0
1929 Bernie Bierman 9–0 6–0
1930 8–1 5–0
1931 11–1 8–0
1934 SEC Ted Cox 10–1 8–0
1939 Red Dawson 8–1–1 5–0
1949 Henry E. Frnka 7–2–1 5–1
1998 C-USA Tommy Bowden 12–0 6–0
2022 AAC Willie Fritz 12–2 7–1

† Co-championship

Division championships

[edit]
Season Division Coach Opponent CG result
2018 AAC West Willie Fritz N/A lost tiebreaker to Memphis

† Co-championship

Bowl games

[edit]

Tulane has played in 17 official bowl games, with the Green Wave garnering a record of 7–10. Tulane also played in the Bacardi Bowl in 1909, playing the Havana Athletic Club, losing 11–0. This was not sanctioned by the NCAA, and thus the Green Wave do not recognize the bowl appearance. Notably, Tulane's first bowl win was the inaugural Sugar Bowl, played in their home stadium.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1931 Bernie Bierman Rose Bowl USC L 12–21
1934 Ted Cox Sugar Bowl Temple W 20–14
1939 Red Dawson Sugar Bowl Texas A&M L 13–14
1970 Jim Pittman Liberty Bowl Colorado W 17–3
1973 Bennie Ellender Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Houston L 7–47
1979 Larry Smith Liberty Bowl Penn State L 6–9
1980 Vince Gibson Hall of Fame Classic Arkansas L 15–34
1987 Mack Brown Independence Bowl Washington L 12–24
1998 Chris Scelfo Liberty Bowl BYU W 41–27
2002 Hawaii Bowl Hawaii W 36–28
2013 Curtis Johnson New Orleans Bowl Louisiana–Lafayette L 21–24
2018 Willie Fritz Cure Bowl Louisiana–Lafayette W 41–24
2019 Armed Forces Bowl Southern Miss W 30–13
2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Nevada L 27–38
2022 Cotton Bowl USC W 46–45
2023 Slade Nagle[A 1] Military Bowl Virginia Tech L 20–41
2024 Jon Sumrall Gasparilla Bowl Florida L 8–33

Head coaches

[edit]

The team has had 39 head coaches and 1 interim head coach since Tulane began playing football in 1893. 13 coaches have led the program to postseason bowl games: R. R. Brown, Bernie Bierman, Ted Cox, Red Dawson, Jim Pittman, Bennie Ellender, Larry Smith, Vince Gibson, Mack Brown, Tommy Bowden, Chris Scelfo, Curtis Johnson, and Willie Fritz. While Tommy Bowden led the 1998 team to a perfect 11–0 regular season and the 1998 Liberty Bowl, Chris Scelfo coached the team during that game.[15] Seven coaches have led the team to conference championships: Clark Shaughnessy (1 SIAA and 1 SoCon), Bernie Bierman (3 SoCon), Ted Cox (1 SEC), Red Dawson (1 SEC), Henry E. Frnka (1 SEC), Tommy Bowden (1 C-USA), and Willie Fritz (1 American).

Clark Shaughnessy and Chris Scelfo were at one time tied for all-time leaders in games coached at Tulane with 94 each until Willie Fritz surpassed them in 2023. Clark Shaughnessy is the all-time leader in years coached (11) and total wins (59). Presently, former head coach Willie Fritz, has the second-most program wins (43) of all time.

Home stadium

[edit]
Yulman Stadium Student Section

The Green Wave have played their home games in Yulman Stadium on its Uptown campus since 2014. Prior to that season, Tulane played home games in the Caesars Superdome for nearly 40 seasons, and in its previous on-campus venue, the third Tulane Stadium, before that. The Green Wave have also played at the second Tulane Stadium, first Tulane Stadium, Athletic Park and Crescent City Base Ball Park.[16]

Because Tulane's campus is landlocked within Uptown New Orleans, Yulman is tightly fit within its athletic footprint and directly abutting the surrounding neighborhood. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 spectators and was constructed with the ability to expand.[17][18]

Rivalries

[edit]

Auburn

[edit]

Tulane leads the series with Auburn 17–15–6 through the 2019 season.[19]

LSU

[edit]
The 13th Battle for the Flag, a 0–0 tie in New Orleans on November 26, 1914.

