Northwestern Fights Back After Tulane HC Blames Them For Turning Down Hurricane Support Request

Tulane kicked off the 2025 season with a statement win, beating Northwestern 23-3. However, the victory also carried a special tribute. Friday marked 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, one of America’s deadliest storms. Yes, more than 1,300 lives were lost, and following that, Tulane’s football team was forced to play the entire 2005 season on the road. But the most intriguing fact is that the season’s opener saw the Green Wave in plain white jerseys, without helmet decals: a powerful symbol of resilience and perseverance that continues to define the program today. So, on Saturday, Tulane players paid tribute by taking the field without decals on their helmets. But here’s the catch…

Tulane HC Jon Sumrall didn’t hide his frustration after the win. He revealed that the Green Wave had been denied a chance to honor their 2005 team in full. “We wanted to wear white in tribute to those guys,” said Sumrall to Jeff Duncan. But Northwestern shot down the request, insisting on their own white road uniforms. “Northwestern denied the request,” added Sumrall. The Wildcats wore their usual whites, leaving Tulane in standard home greens. But what followed was finger-pointing, Sumrall blaming Northwestern for rejecting a Hurricane Katrina tribute, and Northwestern pushing back in defense.

On August 30, CFB insider Matt Fortuna added a twist to the story. A Northwestern source claimed Tulane’s request to wear white came late, on August 17. By then, the uniforms had long been set. Basically, Jersey colors are usually locked in months ahead of kickoff. And that made it impossible for the Wildcats to grant Tulane’s last-minute appeal. But that didn’t stop Tulane’s head coach from sharing his take on the Wildcats’ decision.

Here, his frustration wasn’t just about uniforms; it was about pride. “When you disrespect the city of New Orleans, you’re going to run into it. … I’m not trying to be a j–k, but don’t disrespect the City of New Orleans,” stated Sumrall after the game. Following that, on Saturday, Tulane left no doubt. The Green Wave defense smothered Northwestern, forcing 5 turnovers and picking off QB Preston Stone four times. They held him under five yards per attempt while outgaining the Wildcats 421-237. And by halftime, Tulane had already piled up 20 points and full control of the game. Here, QB Jake Retzlaff made sure the momentum never shifted.

In his debut, BYU transfer Retzlaff accounted for two touchdowns. Moreover, he threw for 152 yards and rushed for 113 more on just 10 carries. So, Retzlaff, who arrived over the summer after an honor code suspension at BYU, has already stepped in as the leader of this offense. Now, his dazzling performance gave Coach Sumrall every reason to believe Tulane can chase the coveted CFP spot. So, time to get a glimpse of the QB’s mindset after the game.

Tulane QBs take on his team

Tulane’s new signal-caller wasted no time making his mark. “It’s been a long offseason,” said Jake Retzlaff. “So, I’m just so excited to be able to get on this field and play with these guys. I’ve got a great group of guys around me. I’m so fortunate.” Now, his debut wasn’t flawless: six costly drops, including two in the end zone, left points on the board. But the poise and energy were undeniable.

Here, HC Jon Sumrall was quick to praise his QB. “Big-time performance for a guy who’s been here a whopping 38 days,” he said. Retzlaff returned the love to his defense, crediting them for the early momentum. “The defense set the tone and then we followed suit by scoring on that first possession,” he explained. “It’s awesome to have a defense like that, man. You can always rely on them to get a stop, and they played an unbelievable game today.” That defense punished Northwestern.

Right now, for Retzlaff, it felt like destiny. “It was déjà vu for me, actually,” he said after ripping off a long TD run. So, on a humid New Orleans afternoon, Tulane didn’t just win; they made a statement. Now, it’s all about how the season plays out.