What Is 1979 Tulane Green Wave football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1979 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 5–6 record under head coach Jerry Stovall. They played their home games at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans and were part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Key Facts

1979 Tulane Green Wave finished with a 5–6 overall record
Head coach Jerry Stovall was in his second season
Team played home games at the Louisiana Superdome
Competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Outscored opponents 202–215 for the season

Overview

The 1979 Tulane Green Wave football season marked the 85th year of the program's intercollegiate football history. Competing in the NCAA Division I-A as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by second-year head coach Jerry Stovall and played its home games at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

The Green Wave struggled to find consistency, finishing the season with a 5–6 overall record and a 3–4 mark in conference play. Despite several close games, Tulane failed to qualify for a bowl game, marking the second consecutive non-bowl season under Stovall's leadership.

Record: The team finished the 1979 season with a 5–6 overall record, including a 3–4 performance in the Southeastern Conference.
Head Coach:Jerry Stovall was in his second year as head coach, having taken over the program in 1978 after a successful career as an LSU player and NFL defensive back.
Home Stadium: Tulane played all its home games at the Louisiana Superdome, which opened in 1975 and seated over 70,000 fans.
Scoring: The Green Wave was outscored 215–202 over the 11-game season, highlighting defensive struggles despite offensive flashes.
SEC Competition: As a member of the Southeastern Conference, Tulane faced tough opponents like LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss during the regular season.

Season Performance

The 1979 campaign featured a mix of narrow victories and disappointing losses, with five of Tulane’s six defeats coming by single digits. The team showed promise early but faltered in key conference matchups, ultimately missing postseason play.

Season Opener: Tulane opened the season with a 21–14 win over Southeastern Louisiana, a Division I-AA opponent, setting a positive tone.
Key Win: A 24–21 victory over Vanderbilt in October gave the Green Wave their third win and improved their SEC record to 2–2.
Close Losses: Tulane lost four games by seven points or fewer, including a 20–17 defeat to Mississippi State and a 24–21 loss to Ole Miss.
Offensive Leader: Quarterback Steve Walsh led the passing attack, throwing for 1,243 yards and 9 touchdowns despite missing part of the season due to injury.
Defensive Struggles: The defense allowed 215 total points, averaging nearly 20 points per game, with particular issues in stopping the run.
Final Game: The season ended with a 34–17 loss to LSU in the annual Battle for the Rag, a rivalry game played in front of over 60,000 fans.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1979 season can be better understood by comparing it to previous and subsequent years in the program's history.

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Head Coach	Bowl Game
1977	4–7	2–4	Hammond Johnson	No
1978	4–7	2–4	Jerry Stovall (1st year)	No
1979	5–6	3–4	Jerry Stovall (2nd year)	No
1980	4–7	2–4	Jerry Stovall (3rd year)	No
1981	5–6	3–4	Jerry Stovall (4th year)	No

This table shows that the 1979 season represented a slight improvement over the previous two years, with one additional win and a better conference record. However, the lack of a bowl appearance and narrow margins in losses underscored the team's inconsistency during this era.

Why It Matters

The 1979 Tulane Green Wave season is a snapshot of a transitional period in the program’s history, reflecting both the challenges of competing in a strong conference and the early stages of rebuilding under a new coaching staff.

Program Development: The 1979 season helped lay the foundation for future improvements under Jerry Stovall, who would later lead Tulane to a bowl game in 1983.
SEC Competition: Competing in the SEC during this era tested Tulane against some of the nation’s best programs, providing valuable experience.
Stadium Legacy: Playing at the Louisiana Superdome gave Tulane exposure and revenue, though it also increased pressure to perform.
Recruiting: The team’s moderate success in 1979 helped recruit local talent in the New Orleans area, strengthening future rosters.
Historical Context: This season occurred just before Tulane’s move to Conference USA in the 1990s, marking the end of an SEC era.
Fandom: Despite a losing record, fan support remained strong, highlighting the cultural importance of college football in Louisiana.

The 1979 Tulane Green Wave football team may not have achieved national recognition, but it played a role in shaping the trajectory of the program during a pivotal decade in its history.