Tulane's biggest and oldest rival is LSU. It began in 1893 with a 34–0 Green Wave victory over the Tigers. The teams stopped meeting every year in the Battle for the Rag in 2009. The rivalry became less competitive after 1948, until Tulane broke a 25-game non-winning streak in 1973 with a 14–0 victory in front of a Tulane Stadium record crowd of 86,598 in the final installment of the long-time rivalry played on Tulane's campus. Between 1979 and 1982, Tulane won three out of four games against the Tigers; the 1982 win was the last win to date. The two schools stopped playing annually after the 1994 game; however, they have met six times (1996, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009) since. As a condition of the broken series agreement made in 2006, a potential future game will be played in a future season in New Orleans.[20] LSU leads the series 69–23–7 through the 2019 season.[21]

Ole Miss

[edit]

Ole Miss leads the series 43–28 through the 2023 season.[22]

Southern Miss

[edit]

Known as the Battle for the Bell, Tulane's rivalry with Southern Miss was played yearly from 1979 until 2006 and alternates sites between New Orleans and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. As a result of Conference USA splitting into East and West divisions in 2005, the game was played two out of every four years.[23] The rivalry was put on hold as a result of Tulane's move to the American Athletic Conference in 2014, but in 2017 the schools announced new games slated for 2022, 2023, 2026, and 2027.[24] Southern Miss leads the series 24–10 through the 2023 season.[21]

Culture

[edit]

Marching band

[edit]
TUMB and Shockwave perform at halftime in Yulman Stadium

The Tulane University Marching Band (TUMB) was founded in 1920 as a military band. It dissolved shortly after the team's move to the Superdome in the 1970s and did not formally return until 2006.[25] The TUMB performs at home games each fall and in Mardi Gras parades each spring.

Mascot

[edit]

Riptide the Pelican debuted in 1998 with the re-branding of Tulane athletics. Prior to that, the school used an angry wave nicknamed "Gumby" by fans, and before that a John Chase creation named "Greenie."[25]

Individual honors

[edit]

All-Americans

[edit]

Tulane has had 19 players named to first-team All-America teams. Of those 19, five were consensus selections, with one being a unanimous selection.[26]

All-time record vs. AAC teams

[edit]

Records current as of January 2, 2023 [27]

Opponent Games W L T Percentage Streak First
Army 23 13 9 1 .587 Won 4 1957
Charlotte 0 0 0 0 None None
East Carolina 20 8 12 0 .400 Won 2 1991
Florida Atlantic 2 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 2013
Memphis 40 15 24 1 .388 Won 2 1954
Navy 25 12 12 1 .500 Lost 2 1949
North Texas 2 2 0 0 1.000 Won 2 2013
Rice 37 16 20 1 .446 Won 1 1916
South Florida 4 3 1 0 .750 Won 3 2017
Temple 6 2 4 0 .333 Won 1 1935
Tulsa 20 7 13 0 .350 Won 2 1968
UAB 12 6 6 0 .500 Won 1 1999
UTSA 2 1 1 0 .500 Won 1 2013
Totals 193 86 103 4 .456

Players in NFL Draft

[edit]

Key

[edit]
B Back K Kicker NT Nose tackle
C Center LB Linebacker FB Fullback
DB Defensive back P Punter HB Halfback
DE Defensive end QB Quarterback WR Wide receiver
DT Defensive tackle RB Running back G Guard
E End T Offensive tackle TE Tight end

