What Is 1939 Tulane Green Wave football team

Overview

The 1939 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the 1939 college football season, competing as a member of the Southern Conference. Led by head coach Bernie Bierman, the team played its home games at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, a venue that had become a central hub for college football in the region.

This season followed a period of national prominence for Tulane football, which had peaked just a few years earlier with a Sugar Bowl victory and top-10 rankings. However, the 1939 campaign marked a downturn in performance, reflecting broader challenges within the program as it transitioned between eras of competitiveness.

• Record: The team finished the season with a 4–5 overall record, marking one of the program’s weaker performances in the late 1930s.
• Coach: Bernie Bierman, previously successful at Minnesota, served as head coach but resigned after just one season due to poor results.
• Stadium: Tulane played all home games at Tulane Stadium, a 35,000-seat venue located on campus in Uptown New Orleans.
• Conference: The Green Wave competed in the Southern Conference, which included regional rivals such as LSU, Mississippi State, and Alabama.
• Sugar Bowl: Despite the losing record, Tulane was invited to the 1940 Sugar Bowl, where they lost 27–0 to Texas Tech on January 1, 1940.

Season Performance

The 1939 season was marked by inconsistency and a lack of offensive firepower, culminating in a disappointing finish both in conference play and postseason action. While the team showed flashes of potential, defensive lapses and offensive stagnation undermined their chances against stronger opponents.

• September Games: The Green Wave opened the season with a win over Southwestern Louisiana but lost to Mississippi State 13–0 in their first conference test.
• October Struggles: Tulane went 1–3 in October, including a 14–7 loss to rival LSU, highlighting a decline in regional dominance.
• November Results: The team rebounded slightly with two wins in November against weaker opponents, defeating Loyola and Mississippi College.
• Defensive Issues: The defense allowed an average of 17.6 points per game, a significant increase from previous seasons.
• Offensive Output: The offense averaged just 12.3 points per game, struggling to maintain drives and convert in the red zone.
• Bowl Selection: Despite a losing record, Tulane received a Sugar Bowl bid due to its historical prestige and stadium availability in New Orleans.

Comparison at a Glance

Performance trends from recent seasons illustrate how the 1939 campaign compared to prior years in terms of wins, conference standing, and bowl outcomes.

The table shows a clear decline from the 7–2 record in 1938 to a losing season in 1939, followed by middling performances in subsequent years. The continued selection for the Sugar Bowl despite a losing record underscores Tulane’s brand value at the time, even as on-field results waned. The program’s shift away from national relevance began during this transitional period, as coaching changes and increased competition took their toll.

Why It Matters

The 1939 season serves as a turning point in Tulane football history, marking the end of a brief era of national prominence and the beginning of a prolonged rebuilding phase. It reflects broader trends in college football during the late 1930s, including the growing importance of bowl games and regional rivalries.

• Historical Context: The 1939 season occurred during the Great Depression, affecting attendance and athletic funding across college programs.
• Bowl Game Legacy: Tulane Stadium hosted the Sugar Bowl annually, giving the Green Wave automatic consideration even with subpar records.
• Coaching Instability: Bernie Bierman’s resignation after one season highlighted the pressure on coaches to deliver immediate results.
• Regional Rivalries: Games against LSU and Mississippi State remained central to the team’s identity and fan engagement.
• Transition Period: The late 1930s marked Tulane’s shift from national contender to regional program, influencing future conference realignment.
• Stadium Significance: Tulane Stadium later became a landmark, hosting Super Bowls and major concerts, rooted in its 1930s football legacy.

The 1939 Tulane Green Wave season may not stand out in terms of wins, but it captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of college football in the South, where tradition, economics, and competition began to reshape athletic programs.