What Is 1931 Tulane Green Wave football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1931 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University during the 1931 college football season, finishing with a 6–4 record under head coach Bernie Bierman. They played in the Southern Conference and were outscored 151 to 120 over the course of the season.

Key Facts

The 1931 Tulane Green Wave finished with a 6–4 overall record
Head coach Bernie Bierman led the team in his final season before moving to Minnesota
Tulane played home games at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans
The team scored 151 points while allowing 120 points to opponents
They competed in the Southern Conference, facing regional rivals like LSU and Mississippi

Overview

The 1931 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University during the 1931 college football season. Competing in the Southern Conference, the team was led by head coach Bernie Bierman, who completed his tenure at Tulane that year before departing for the University of Minnesota.

The Green Wave posted a 6–4 overall record, showing moderate success on the field while playing a challenging schedule of regional opponents. Their season included notable matchups against in-state rival LSU and other Southern Conference foes, reflecting the competitive landscape of southern college football in the early 1930s.

Record: The team finished with a 6–4 overall record, demonstrating a competitive but inconsistent season across ten games.
Head Coach: Bernie Bierman served as head coach for his final year, compiling a 6–4 record before leaving for Minnesota in 1932.
Home Venue: Tulane played its home games at Tulane Stadium, a 30,000-seat venue located on campus in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Scoring: The Green Wave scored 151 total points while allowing 120, resulting in a positive point differential for the season.
Conference: As members of the Southern Conference, they faced strong regional competition from schools like Mississippi, Alabama, and Vanderbilt.

How It Works

The 1931 season operated under standard college football rules of the era, with teams playing a mix of conference and independent games. Tulane’s schedule reflected regional rivalries and the structure of Southern Conference competition.

Season Format: The team played a 10-game schedule, common for the era, balancing conference and non-conference matchups for exposure and strength.
Game Rules: Football in 1931 used the same basic rules as today, including four 15-minute quarters and a 100-yard field with 10-yard end zones.
Recruiting: Tulane relied on local Louisiana talent and regional scouting, as national recruiting networks had not yet developed.
Coaching Strategy: Bernie Bierman emphasized disciplined defense and ball control, a hallmark of his later success at Minnesota.
Player Roles: Most players participated on both offense and defense, as two-way play was standard due to smaller rosters.
Game Day Experience: Attendance averaged several thousand fans per game, with home games at Tulane Stadium drawing strong local support.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1931 Tulane Green Wave and select peer teams from the Southern Conference:

Team	Record	Conference	Head Coach	Points For	Points Against
Tulane Green Wave	6–4	Southern	Bernie Bierman	151	120
LSU Tigers	6–2–1	Southern	Mike Donahue	132	70
Alabama Crimson Tide	8–2	Southern	Wallace Wade	147	40
Vanderbilt Commodores	6–3–1	Southern	Byron R. White	134	70
Mississippi Rebels	4–5–1	Southern	Fred Hubbell	85	98

This table illustrates how Tulane’s 6–4 record compared favorably with regional peers. While not dominant, the Green Wave performed on par with several conference teams, particularly outscoring weaker opponents. Their point differential and schedule strength reflect a mid-tier Southern Conference team during a transitional era in college football.

Why It Matters

The 1931 season holds historical significance as the final chapter of Bernie Bierman’s tenure at Tulane, a period that laid groundwork for future program development. It also reflects the broader trends in early 20th-century college football, including regional rivalries and evolving coaching strategies.

Coaching Legacy: Bierman’s move to Minnesota marked the start of a Hall of Fame career, underscoring Tulane’s role in developing elite coaches.
Regional Identity: The team reinforced Tulane’s presence in southern athletics, contributing to the cultural fabric of New Orleans sports.
Historical Context: The 1931 season occurred during the Great Depression, affecting attendance and funding for college programs nationwide.
Program Evolution: The season helped shape Tulane’s football identity before the school eventually joined stronger conferences in later decades.
Rivalry Development: Games against LSU and others strengthened longstanding regional rivalries still active today.
Historical Record: The season is preserved in college football archives, offering insight into early 20th-century team performance and structure.

Overall, the 1931 Tulane Green Wave season serves as a snapshot of college football during a formative era, bridging tradition and modernization in intercollegiate athletics.