Selections

[edit]
Year Round Pick Overall Player Team Position
1937 4 2 32 Bucky Bryan Chicago Cardinals B
1939 8 3 63 Bronco Brunner Cleveland Rams B
20 10 190 Lyle Smith New York Giants G
1940 2 2 12 Ralph Wenzel Pittsburgh Steelers E
3 8 23 Buddy Banker Washington Redskins B
5 8 38 Bill Kirchem Washington Redskins T
7 9 59 Millard White Green Bay Packers T
1941 6 8 48 Tommy O'Boyle Chicago Bears G
1942 5 3 33 Ernie Blandin Philadelphia Eagles T
6 6 46 Harley McCollum Washington Redskins T
6 8 48 Bob Glass New York Giants B
12 7 107 Jim Thibaut Brooklyn Dodgers FB
1943 5 4 34 Marty Comer Brooklyn Dodgers DE
10 10 90 Walt McDonald Washington Redskins B
12 3 103 Lou Thomas Brooklyn Dodgers B
25 10 240 Roman Bentz Washington Redskins G
1944 5 11 43 Larry Rice Boston Yanks C
1945 1 3 3 Joe Renfroe Boston Yanks B
8 6 71 Art Porter Washington Redskins E
17 7 171 O. J. Key Detroit Lions B
23 7 237 Ray Olsen Detroit Lions B
1946 1 2 2 Dub Jones Chicago Cardinals B
5 2 32 Gaston Bourgeois Boston Yanks B
22 2 202 Ike Iglehart Boston Yanks B
1947 30 1 276 Howard McAfee Detroit Lions T
1948 28 9 264 Bennie Ellender Philadelphia Eagles B
1949 17 6 167 Dick Sheffield Los Angeles Rams E
1950 2 6 20 Eddie Price New York Giants FB
3 2 29 Bill Svoboda Chicago Cardinals LB
9 7 112 Max Druen Pittsburgh Steelers T
15 9 192 Jimmy Glisson Chicago Bears B
17 10 219 Cliff Van Meter San Francisco 49ers B
23 2 289 Dick Sheffield New York Bulldogs E
1951 2 3 18 Don Joyce Chicago Cardinals DE
3 12 38 Jerry Helluin Cleveland Browns DT
4 8 48 George Kinek Los Angeles Rams E
6 12 74 Dan Rogas Cleveland Browns G
7 10 84 Paul Lea Chicago Bears DT
9 5 104 Denny Doyle Philadelphia Eagles G
15 1 172 Joe Ernst Green Bay Packers B
17 7 202 Hal Waggoner Philadelphia Eagles B
30 8 359 Joe Shinn New York Yanks E
1952 5 2 51 Dick Fugler Chicago Cardinals T
10 2 111 Art Kleinschmidt Green Bay Packers G
25 12 301 Len Teeuws Los Angeles Rams DT
1953 14 7 164 Roy Bailey Philadelphia Eagles B
23 1 266 Mike Housepian Baltimore Colts G
23 10 275 Ronnie Kent Cleveland Browns B
1954 5 2 54 Max McGee Green Bay Packers B
13 11 156 George Cummins Cleveland Browns T
28 4 329 Jim Partridge New York Giants B
1955 16 6 187 Charley Coates Los Angeles Rams T
30 3 352 Bob Saia Green Bay Packers B
1956 6 3 64 Tony Sardisco San Francisco 49ers G
27 1 314 Bryan Burnthorne Detroit Lions G
1957 3 4 29 Dalton Truax Green Bay Packers T
21 7 248 Fred Wilcox San Francisco 49ers B
22 2 255 Ronnie Quillian Green Bay Packers QB
26 12 313 Emmett Zelenka New York Giants G
1958 21 8 249 Charlie Hansen New York Giants C
1959 2 9 21 Richie Petitbon Chicago Bears DB
6 9 69 Dave Painter Los Angeles Rams C
28 11 335 Pete Abadie Cleveland Browns E
29 4 340 Don Lockwood Washington Redskins G
1960 N/A N/A N/A Bernie Darre Denver Broncos G
N/A N/A N/A Pete Abadie New York Titans E
15 4 172 Bernie Darre Washington Redskins G
1961 1 1 1 Tommy Mason Minnesota Vikings RB
1 2 2 Tommy Mason Boston Patriots RB
3 12 40 Phil Nugent Green Bay Packers DB
4 14 56 Joe LeSage Green Bay Packers G
1962 6 7 77 Gus Gonzales Philadelphia Eagles G
7 7 55 Gus Gonzales Houston Oilers G
8 7 105 Ed Reynolds Chicago Bears T
9 1 65 Phil Nugent Denver Broncos DB
12 1 155 Terry Terrebonne Washington Redskins RB
12 13 167 Larry Thompson Philadelphia Eagles C
19 7 259 Bill Kellum Chicago Bears T
26 4 204 Ed Reynolds Buffalo Bills T
1963 13 14 182 Bill Kellum Green Bay Packers T
17 4 228 Gordon Rush Philadelphia Eagles B
1966 8 1 111 Bill Goss Atlanta Falcons LB
