American college football season
The 1972 Tulane Green Wave football team was an American football team that represented Tulane University during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season as an independent . In their second year under head coach Bennie Ellender , the team compiled a 6–5 record.
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.[ 1] 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.[ 2]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 15 at Boston College W 10–027,441 [ 3]
September 23 No. 16 Georgia W 24–1343,064 [ 4]
September 30 at No. 8 Michigan No. 18 L 7–4184,162 [ 5]
October 7 Pittsburgh Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA W 38–620,417 [ 6]
October 14 at Miami (FL) L 21–2418,956 [ 1]
October 21 at West Virginia L 19–3129,500 [ 7]
October 28 at Georgia Tech L 7–2148,096 [ 8]
November 4 Kentucky Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA W 18–718,377 [ 9]
November 11 Ohio Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA W 44–617,535 [ 10]
November 18 at Vanderbilt W 21–710,000 [ 11]
December 2 No. 11 LSU L 3–985,372 [ 2]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1972 Tulane Green Wave football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
WR
22
Mike Foley
Jr
C
50
Rob Foley
Jr
QB
10
Steve Foley
So
QB
16
Mike Walker
Sr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DE
80
Rusty Lee
Sr
Special teams
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
^ a b "5th down touchdown pass lifts Miami over Tulane" . The Miami Herald . October 15, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b "Tigers nudge rugged Wave" . The Shreveport Times . December 3, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tulane hangs 10–0 collar on BC" . The Boston Globe . September 16, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Tulane tips odds again; Georgia is victim, 24–13" . The Atlanta Constitution . September 24, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Michigan blitzes Tulane, 41–7" . Detroit Free Press . October 1, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Pitt smothered by Tulane, 38–6" . The Pittsburgh Press . October 8, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Turn-about, WVU converts Tulane mistakes into important 31–19 victory" . Sunday Gazette-Mail . October 22, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ " 'Jackets top Tulane 21–7" . The Tampa Tribune . October 29, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ " 'What's new, pussycats?' - Nothing as UK falls again" . Lexington Herald-Leader . November 5, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Green Wave clips Ohio U. by 44–6" . The Daily Advertiser . November 12, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Wave flattens Commodores 21–7" . The Tennessean . November 19, 1972. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
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