Tulane University opened its 2025 football season with a performance that carried meaning far beyond the scoreboard. On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Green Wave defeated Northwestern 23 to 3 in New Orleans, marking both a tribute to the past and a statement about the future.
Head coach Jon Sumrall had originally asked Northwestern for permission to wear a special all white throwback uniform identical to what Tulane wore during its 2005 season after the hurricane. Northwestern refused the request, a move that Sumrall later called disrespectful. Instead Tulane took the field in plain green jerseys and helmets without logos, mirroring the stripped down look their team wore when New Orleans was rebuilding from disaster. Sumrall told reporters afterward that when you disrespect New Orleans, you face the response on the field.
Tulane backed up those words with dominant play. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff, a transfer from BYU, made an impressive debut by throwing for 196 yards and adding a 69 yard rushing touchdown. The defense forced five turnovers and held Northwestern to just three points. The win was Tulane’s first at home over a Big Ten opponent since 1955, which was also against Northwestern.
The symbolism of the game reached beyond the stats. In 2005 Tulane’s football team had no home stadium and was forced to play across multiple states while the Superdome and university campus recovered from the hurricane. This anniversary contest served as a reminder of how far both the city and the program have come since then.
Fans left the stadium not only celebrating a victory but also reflecting on two decades of resilience. For Tulane, the game showed that football in New Orleans continues to carry the spirit of survival, unity, and pride.