1967 5 4 111 Pete Johns Houston Oilers DB
1968 3 15 70 Bobby Duhon New York Giants RB
11 21 294 Tom Nosewicz Kansas City Chiefs DE
1969 2 16 42 Warren Bankston Pittsburgh Steelers RB
1971 11 24 284 Mike Walker Minnesota Vikings DE
13 20 332 David Abercrombie Detroit Lions RB
14 14 352 Rick Kingrea Cleveland Browns LB
15 2 366 Bart Graves New Orleans Saints T
1972 6 4 134 Joe Bullard Houston Oilers DB
11 16 276 Bob Waldron Detroit Lions DT
14 7 345 Steve Barrios New Orleans Saints WR
15 9 372 Rusty Lachaussee New Orleans Saints QB
1973 10 2 236 Randy Lee Minnesota Vikings DB
12 26 312 Mike Mullen Miami Dolphins LB
1974 10 8 242 Tommy Thibodeaux New Orleans Saints G
13 8 320 Mike Truax New Orleans Saints LB
1975 4 21 99 Charlie Hall New Orleans Saints DE
8 18 199 Steve Foley Denver Broncos DB
8 23 204 John Washington Los Angeles Rams DB
1976 9 8 245 Jim Gueno Green Bay Packers LB
12 6 325 Nathaniel Bell New England Patriots DT
17 7 466 Darwin Willie New York Jets TE
1977 6 19 158 Mark Mitchell Philadelphia Eagles DB
1978 4 22 106 Eric Laakso Miami Dolphins T
1979 10 11 259 Ricky Smith Oakland Raiders DB
12 12 315 Dewitt Methvin Cleveland Browns C
1980 7 1 166 Eddie Murray Detroit Lions K
11 4 281 Alton Alexis Cincinnati Bengals WR
1981 10 3 251 Marty Wetzel New York Jets LB
10 7 255 Nickie Hall Green Bay Packers QB
1982 3 27 82 Rodney Holman Cincinnati Bengals TE
6 3 142 Marvin Lewis New Orleans Saints RB
7 1 168 Jeff Roberts New England Patriots LB
1983 4 19 103 Lionel Washington St. Louis Cardinals DB
1984u 2 1 29 Don Maggs Houston Oilers T
9 26 250 Jim Boyle Miami Dolphins T
1984 11 23 303 Elton Veals Pittsburgh Steelers RB
1985 11 27 307 Mike Jones Miami Dolphins RB
12 12 320 Treg Songy New Orleans Saints DB
1986 6 5 143 Burnell Dent Green Bay Packers LB
1987 2 21 49 Eric Thomas Cincinnati Bengals DB
1988 7 17 182 Marc Zeno Pittsburgh Steelers WR
11 17 294 Marvin Allen New England Patriots RB
1989 7 28 195 Terrence Jones San Diego Chargers QB
11 26 305 Richard Harvey Buffalo Bills LB
1990 9 14 234 Mitchell Price Cincinnati Bengals DB
1991 6 21 160 Mike Riley New York Jets DB
1994 6 14 175 Ruffin Hamilton Green Bay Packers LB
1997 7 30 231 Jerald Sowell Green Bay Packers FB
1999 2 19 50 Shaun King Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
2000 3 17 79 JaJuan Dawson Cleveland Browns WR
2001 5 7 138 Bernard Robertson Chicago Bears T
2002 1 32 32 Patrick Ramsey Washington Redskins QB
2004 1 22 22 J. P. Losman Buffalo Bills QB
4 23 119 Mewelde Moore Minnesota Vikings RB
2005 4 35 136 Roydell Williams Tennessee Titans WR
2006 7 39 247 Anthony Cannon Detroit Lions LB
2008 2 13 44 Matt Forté Chicago Bears RB
2009 4 35 135 Troy Kropog Tennessee Titans T
2014 5 2 145 Ryan Grant Washington Redskins WR
2015 5 28 164 Lorenzo Doss Denver Broncos DB
7 34 251 Taurean Nixon Denver Broncos DB
2017 6 5 189 Tanzel Smart Los Angeles Rams DT
2018 6 5 179 Parry Nickerson New York Jets DB
6 43 218 Ade Aruna Minnesota Vikings DE
2019 7 7 221 Donnie Lewis Cleveland Browns DB
2020 5 27 173 Darnell Mooney Chicago Bears WR
7 23 237 BoPete Keyes Kansas City Chiefs DB
2021 4 6 111 Cameron Sample Cincinnati Bengals DE
7 6 234 Patrick Johnson Philadelphia Eagles DE
2023 3 18 81 Tyjae Spears Tennessee Titans RB
3 28 91 Dorian Williams Buffalo Bills LB
2024 6 6 182 Jha'Quan Jackson Tennessee Titans WR
7 25 245 Michael Pratt Green Bay Packers QB
2025 3 24 88 Caleb Ransaw Jacksonville Jaguars CB
7 21 237 Micah Robinson Green Bay Packers CB

