Tulane Green Wave football

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Tulane Green Wave football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Tulane Green Wave football team
Tulane Green Wave wordmark.svg
First season 1893; 132 years ago
Athletic directorDavid Harris
Head coach Jon Sumrall
2nd season, 9–5 (.643)
Stadium Yulman Stadium
(capacity: 30,000)
Year built2014
Field surfaceHellas Matrix Turf
Location New Orleans, Louisiana
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference The American
Past conferences SIAA (1896–1922)
SoCon (1922–1932)
SEC (1932–1965)
Independent (1966–1995)
C-USA (1996–2014)
All-time record56467738 (.456)
Bowl record710 (.412)
National finalist1 (1931 [1] )
Conference titles10
SIAA: 1920 [2]
SoCon: 1925, 1929, 1930, 1931
SEC: 1934, 1939, 1949
C-USA: 1998
AAC: 2022
Division titles1
Rivalries Auburn (rivalry)
LSU (rivalry)
Ole Miss (rivalry)
Southern Miss (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans5
ColorsOlive green and sky blue [3]
   
Fight songThe Olive and the Blue
MascotRiptide
Marching band Tulane University Marching Band
Outfitter Nike
Website TulaneGreenWave.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. [4]

Contents

History

Conference affiliations

Tulane has been both an independent and affiliated with multiple conferences. [5] :183–210

Championships

Conference championships

Tulane has won 10 conference football championships in five different conferences. As of 2025, Tulane's three Southeastern Conference titles are more than nine current members of the SEC: Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma or Vanderbilt. [9]

SeasonConferenceCoachOverall RecordConf. Record
1920 SIAA Clark Shaughnessy 6–2–15–0
1925 SoCon 9–0–15–0
1929 Bernie Bierman 9–06–0
1930 8–15–0
1931 11–18–0
1934 SEC Ted Cox 10–18–0
1939 Red Dawson 8–1–15–0
1949 Henry E. Frnka 7–2–15–1
1998 C-USA Tommy Bowden 12–06–0
2022 AAC Willie Fritz 12–27–1

† Co-championship

Division championships

SeasonDivisionCoachOpponentCG result
2018AAC West Willie Fritz N/A lost tiebreaker to Memphis

† Co-championship

Bowl games

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.

SeasonCoachBowlOpponentResult
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 Classic 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

New Year's Six

Head coaches

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. [10] 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

Yulman Stadium Student Section Yulman Opener Student Section.jpg
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. [11]

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. [12] [13]

Rivalries

Auburn

Tulane leads the series with Auburn 17–15–6 through the 2019 season. [14]

LSU

The 13th Battle for the Flag, a 0-0 tie in New Orleans on November 26, 1914. 1914 LSU vs. Tulane football game.jpg
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. [15] LSU leads the series 69–23–7 through the 2019 season. [16]

Ole Miss

Ole Miss leads the series 43–28 through the 2023 season. [17]

Southern Miss

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. [18] 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. [19] Southern Miss leads the series 24–10 through the 2023 season. [16]

Culture

Marching band

TUMB and Shockwave perform at halftime in Yulman Stadium Halftime show at Yulman Stadium at Tulane University.jpg
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. [20] The TUMB performs at home games each fall and in Mardi Gras parades each spring.

Mascot

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." [20]

Individual honors

All-Americans

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. [21]

All-time record vs. AAC teams

Records current as of January 2, 2023 [22]

OpponentGamesWLTPercentageStreakFirst
Army 231391.587Won 41957
Charlotte 0000NoneNone
East Carolina 208120.400Won 21991
Florida Atlantic 2110.500Won 12013
Memphis 4015241.388Won 21954
Navy 2512121.500Lost 21949
North Texas 22001.000Won 22013
Rice 3716201.446Won 11916
South Florida 4310.750Won 32017
Temple 6240.333Won 11935
Tulsa 207130.350Won 21968
UAB 12660.500Won 11999
UTSA 2110.500Won 12013
Totals193861034.456

