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 173
Conference Independent
Ranking
AP No. 17
1970 record 84
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 StadiumLubbock, TX L 1421  
September 19 No. 19 Georgia* Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA W 1714  
September 26 at Illinois* Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL W 239  
October 3 at Cincinnati* Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH W 63  
October 10 at No. 8 Air Force* Falcon StadiumAir Force Academy, CO L 324  
October 17 North Carolina* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 2417  
October 24 at Georgia Tech* Grant FieldAtlanta, GA L 620  
October 31 at Vanderbilt* Dudley FieldNashville, TN W 107  
November 7 Miami* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 3116  
November 21 North Carolina State* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 310  
November 28 No. 6 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag) L 1426  
December 12 vs. Colorado* Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN (Liberty Bowl) W 173  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1971

1971 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1971 record 38
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 11 Texas Tech* Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA W 159  
September 18 at No. 11 Georgia* Sanford StadiumAthens, GA L 717  
September 25 at Rice* Rice StadiumHouston, TX L 1114  
October 2 William & Mary* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 314  
October 9 at No. 18 North Carolina* Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC W 3729  
October 16 Pittsburgh* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 338  
October 23 Georgia Tech* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 1624  
October 30 Vanderbilt* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 913  
November 6 Ohio* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 730  
November 13 at No. 8 Notre Dame* Notre Dame StadiumSouth Bend, IN L 721  
November 27 at No. 10 LSU* Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 736  
*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 65
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 15 at Boston College* Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA W 100  
September 23 No. 16 Georgia* Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA W 2413  
September 30 at No. 8 Michigan* No. 18 Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI L 741  
October 7 Pittsburgh* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 386  
October 14 at Miami* Miami Orange BowlMiami, FL L 2124  
October 21 at West Virginia* Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV L 1931  
October 28 at Georgia Tech* Grant FieldAtlanta, GA L 721  
November 4 Kentucky* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 187  
November 11 Ohio* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 446  
November 18 at Vanderbilt* Dudley FieldNashville, TN W 217  
December 2 No. 11 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 39  
*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 93
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 StadiumNew Orleans, LA W 2116  
September 29 VMI* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 420  
October 6 at Pittsburgh* Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA W 246  
October 13 at Duke* No. 18 Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC W 2417  
October 20 North Carolina* No. 17 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 160  
October 27 Georgia Tech* No. 15 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 2314  
November 3 at Kentucky* No. 14 Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY L 734  
November 10 Navy* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 1715  
November 17 Vanderbilt* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 243  
November 24 at Maryland* No. 17 Byrd StadiumCollege Park, MD L 942  
December 1 No. 8 LSU* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) W 140  
December 29 vs. No. 14 Houston* No. 17 Houston AstrodomeHouston, TX (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl) L 747  
*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 56
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Tulane Stadium
(Capacity: 80,985)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 14 Southwestern Louisiana* Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, LA W 1716  
September 21 at Army* Michie StadiumWest Point, NY W 3114  
September 28 West Virginia* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 1714  
October 12 at Air Force* Falcon StadiumAir Force Academy, CO W 103  
October 19 The Citadel* No. 20 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 303  
October 26 at Georgia Tech* No. 18 Grant FieldAtlanta, GA L 727  
November 2 Kentucky* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 730  
November 9 at Boston College* Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA L 327  
November 16 at Vanderbilt* Dudley FieldNashville, TN L 2230  
November 23 at LSU* Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 2224  
November 30 Ole Miss* Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 1026  
*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 47
Head coach Bennie Ellender
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 13 at Clemson* Memorial StadiumClemson, SC W 1713  
September 20 Ole Miss* Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA W 143  
September 27 Syracuse* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 1331  
October 4 Vanderbilt* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 36  
October 11 at Boston College* Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA W 177  
October 18 at West Virginia* Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV W 1614  
October 25 Georgia Tech* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 023  
November 1 at Kentucky* Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY L 1023  
November 8 Air Force* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 1213  
November 15 North Carolina* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 1517  
November 22 LSU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 642  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1976

1976 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1976 record 29
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 11 Cincinnati* Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA L 1421  
September 18 at No. 20 Ole Miss* Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS L 734  
September 25 No. 18 Boston College* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 327  
October 2 at Vanderbilt* Dudley FieldNashville, TN W 2413  
October 9 at Syracuse* Archbold StadiumSyracuse, NY L 03  
October 16 Army* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 2310  
October 23 at Georgia Tech* Grant FieldAtlanta, GA L 1628  
October 30 Memphis State* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 714  
November 6 West Virginia* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 2832  
November 13 Rutgers* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 2029  
November 20 at LSU* Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 717  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1977

1977 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1977 record 38
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 10 at Memphis* Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN L 927  
September 17 Stanford* Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA L 1721  
September 24 at SMU* Cotton BowlDallas, TX L 2328  
October 1 Vanderbilt* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 367  
October 8 at Boston College* Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA L 2830  
October 15 Cincinnati* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 1613  
October 22 Georgia Tech* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 1438  
October 29 at No. 13 Pittsburgh* Pitt StadiumPittsburgh, PA L 048  
November 5 at Miami* Miami Orange BowlMiami, FL W 1310  
November 12 at Rutgers* Rutgers StadiumNew Brunswick, NJ L 847  
November 19 LSU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 1720  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1978

1978 Tulane Green Wave football
Conference Independent
1978 record 47
Head coach Larry Smith
Home stadium Louisiana Superdome
(Capacity: 74,452)

Schedule

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result
September 9 at Maryland* Byrd StadiumCollege Park, MD L 731  
September 16 No. 14 Pittsburgh* Louisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA L 624  
September 23 at Georgia Tech* Grant FieldAtlanta, GA L 1727  
September 30 at No. 20 Stanford* Stanford StadiumStanford, CA L 1417  
October 7 at Vanderbilt* Dudley FieldNashville, TN W 383  
October 14 Boston College* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 93  
October 21 TCU* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA L 713  
October 28 Memphis* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 4124  
November 4 Miami* Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, LA W 2016  
November 11 at Ole Miss* Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS L 313  
November 28 at LSU* Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (Battle for the Flag) L 2140  
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP.

1979

1979 Tulane Green Wave football
Liberty Bowl vs. Penn State, Lost 69
Conference Independent
1979 record 93
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 93 record and played in the 1979 Liberty Bowl, losing 69 to Penn State. In the 77th edition of the Battle for the Flag, Tulane beat LSU 2413.

References

  1. Ryan Whirty (2012-06-26). "The History of Tulane Stadium(s)". Gambit Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.