What Is 2006 Tulane Green Wave football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2006 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 4–8 record under head coach Chris Scelfo. They played their home games at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Key Facts

The 2006 Tulane Green Wave finished the season with a 4–8 overall record
Head coach Chris Scelfo led the team for the sixth consecutive season
Tulane played home games at the Louisiana Superdome due to Hurricane Katrina damage
The team competed as an independent before joining Conference USA in 2005
Quarterback Lester Ricard started 10 games and threw for 2,036 yards

Overview

The 2006 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the program's 114th season of football and the sixth under head coach Chris Scelfo, who continued to rebuild the program after the disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Tulane played its home games at the Louisiana Superdome, as on-campus Yulman Stadium had not yet been constructed. The team competed as a member of Conference USA, having transitioned from independent status in 2005, and played a challenging schedule that included several Power Five opponents.

Record: The Green Wave finished the 2006 season with a 4–8 overall record, including a 3–5 mark in Conference USA play, reflecting ongoing rebuilding efforts.
Head Coach:Chris Scelfo remained head coach for his sixth consecutive season, striving to stabilize the program amid post-Katrina recovery challenges.
Home Stadium: Due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, Tulane continued to play home games at the Louisiana Superdome instead of its campus facility.
Quarterback:Lester Ricard started 10 games, throwing for 2,036 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the team’s offensive efforts.
Schedule: The team faced a difficult non-conference slate, including games against Georgia Tech, LSU, and Florida State, contributing to the losing record.

Performance & Season Highlights

The 2006 campaign was marked by inconsistency, with early-season losses setting a tone of struggle despite flashes of competitiveness. Tulane showed resilience in conference play, winning three of their final eight games, including key victories over Southern Miss and UTEP.

Season Opener: Tulane lost 24–17 to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, struggling to contain the Yellow Jackets’ balanced offense.
First Win: The Green Wave earned their first victory with a 27–10 win over Southeastern Louisiana, a non-conference FCS opponent.
Conference USA Win: A 24–21 victory over Southern Miss in October provided momentum, with Ricard throwing for two touchdowns.
Defensive Struggles: The team allowed 31.7 points per game, ranking among the bottom third nationally in defensive efficiency.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 45–10 loss to UCF, highlighting the gap between Tulane and top C-USA contenders.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2006 season can be better understood by comparing key statistics and outcomes with the previous and following seasons.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Key QB	Points Per Game
2005	4–7	3–5	Chris Scelfo	Lester Ricard	23.1
2006	4–8	3–5	Chris Scelfo	Lester Ricard	21.3
2007	4–8	3–5	Chris Scelfo	Lee Doss	19.5
2008	4–8	2–6	Bob Toledo	Joe Ayoob	17.8
2009	5–7	3–5	Bob Toledo	Joe Ayoob	19.2

The table illustrates that the 2006 season was part of a prolonged rebuilding phase. Despite consistent coaching under Scelfo through 2006, the team failed to improve its win total. Offense declined slightly from 2005, and defensive performance remained a critical weakness. The data shows minimal progress across multiple seasons, leading to Scelfo’s departure after 2006.

Why It Matters

The 2006 season is significant as a transitional chapter in Tulane football history, reflecting the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina and the challenges of sustaining a competitive program in Conference USA.

Post-Katrina Recovery: The use of the Superdome underscored the university’s ongoing recovery, delaying the return to on-campus football until 2014.
Coaching Transition: Chris Scelfo was dismissed after the 2006 season, ending a six-year tenure with a 14–50 record, prompting a new era under Bob Toledo.
Recruiting Challenges: The losing record and instability hampered recruiting, limiting talent acquisition during a critical rebuilding window.
Program Identity: The season highlighted the need for structural changes, eventually leading to the construction of Yulman Stadium and a cultural reset.
Fan Engagement: Attendance remained low, with an average of 23,000 fans per game, signaling waning public interest.
Historical Context: The 2006 team is remembered as part of a difficult era, preceding eventual improvements in the 2010s under new leadership.

While not a successful season on the field, 2006 was a pivotal year that set the stage for future reforms and long-term revitalization of Tulane football.