Players in NFL Draft

Key

BBackK 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

YearRoundPickOverallPlayerTeamPosition
19374232 Bucky Bryan Chicago Cardinals B
19398363 Bronco Brunner Cleveland Rams B
2010190 Lyle Smith New York Giants G
19402212 Ralph Wenzel Pittsburgh Steelers E
3823 Buddy Banker Washington Redskins B
5838 Bill Kirchem Washington Redskins T
7959 Millard White Green Bay Packers T
19416848 Tommy O'Boyle Chicago Bears G
19425333 Ernie Blandin Philadelphia Eagles T
6646 Harley McCollum Washington Redskins T
6848 Bob Glass New York Giants B
127107 Jim Thibaut Brooklyn Dodgers FB
19435434 Marty Comer Brooklyn Dodgers DE
101090 Walt McDonald Washington Redskins B
123103 Lou Thomas Brooklyn Dodgers B
2510240 Roman Bentz Washington Redskins G
194451143 Larry Rice Boston Yanks C
1945133 Joe Renfroe Boston Yanks B
8671 Art Porter Washington Redskins E
177171 O. J. Key Detroit Lions B
237237 Ray Olsen Detroit Lions B
1946122 Dub Jones Chicago Cardinals B
5232 Gaston Bourgeois Boston Yanks B
222202 Ike Iglehart Boston Yanks B
1947301276 Howard McAfee Detroit Lions T
1948289264 Bennie Ellender Philadelphia Eagles B
1949176167 Dick Sheffield Los Angeles Rams E
19502620 Eddie Price New York Giants FB
3229 Bill Svoboda Chicago Cardinals LB
97112 Max Druen Pittsburgh Steelers T
159192 Jimmy Glisson Chicago Bears B
1710219 Cliff Van Meter San Francisco 49ers B
232289 Dick Sheffield New York Bulldogs E
19512318 Don Joyce Chicago Cardinals DE
31238 Jerry Helluin Cleveland Browns DT
4848 George Kinek Los Angeles Rams E
61274 Dan Rogas Cleveland Browns G
71084 Paul Lea Chicago Bears DT
95104 Denny Doyle Philadelphia Eagles G
151172 Joe Ernst Green Bay Packers B
177202 Hal Waggoner Philadelphia Eagles B
308359 Joe Shinn New York Yanks E
19525251 Dick Fugler Chicago Cardinals T
102111 Art Kleinschmidt Green Bay Packers G
2512301 Len Teeuws Los Angeles Rams DT
1953147164 Roy Bailey Philadelphia Eagles B
231266 Mike Housepian Baltimore Colts G
2310275 Ronnie Kent Cleveland Browns B
19545254 Max McGee Green Bay Packers B
1311156 George Cummins Cleveland Browns T
284329 Jim Partridge New York Giants B
1955166187 Charley Coates Los Angeles Rams T
303352 Bob Saia Green Bay Packers B
19566364 Tony Sardisco San Francisco 49ers G
271314 Bryan Burnthorne Detroit Lions G
19573429 Dalton Truax Green Bay Packers T
217248 Fred Wilcox San Francisco 49ers B
222255 Ronnie Quillian Green Bay Packers QB
2612313 Emmett Zelenka New York Giants G
1958218249 Charlie Hansen New York Giants C
19592921 Richie Petitbon Chicago Bears DB
6969 Dave Painter Los Angeles Rams C
2811335 Pete Abadie Cleveland Browns E
294340 Don Lockwood Washington Redskins G
1960N/AN/AN/A Bernie Darre Denver Broncos G
N/AN/AN/A Pete Abadie New York Titans E
154172 Bernie Darre Washington Redskins G
1961111 Tommy Mason Minnesota Vikings RB
122 Tommy Mason Boston Patriots RB
31240 Phil Nugent Green Bay Packers DB
41456 Joe LeSage Green Bay Packers G
19626777 Gus Gonzales Philadelphia Eagles G
7755 Gus Gonzales Houston Oilers G
87105 Ed Reynolds Chicago Bears T
9165 Phil Nugent Denver Broncos DB
121155 Terry Terrebonne Washington Redskins RB
1213167 Larry Thompson Philadelphia Eagles C
197259 Bill Kellum Chicago Bears T
264204 Ed Reynolds Buffalo Bills T
19631314182 Bill Kellum Green Bay Packers T
174228 Gordon Rush Philadelphia Eagles B
196681111 Bill Goss Atlanta Falcons LB
196754111 Pete Johns Houston Oilers DB
196831570 Bobby Duhon New York Giants RB
1121294 Tom Nosewicz Kansas City Chiefs DE
196921642 Warren Bankston Pittsburgh Steelers RB
19711124284 Mike Walker Minnesota Vikings DE
1320332 David Abercrombie Detroit Lions RB
1414352 Rick Kingrea Cleveland Browns LB
152366 Bart Graves New Orleans Saints T
197264134 Joe Bullard Houston Oilers DB
1116276 Bob Waldron Detroit Lions DT
147345 Steve Barrios New Orleans Saints WR
159372 Rusty Lachaussee New Orleans Saints QB
1973102236 Randy Lee Minnesota Vikings DB
1226312 Mike Mullen Miami Dolphins LB
1974108242 Tommy Thibodeaux New Orleans Saints G
138320 Mike Truax New Orleans Saints LB
197542199 Charlie Hall New Orleans Saints DE
818199 Steve Foley Denver Broncos DB
823204 John Washington Los Angeles Rams DB
197698245 Jim Gueno Green Bay Packers LB
126325 Nathaniel Bell New England Patriots DT
177466 Darwin Willie New York Jets TE
1977619158 Mark Mitchell Philadelphia Eagles DB
1978422106 Eric Laakso Miami Dolphins T
19791011259 Ricky Smith Oakland Raiders DB
1212315 Dewitt Methvin Cleveland Browns C
198071166 Eddie Murray Detroit Lions K
114281 Alton Alexis Cincinnati Bengals WR
1981103251 Marty Wetzel New York Jets LB
107255 Nickie Hall Green Bay Packers QB
198232782 Rodney Holman Cincinnati Bengals TE
63142 Marvin Lewis New Orleans Saints RB
71168 Jeff Roberts New England Patriots LB
1983419103 Lionel Washington St. Louis Cardinals DB
1984u2129 Don Maggs Houston Oilers T
926250 Jim Boyle Miami Dolphins T
19841123303 Elton Veals Pittsburgh Steelers RB
19851127307 Mike Jones Miami Dolphins RB
1212320 Treg Songy New Orleans Saints DB
198665143 Burnell Dent Green Bay Packers LB
198722149 Eric Thomas Cincinnati Bengals DB
1988717182 Marc Zeno Pittsburgh Steelers WR
1117294 Marvin Allen New England Patriots RB
1989728195 Terrence Jones San Diego Chargers QB
1126305 Richard Harvey Buffalo Bills LB
1990914234 Mitchell Price Cincinnati Bengals DB
1991621160 Mike Riley New York Jets DB
1994614175 Ruffin Hamilton Green Bay Packers LB
1997730231 Jerald Sowell Green Bay Packers FB
199921950 Shaun King Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
200031779 JaJuan Dawson Cleveland Browns WR
200157138 Bernard Robertson Chicago Bears T
200213232 Patrick Ramsey Washington Redskins QB
200412222 J. P. Losman Buffalo Bills QB
423119 Mewelde Moore Minnesota Vikings RB
2005435136 Roydell Williams Tennessee Titans WR
2006739247 Anthony Cannon Detroit Lions LB
200821344 Matt Forté Chicago Bears RB
2009435135 Troy Kropog Tennessee Titans T
201452145 Ryan Grant Washington Redskins WR
2015528164 Lorenzo Doss Denver Broncos DB
734251 Taurean Nixon Denver Broncos DB
201765189 Tanzel Smart Los Angeles Rams DT
201865179 Parry Nickerson New York Jets DB
643218 Ade Aruna Minnesota Vikings DE
201977221 Donnie Lewis Cleveland Browns DB
2020527173 Darnell Mooney Chicago Bears WR
723237 BoPete Keyes Kansas City Chiefs DB
202146111 Cameron Sample Cincinnati Bengals DE
76234 Patrick Johnson Philadelphia Eagles DE
202331881 Tyjae Spears Tennessee Titans RB
32891 Dorian Williams Buffalo Bills LB
202466182 Jha'Quan Jackson Tennessee Titans WR
725245 Michael Pratt Green Bay Packers QB
202532488 Caleb Ransaw Jacksonville Jaguars CB
721237 Micah Robinson Green Bay Packers CB

