Tulane Redefines Season With Backs Against Wall To Topple Memphis

The Tulane Green Wave went into a pivotal matchup against the Memphis Tigers without the edge, the benefit of the doubt, or an answer at quarterback.

In a somewhat stunning turn of events, the Green Wave left Yulman Stadium on Friday with all three back in their pocket and a season-defining win.

Without saying it, Friday was the turning point for better or worse for this program against a storied rival. There was a lot of pressure riding on a Week 7 matchup.

And it felt like this team’s response was going to sink or save the ship. Boy, did they choose the latter.

Say what you want about the pieces or the play of this Tulane team. Their mentality and unwillingness to quit made conference championship goals a real possibility again.

Say what you want about how head coach Will Hall has handled things this season. His quarterback decisions have seen scrutiny.

No one can argue with the results they produced last night in a poised and prepared Trace Johnson.

This team has a young starting quarterback with real moxie. That can change the ceiling of where they go this season.

In his starting debut, he had a championship-caliber defense to match.

A theme of the chatter ahead of this week was a defense with heart, not real great execution, and one that was desperately lacking in the turnover department.

That would be the bat signal heard around the world to that side of the ball.

With one turnover and five sacks previously to their name, the Green Wave defense made a statement with the eyes of the college football world on them.

Seven sacks and six turnovers is such a ridiculous stat line that it would be hard to believe without seeing each one unfold live.

Each one was well-earned. The strip sacks forced fumbles and the defensive backs put themselves in the right position to make some picks.

There might not be a quicker and wilder switch of momentum in recent memory than Trace Johnson’s interception immediately turning into six points by the defense on a TJ Smith pick-six.

Things did not feel great for a while in the second quarter as the playcalling felt conversative and meant to nurse a lead.

The wind was such an undeniable factor that the Wave were simply smarter about, electing to take the wind in the third quarter.

Then Johnnie Daniels sealed things with some style points.

This was a team that looked nothing like the first five games of play. But it was a tested one and that simply mattered.

Tulane played harder out-of-conference opponents than most teams in the American, but certainly than Memphis, and it felt like, despite their records, the Green Wave might actually stronger.

They might actually be stronger than anyone saw coming with a victory like that.