# 2013 Tulane Green Wave football team

The 2013 Tulane Green Wave football team represented Tulane University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second year head coach Curtis Johnson and played home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. They were a member of Conference USA in the West Division. This was the Green Wave's last season playing in the Superdome and Conference USA as they will open the new, on-campus Yulman Stadium in the fall of 2014, and move to the American Athletic Conference in July 2014. They finished the season 7–6, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They were invited to the New Orleans Bowl where they lost to Louisiana–Lafayette.
In the 2013 season, Tulane reached 500 program wins, had its first winning record since 2002, and went to its first bowl game since the 2002 Hawaiʻi Bowl.

## Pre-season
### Recruits

US college sports recruiting information for 2013 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Richard Allen CB | River Ridge, LA | John Curtis Christian | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.38 | Jul 9, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 68 |||||||
| Ade Aruna DE | La Porte, IN | La Lumiere School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.6 | Feb 6, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Sherman Badie RB | River Ridge, LA | John Curtis Christian | 5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.3 | Nov 5, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Eric Bell DE | Edgard, LA | West St. John | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | N/A | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 67 |||||||
| Quinlan Carroll OLB | Belle Chasse, LA | Belle Chasse | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | N/A | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 68 |||||||
| Tristan Cooper WR | Tampa, FL | Plant | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Feb 4, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Leonard Davis S | Reserve, LA | East St. John | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.55 | May 30, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Jarrod Franklin S | Baton Rouge, LA | LSU Laboratory | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 4, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Brandon Godfrey C | River Ridge, LA | John Curtis Christian | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | May 29, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Luke Jackson OLB | LaPlace, LA | St. Charles Catholic | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.55 | Jun 14, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 64 |||||||
| Tanner Lee QB | New Orleans, LA | Jesuit | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | N/A | May 25, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Mike Lizanich LS | Phoenix, AZ | Pinnacle | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | N/A | Jun 18, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 68 |||||||
| Nico Marley S | Weston, FL | Cypress Bay | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | N/A | Jun 24, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 61 |||||||
| Sergio Medina S | Boutte, LA | Hahnville | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.45 | Jan 27, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Nick Montana QB | Walnut, CA | Mt. San Antonio JC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.8 | Dec 18, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Parry Nickerson CB | Harvey, LA | West Jefferson | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | N/A | Jun 28, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Kenneth Santa Marina OG | New Orleans, LA | McDonough 35 | 6 ft 5.5 in (1.97 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | N/A | Jan 25, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Tanzel Smart DT | Baton Rouge, LA | Scotlandville Magnet | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Feb 6, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Jason Stewart OG | New Orleans, LA | Warren Easton Charter | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | Apr 30, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 70 |||||||
| Anthony Taylor OT | River Ridge, LA | John Curtis Christian | 6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | N/A | Mar 29, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Chris Taylor OG | Zachary, LA | Zachary | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 307 lb (139 kg) | 5.2 | Jun 22, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Eric Thomas MLB | River Ridge, LA | John Curtis Christian | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | 4.55 | Nov 1, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| William Townsend CB | Miami, FL | Miami Norland | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.5 | Nov 26, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR |||||||
| Eldrick Washington DE | Harvey, LA | Helen Cox | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | N/A | May 17, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 67 |||||||
| Edward Williams MLB | New Orleans, LA | Warren Easton Charter | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.6 | Mar 5, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 93 Rivals: 77 |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2013 Tulane Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013. "2013 Tulane Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013. "Tulane Green Wave 2013". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013. "2013 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013. |||||||

### Award watch lists

* Orleans Darkwa – Doak Walker Award Candidate (3rd consecutive year)
* Ryan Grant – Fred Biletnikoff Award Watch List
* Cairo Santos – Lou Groza Award Watch List (2012 award winner)

### C-USA All-Conference Preseason Awards

* Cairo Santos – Special Teams Player of the Year
* Ryan Grant – First Team, Offense
* Lorenzo Doss – First Team, Defense
* Cairo Santos – First Team, Special Teams

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 pm | Jackson State* | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | | W 34–7 | 20,992 |
| September 7 | 2:30 pm | South Alabama* | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | CST | L 39–41 | 19,414 |
| September 12 | 6:30 pm | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA | FS1 | W 24–15 | 22,035 |
| September 21 | 11:30 am | at Syracuse* | Carrier DomeSyracuse, NY | ACCN | L 17–52 | 36,128 |
| September 28 | 6:00 pm | at Louisiana–Monroe* | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPN3 | W 31–14 | 20,476 |
| October 5 | 2:30 pm | North Texas | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | FCS | W 24–21 | 20,734 |
| October 12 | 2:30 pm | East Carolina | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | WHNO* | W 36–33 $^{3OT}$ | 15,157 |
| October 26 | 2:30 pm | Tulsa | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | CST | W 14–7 | 22,414 |
| November 2 | 4:00 pm | at Florida Atlantic | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | | L 17–34 | 16,406 |
| November 9 | 1:00 pm | at UTSA | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | WHNO | L 7–10 | 24,606 |
| November 23 | 2:30 pm | UTEP | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | CST | W 45–3 | 19,771 |
| November 30 | 2:00 pm | at Rice | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | FCS | L 13–17 | 20,048 |
| December 21 | 8:00 pm | Louisiana–Lafayette* | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA (New Orleans Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–24 | 54,728 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time |||||||
x- *(Tape Delayed broadcast ) Source

## Game summaries
### Jackson State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| JSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Tulane | 13 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
This was the first meeting in football between Tulane and Jackson State.

### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • S. Alabama | 21 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
| Tulane | 7 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 39 |
This was the first meeting in football between Tulane and South Alabama.

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tulane | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
| LA Tech | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
Tulane last played Louisiana Tech during its undefeated 1998 season, winning 63–30 at home. Tulane has never lost to Louisiana Tech in football.

### Syracuse

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • Syracuse | 21 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 52 |

### Louisiana-Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Tulane | 3 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 31 |
| ULM | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Orleans Darkwa led the team with 118 rushing yards, and the defense held their opponent scoreless in the first half for the second time in the season. Tulane forced 5 turnovers in the game and outgained ULM in rushing yards by 253 to 26.

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UNT | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| • Tulane | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
This was the first meeting in football between Tulane and North Texas. Tulane won as time expired on the clock with a 27-yard field goal from Lou Groza Award-winner Cairo Santos. It was Tulane's first homecoming victory since the 2006 season and gave the Green Wave its best season start since 2003 and best conference start since 1998. The victory was also Tulane football's 500th win all-time. The defense held their opponent scoreless in the first half for the third time in the season and had two interceptions. Special teams blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown for the first time in school history.
| Statistics | UNT | TULN |
| First downs | 18 | 17 |
| Total yards | 360 | 227 |
| Rushing yards | 34 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 326 | 132 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:44 | 32:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Derek Thompson | 29/42, 326 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Derek Thompson | 6 rushes, 19 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Darnell Smith | 8 receptions, 130 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Passing | Nick Montana | 18/28, 132 yards, TD |
| Tulane | Rushing | Orleans Darkwa | 16 rushes, 44 yards |
| Tulane | Receiving | Ryan Grant | 7 receptions, 60 yards |

### East Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | 3OT | Total |
| ECU | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 33 |
| • Tulane | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 36 |
Devin Powell played quarterback for Tulane, as starting quarterback Nick Montana was out with a shoulder injury. Cairo Santos kicked 5 field goals, including a 42-yard kick to win the game in triple overtime. Derrick Strozier intercepted an East Carolina pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown, while wearing one shoe. The game was the longest in school history and Tulane's first win over East Carolina since 2003. Following the victory, Tulane players won all three Conference USA weekly awards: Offensive Player of the Week (Devin Powell), Defensive Player of the Week (Derrick Strozier), and Special Teams Player of the Week (Cairo Santos).

### Tulsa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulsa | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Tulane | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Tulane came away with a 14–7 victory, beating Tulsa for the first time since their initial meeting in 1968, a 25–15 Green Wave victory in Tulane Stadium. In the two teams' last 8 meetings, the Green Wave lost by an average score of 43–12. Tulane forced 4 turnovers and 8 penalties from a Tulsa team that was the least penalized in college football coming into the game. The Golden Hurricane managed only 7 points in a game for the first time since their season opener against Bowling Green. Devin Powell played quarterback in place of Nick Montana, who was still on the bench with a separated shoulder. With the win, Tulane became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2002.

### Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • FAU | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 34 |
This was the first meeting in football between Tulane and Florida Atlantic.

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • UTSA | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
This was the first meeting in football between Tulane and UTSA. While the Green Wave compiled more yards and first downs than the Roadrunners, while holding the ball for 15 minutes more, the team committed 14 penalties for 105 yards. UTSA kicked a field goal with 14 seconds remaining on the clock to break the 7–7 tie and win the game. With the loss, Tulane dropped to 6–4.

### UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| UTEP | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Tulane | 14 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 45 |
Tulane dominated UTEP in the program's final scheduled home game in the Superdome, scoring 38 points in the first half alone. Numerous former players from the Superdome era attended the game, and the "All-Dome Team," an all-star team of players from those 38 seasons, was introduced at halftime. The Green Wave's 45–3 victory was the largest margin of victory for Tulane in a C-USA game, and the 3 points allowed were the fewest the program had ever allowed in a C-USA contest. The win brought Tulane's record to 7–4, ensuring its first winning season since 2002. The Green Wave offense totaled 482 yards, with 205 passing and 277 rushing. The defense allowed 232 yards total and forced 3 turnovers. The team also reduced its penalties from the previous game to 4, totaling 35 yards. The win kept Tulane in contention to win the West Division of C-USA, provided it gained a victory at Rice the next week, while UTSA lost to Louisiana Tech at home.

### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| • Rice | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
This was the last conference game between Tulane and Rice. The Green Wave defense continued its above-average season by holding Rice's conference-best offense to 124 rushing yards, less than half its average coming into the game. It also forced two turnovers to place the Wave in position to score a field goal in the first half and a touchdown in the second half. The defensive effort could not make up for Tulane's offense, however, which struggled throughout the game and gained a season-low 123 yards, scoring only 3 points in the first half.

### Louisiana–Lafayette–New Orleans Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tulane | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • ULL | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
This was Tulane's first bowl game since its 36–28 Hawaiʻi Bowl win over Hawaiʻi in 2002. It was also the first all-Louisiana New Orleans Bowl game.