What Is 1933 Tulane Green Wave football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1933 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University during the 1933 college football season, finishing with a 6–2–1 record under head coach Bernie Bierman. They played in the Southern Conference and shut out five of their nine opponents.

Key Facts

The 1933 Tulane Green Wave finished the season with a 6–2–1 overall record
Head coach Bernie Bierman led the team in his final season before moving to Minnesota
Tulane played its home games at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans
The team recorded five shutouts during the 1933 season
They were members of the Southern Conference (SoCon) at the time

Overview

The 1933 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the 1933 college football season, marking a strong performance under head coach Bernie Bierman. This season was notable as it was Bierman’s final year leading the program before he departed to become head coach at the University of Minnesota.

Tulane finished the season with a solid 6–2–1 overall record, showcasing a dominant defense that shut out five of their nine opponents. The team competed as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon), a competitive collegiate athletic conference at the time, and played their home games at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.

Record: The Green Wave finished the 1933 season with a 6–2–1 overall record, reflecting a competitive and well-balanced team performance across nine games.
Head Coach:Bernie Bierman, who coached Tulane from 1927 to 1933, compiled a 38–18–6 record during his tenure, with the 1933 season being his final campaign.
Defensive Strength: The team recorded five shutouts in 1933, demonstrating a formidable defense that limited opponents to minimal scoring opportunities.
Home Venue: All home games were played at Tulane Stadium, located on the university's campus in New Orleans, Louisiana, which opened in 1926.
Conference: As a member of the Southern Conference, Tulane faced regional rivals including teams from the southeastern United States during the regular season.

Season Performance

The 1933 campaign featured a mix of victories, losses, and one tie, with Tulane demonstrating consistency on both offense and defense. The team opened the season with strong performances and maintained competitiveness throughout the schedule.

September 30: Tulane defeated Southwestern Louisiana 34–0 in their season opener, setting an aggressive tone with a decisive shutout victory.
October 7: The Green Wave beat Spring Hill College 26–0, extending their early-season defensive dominance with another clean sheet.
October 14: A 7–7 tie against Mississippi State broke the shutout streak but showed resilience in a tightly contested matchup.
October 21: Tulane shut out North Carolina 14–0, marking a significant win over a conference opponent in the Southern Conference standings.
November 11: The team suffered a 0–14 loss to in-state rival LSU, a key setback in their otherwise strong season record.
November 25: Tulane closed the regular season with a 20–7 win over archrival LSU in a rematch, reclaiming momentum and pride.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1933 Tulane Green Wave to other seasons highlights its defensive excellence and transitional coaching context:

Season	Record (W–L–T)	Head Coach	Shutouts	Key Outcome
1933	6–2–1	Bernie Bierman	5	Final season under Bierman; strong defense
1932	6–2–1	Bernie Bierman	4	Undefeated in conference play
1931	6–2–2	Bernie Bierman	3	Lost to USC in postseason
1934	6–4	Percy Conyers (interim)	2	Post-Bierman transition year
1935	6–4	Red Dawson	3	Rebuilding phase after leadership change

The 1933 season stands out for maintaining consistency during a coaching transition year. While the win-loss record mirrored previous years, the five shutouts were among the highest in Bierman’s tenure, underscoring the team’s defensive discipline. Compared to subsequent seasons, 1933 marked the end of an era, as Tulane struggled to maintain the same level of dominance after Bierman’s departure.

Why It Matters

The 1933 Tulane Green Wave season holds historical significance for the program's development and regional football landscape. It represents the culmination of Bernie Bierman’s successful tenure and set a benchmark for future teams.

Coaching Legacy: Bernie Bierman’s departure to Minnesota marked a major shift, as he later led the Gophers to multiple national titles, highlighting his coaching caliber.
Defensive Benchmark: The five shutouts in 1933 remain one of the best defensive performances in Tulane’s pre-war football history.
Conference Standing: Success in the Southern Conference elevated Tulane’s regional reputation and strengthened recruiting efforts in the South.
Stadium Legacy: Games at Tulane Stadium helped establish the venue as a key site for college football in the Deep South.
Rivalry Impact: The season’s two games against LSU underscored the growing intensity of the in-state rivalry, which continues today.
Historical Context: The 1933 season occurred during the Great Depression, making athletic success a source of community pride in New Orleans.

Overall, the 1933 Tulane Green Wave football team exemplifies a transitional yet successful chapter in college football history. Their performance laid groundwork for future developments in the program and remains a point of pride for Tulane athletics.