[28]

Future opponents

[edit]

Non-conference

[edit]

Announced schedules as of January 12, 2023.[29][30]

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
Northwestern at Duke Louisiana at Iowa State Iowa State at Mississippi State Mississippi State
at South Alabama South Alabama at Southern Miss
Duke at Kansas State at Wake Forest
at Ole Miss Southern Miss

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tulane University Football Making Waves for 2014 Season". PR.com. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  2. ^ Roberts, Don (January 1, 1932). "Trojans, Tulane Fight for National Crown". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. Los Angeles. Retrieved February 28, 2023. With the Albert Russell Erskine national football championship at stake, Tulane University's Green Wave today met the University of Southern California Trojans at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
  3. ^ "SIAA Conference Champions". CFDataWarehouse.com. 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  4. ^ 2019 Tulane Athletics Art Sheet (PDF). October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Tammy Nunez (December 8, 2011). "Tulane plans to build a 30,000-plus seat on-campus football stadium". Times-Picayune. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  6. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). tulanegreenwave.com. Tulane Athletics.
  7. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu. Issuu.inc. p. 124. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu. Issuu.inc. p. 124. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu. Issuu.inc. p. 124. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. pp. 124–125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. p. 125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. p. 125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. p. 125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Football SEC Champions". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  15. ^ "Player Bio: Chris Scelfo". Tulane University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  16. ^ "The History of Tulane Stadium(s)". bestofneworleans.com. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Tulane University Yulman Stadium". Woodward Design+Build. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  18. ^ Christopher Dabe (September 4, 2014). "High demand for Tulane football tickets could lead to Yulman expansion, AD Rick Dickson says". nola.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  19. ^ "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. Auburn Tigers football series history".
  20. ^ "LSU, Tulane in discussions to play each other in football in 2013". nola.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. LSU Tigers football series history".
  22. ^ "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. Ole Miss Rebels football series history".
  23. ^ Richie Weaver (November 5, 2010). "Football to "Battle for the Bell" Saturday vs. C-USA Rivals Southern Miss". TulaneGreenWave.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  24. ^ "Football Announces Four-Game Series with Southern Miss". TulaneGreenWave.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Tulane University Traditions". Tulane.edu. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  26. ^ "Tulane Green Wave All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  27. ^ "Tulane Green Wave football all-time record, wins, and statistics". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  28. ^ DraftHistory.com
  29. ^ "Tulane Green Wave Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  30. ^ "Fritz: Nicholls to round out 2023 Tulane football schedule". crescentcitysports.com. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Nagle was named interim head coach for the team's bowl game following Willie Fritz's departure to Houston.
[edit]