What Is 1988 Tulane Green Wave football team

Overview

The 1988 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in New Orleans during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing as an Independent, the team struggled to find consistency under second-year head coach Greg Davis, finishing with a 3–8 overall record.

The season was marked by offensive struggles and lopsided defeats, including a 58–0 loss to powerhouse Miami (FL). Despite the challenges, the team laid groundwork for future rebuilding efforts under Davis’s leadership.

• Record: The team finished with a 3–8 overall record, with all three wins coming in the first half of the season.
• Offense: Tulane scored 184 points total, averaging 16.7 points per game, ranking near the bottom nationally.
• Defense: Allowed 314 points (28.5 per game), including four games where opponents scored over 30 points.
• Home field: Played home games at the Louisiana Superdome, a domed stadium also used by the NFL’s Saints.
• Season highlight: A 27–24 win over East Carolina on October 8 stood out as a narrow conference-level victory.

Season Performance

The 1988 campaign was defined by inconsistency and growing pains as Tulane transitioned under Greg Davis’s evolving system. The team showed flashes of competitiveness but failed to sustain momentum beyond midseason.

• September 3, 1988: Opened with a 24–10 win over Northwestern in Chicago, providing early optimism.
• September 17: Secured a 24–21 victory against Army at home, improving to 2–0.
• September 24: Lost 28–10 to Mississippi State, marking the start of a five-game losing streak.
• October 1: A 31–10 loss to Virginia Tech exposed defensive vulnerabilities.
• October 29: Suffered a crushing 58–0 defeat to #1-ranked Miami (FL), the worst loss in years.
• November 12: Closed with a 38–14 loss to Florida State, finishing 0–5 against ranked teams.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1988 season compared to recent years and key metrics:

The 1988 season marked a decline from the previous year’s 5–6 record, with a significant drop in both offensive production and defensive performance. While 1987 showed promise under new coach Davis, 1988 regressed in nearly every statistical category, highlighting the challenges of building a competitive program as an Independent without conference support.

Why It Matters

Though not a standout season, the 1988 campaign offers insight into Tulane’s football struggles in the late 1980s and the difficulties of competing without conference affiliation. It reflects a transitional era for the program before eventual improvements in the 1990s.

• Program development: The season underscored the need for structural changes, later addressed when Tulane joined Conference USA in 1996.
• Coaching continuity: Greg Davis remained head coach through 1991, allowing long-term evaluation of his system despite short-term losses.
• Recruiting challenges: As an Independent, Tulane faced difficulty scheduling and attracting talent without conference ties.
• Fan engagement: Poor records and blowout losses contributed to declining attendance at the Superdome.
• Historical context: The 58–0 loss to Miami exemplified the gap between mid-major programs and national powerhouses.
• Legacy: The 1988 team is remembered as a low point before gradual improvement in the 1990s under new leadership.

The 1988 Tulane Green Wave football team may not be remembered for victories, but it serves as a case study in the challenges of college football independence and the importance of institutional support in building a sustainable program.