Above: A family reunion–like celebration unfolds on the field at AT&T Stadium after Tulane wins the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 2, 2023. (AP photo by Sam Hodde)
(All other photos by Partker Waters)

It was a season for the ages. The Green Wave ended a magical year with arguably the biggest win in the modern era of its program with a thrilling 46-45 come-from-behind victory over the 10th-ranked University of Southern California Trojans in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 2. Tulane claimed the No. 9 spot in the final college football rankings of 2022.

On the first Monday of the New Year, tens of thousands of Tulanians descended on the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and turned AT&T Stadium into a rowdy sea of olive and blue. There were handshakes, hugs and an abundance of photos taken before, during and especially after the game. But it was more than just a game for anyone associated with Tulane University. It was a long-awaited family reunion — a catharsis, a transcendental moment that represented all that is right with intercollegiate athletics and exemplified what the New York Times called “the power of belief.”

Former football players and coaches came to cheer along with current and former faculty, staff, gleeful alums, and fans of all ages. Tulane students showed up en masse and sat center stage, fueling the collective energy as they have done all season.

Catherine Susie (E ’99) was a junior at Tulane during the Green Wave’s 12-0 season in 1998. The Dallas native was more than happy to make the short trip to AT&T Stadium to cheer on her alma mater.

“Stepping into AT&T Stadium, you could feel the excitement and enthusiasm among the Tulane fans,” said Susie. “It was an indescribable rush, like going to your first Mardi Gras. The last four minutes were exhilarating, thrilling and tense.”

A diehard Green Wave fan, Susie said this season took things to “another level.”
“I’ve always been a proud Tulanian. I stop people on the street when I see Tulane shirts, but our Cotton Bowl victory took it to another level. I think I smiled for a week straight after the game.”

The 16th-ranked Green Wave’s improbable comeback in its first major bowl in 83 years was spurred by a Green Wave offense that often appeared unstoppable behind the solid play of junior quarterback Michael Pratt and junior running back Tyjae Spears. The Green Wave defense battled Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, all day and came up with a game-changing safety late in the contest that prompted an epic comeback. When Pratt found freshman tight end Alex Bauman for the game-winning touchdown with nine seconds to play the Green Wave had overcome a 15-point deficit in the final five minutes.

Cotton Bowl Highlights

The remarkable win also resulted in the biggest one-season turnaround in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision — from a 2-10 record in 2021 to a 12-2 mark in 2022.

“This is a huge win for the program, the university and the city,” said Tulane head coach Willie Fritz. “I think we’ve seen this year what a great football season and competing at a high level can do for an institution. I’m just very proud to be a part of it. We have a good group of young men who are true student-athletes. When you have a season like this, it’s validation that you’re doing the right thing. It’s a credit to our staff and players for hanging together during the tough times. We want to be a nationally recognized program, year after year. That’s a big goal for us.”

When the final whistle sounded at the Cotton Bowl, bedlam ensued. Tulane fans erupted with tears and cheers of excitement that reverberated around the stadium and country.

“Everyone went crazy, including the president of Tulane University,” quipped Michael A. Fitts, who was on the sidelines during the Green Wave’s final drive. “It just doesn’t get any better than this. This historic season and Cotton Bowl victory was the exclamation point on the end of a year of excellence across our 17 teams and 10 schools and colleges. It is emblematic of the success we have had throughout Tulane in student achievement, research, admissions, fundraising — you name it.”

As Fritz and the players hoisted the Cotton Bowl trophy, confetti poured down on the newly crowned champions. Tulanians remained standing, applauding and embracing each other. The Tulane band played on, perhaps louder and prouder than ever. The game, and the season, were a turning point for the football program and the entire university community.

“The appearance in the Cotton Bowl was validation of Tulane’s ability to compete at an elite level athletically, as it has long done academically. There was a time we merely hoped this is who we could be. Advancing to the Cotton Bowl showed us that this indeed is who we can be. In the days following the game, the victory has done nothing less than remind us of this is who we should expect to be,” said Troy Dannen, the Ben Weiner Director of Athletics.

Season Highlights

Tulane was THE story of the year in college football, opening the season with a pair of dominant home wins over the University of Massachusetts (42-10) and Alcorn State University (52-10).