[23]

Future opponents

Non-conference

Announced schedules as of July 7, 2025. [24]

20252026202720282029203020312032
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 Nicholls

See also

References

  1. 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.
  2. "SIAA Conference Champions". CFDataWarehouse.com. 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  3. 2019 Tulane Athletics Art Sheet (PDF). October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  4. Tammy Nunez (December 8, 2011). "Tulane plans to build a 30,000-plus seat on-campus football stadium". Times-Picayune . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  5. "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). tulanegreenwave.com. Tulane Athletics.
  6. 1 2 3 "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu. Issuu.inc. p. 124. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  7. "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. pp. 124–125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "2019 Tulane Football Media Guide" (pdf). Issuu.inc. July 11, 2019. p. 125. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  9. "Football SEC Champions". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. "Player Bio: Chris Scelfo". Tulane University Athletics. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  11. "The History of Tulane Stadium(s)". bestofneworleans.com. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  12. "Tulane University Yulman Stadium". Woodward Design+Build. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  13. 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.
  14. "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. Auburn Tigers football series history". Winsipedia.
  15. "LSU, Tulane in discussions to play each other in football in 2013". nola.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. LSU Tigers football series history". Winsipedia.
  17. "Winsipedia - Tulane Green Wave vs. Ole Miss Rebels football series history".
  18. Richie Weaver (November 5, 2010). "Football to "Battle for the Bell" Saturday vs. C-USA Rivals Southern Miss". TulaneGreenWave.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  19. "Football Announces Four-Game Series with Southern Miss". TulaneGreenWave.com. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Tulane University Traditions". Tulane.edu. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  21. "Tulane Green Wave All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  22. "Tulane Green Wave football all-time record, wins, and statistics". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  23. "DraftHistory.com". www.drafthistory.com.
  24. "Tulane Green Wave Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

Notes

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