Tulane Green Wave football, 1970–79

Contents: 1970 - 1971 - 1972 - 1973 - 1974 - 1975 - 1976 - 1977 - 1978 - 1979

1970

In his fifth and final season with the Green Wave, coach Jim Pittman led Tulane to its first bowl victory since the inaugural Sugar Bowl following the 1934 season. Sadly, he died less than 11 months following the Wave's 17-3 Liberty Bowl victory over Colorado, suffering a massive heart attack while coaching TCU in its rivalry game vs. Baylor at Waco.

1970 Tulane Green Wave football
Liberty Bowl vs. Colorado, Won 17–3
Conference Independent
Ranking
AP No. 17
1970 record 8–4
Head coach Jim Pittman
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)[1]

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 12 at Texas Tech* Clifford B. & Audrey Jones Stadium • Lubbock, TX L 14–21  
September 19 No. 19 Georgia* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 17–14  
September 26 at Illinois* Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL W 23–9  
October 3 at Cincinnati* Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, OH W 6–3  
October 10 at No. 8 Air Force* Falcon Stadium • Air Force Academy, CO L 3–24  
October 17 North Carolina* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 24–17  
October 24 at Georgia Tech* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA L 6–20  
October 31 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 10–7  
November 7 Miami* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 31–16  
November 21 North Carolina State* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 31–0  
November 28 No. 6 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag) L 14–26  
December 12 vs. Colorado* Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN (Liberty Bowl) W 17–3  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1971

1971 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1971 record 3–8
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 11 Texas Tech* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 15–9  
September 18 at No. 11 Georgia* Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA L 7–17  
September 25 at Rice* Rice Stadium • Houston, TX L 11–14  
October 2 William & Mary* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 3–14  
October 9 at No. 18 North Carolina* Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC W 37–29  
October 16 Pittsburgh* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 33–8  
October 23 Georgia Tech* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 16–24  
October 30 Vanderbilt* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 9–13  
November 6 Ohio* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 7–30  
November 13 at No. 8 Notre Dame* Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN L 7–21  
November 27 at No. 10 LSU* Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 7–36  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1972

The Green Wave enjoyed their second winning season in three years, but the 6-5 record easily could have been 8-3.

In Tulane's loss at Miami, the Hurricanes were erroneously awarded a fifth down late in the fourth quarter, helping them drive to the winning touchdown. The Southeastern Conference, which assigned the officials for the game, acknowledged the error, but it was too late to change the outcome.

Nearly two months later, Tulane came up achingly short in its quest to end a 24-year winless streak vs. archrival LSU in the season finale. Trailing 9-3 with seconds remaining, Green Wave halfback Bill Huber took a swing pass in the flat and appeared headed to a touchdown, but he was stopped at the 1-yard line by Tiger safety Frank Racine after time ran out.

1972 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1972 record 6–5
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 15 at Boston College* Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA W 10–0  
September 23 No. 16 Georgia* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 24–13  
September 30 at No. 8 Michigan* No. 18 Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI L 7–41  
October 7 Pittsburgh* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 38–6  
October 14 at Miami* Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, FL L 21–24  
October 21 at West Virginia* Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV L 19–31  
October 28 at Georgia Tech* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA L 7–21  
November 4 Kentucky* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 18–7  
November 11 Ohio* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 44–6  
November 18 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 21–7  
December 2 No. 11 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 3–9  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1973

Tulane's thirst for victory over LSU was finally quenched on December 1. The Green Wave's 14-0 victory was its first over the Bayou Bengals since 1948, and first in New Orleans over LSU since 1943. A record crowd of 86,598 jammed Tulane Stadium for what would be the final LSU-Tulane game in the facility. It was the largest attendance for a football game in Louisiana until LSU expanded Tiger Stadium to over 91,000 in 2000.

1973 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches No. 15
AP No. 20
1973 record 9–3
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Offensive scheme Multiple
Base defense 5-2 Monster
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 22 Boston College* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 21–16  
September 29 VMI* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 42–0  
October 6 at Pittsburgh* Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA W 24–6  
October 13 at Duke* No. 18 Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC W 24–17  
October 20 North Carolina* No. 17 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 16–0  
October 27 Georgia Tech* No. 15 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 23–14  
November 3 at Kentucky* No. 14 Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY L 7–34  
November 10 Navy* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 17–15  
November 17 Vanderbilt* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 24–3  
November 24 at Maryland* No. 17 Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD L 9–42  
December 1 No. 8 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) W 14–0  
December 29 vs. No. 14 Houston* No. 17 Houston Astrodome • Houston, TX (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl) L 7–47  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1974

This was the Green Wave's final season in Tulane Stadium. Tulane's scheduled season opener September 7 vs. Ole Miss was postponed to the end of the season due to the approach of Hurricane Carmen.

1974 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1974 record 5–6
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 14 Southwestern Louisiana* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 17–16  
September 21 at Army* Michie Stadium • West Point, NY W 31–14  
September 28 West Virginia* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 17–14  
October 12 at Air Force* Falcon Stadium • Air Force Academy, CO W 10–3  
October 19 The Citadel* No. 20 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 30–3  
October 26 at Georgia Tech* No. 18 Grant Field • Atlanta, GA L 7–27  
November 2 Kentucky* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 7–30  
November 9 at Boston College* Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA L 3–27  
November 16 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN L 22–30  
November 23 at LSU* Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 22–24  
November 30 Ole Miss* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 10–26  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1975

The Green Wave moved into the Louisiana Superdome, playing its first regular season game September 20 vs. Ole Miss, eight days before the Saints played their inaugural game in the facility vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.

1975 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1975 record 4–7
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 13 at Clemson* Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC W 17–13  
September 20 Ole Miss* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 14–3  
September 27 Syracuse* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 13–31  
October 4 Vanderbilt* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 3–6  
October 11 at Boston College* Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA W 17–7  
October 18 at West Virginia* Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV W 16–14  
October 25 Georgia Tech* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 0–23  
November 1 at Kentucky* Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY L 10–23  
November 8 Air Force* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 12–13  
November 15 North Carolina* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 15–17  
November 22 LSU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 6–42  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1976

1976 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1976 record 2–9
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 11 Cincinnati* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 14–21  
September 18 at No. 20 Ole Miss* Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS L 7–34  
September 25 No. 18 Boston College* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 3–27  
October 2 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 24–13  
October 9 at Syracuse* Archbold Stadium • Syracuse, NY L 0–3  
October 16 Army* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 23–10  
October 23 at Georgia Tech* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA L 16–28  
October 30 Memphis State* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 7–14  
November 6 West Virginia* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 28–32  
November 13 Rutgers* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 20–29  
November 20 at LSU* Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 7–17  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1977

1977 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1977 record 3–8
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 10 at Memphis* Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN L 9–27  
September 17 Stanford* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 17–21  
September 24 at SMU* Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX L 23–28  
October 1 Vanderbilt* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 36–7  
October 8 at Boston College* Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA L 28–30  
October 15 Cincinnati* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 16–13  
October 22 Georgia Tech* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 14–38  
October 29 at No. 13 Pittsburgh* Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA L 0–48  
November 5 at Miami* Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, FL W 13–10  
November 12 at Rutgers* Rutgers Stadium • New Brunswick, NJ L 8–47  
November 19 LSU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 17–20  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1978

1978 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1978 record 4–7
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 9 at Maryland* Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD L 7–31  
September 16 No. 14 Pittsburgh* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 6–24  
September 23 at Georgia Tech* Grant Field • Atlanta, GA L 17–27  
September 30 at No. 20 Stanford* Stanford Stadium • Stanford, CA L 14–17  
October 7 at Vanderbilt* Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 38–3  
October 14 Boston College* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 9–3  
October 21 TCU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 7–13  
October 28 Memphis* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 41–24  
November 4 Miami* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 20–16  
November 11 at Ole Miss* Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS L 3–13  
November 28 at LSU* Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 21–40  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1979

1979 Tulane Green Wave football
Liberty Bowl vs. Penn State, Lost 6–9
Conference Independent
1979 record 9–3
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 71,330)

The 1979 Tulane Green Wave football team was led by Larry Smith. The team finished with a 9–3 record and played in the 1979 Liberty Bowl, losing 6–9 to Penn State. In the 77th edition of the Battle for the Flag, Tulane beat LSU 24–13.

References

  1. ↑ Ryan Whirty (2012-06-26). "The History of Tulane Stadium(s)". Gambit Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
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