Tulane Green Wave appreciation: Willie Fritz, Michael Pratt, Tyjae Spears were fantastic, deserve a salute
The USC Trojans won four games in 2021 and earned a trip to the Pac-12 title game and the Cotton Bowl in Lincoln Riley’s first year.
Even after the loss to Tulane, this year is still a step in the right direction for the USC program.
However, it is worth noting that Tulane’s turnaround was out of this world. In 2021, the Green Wave won just two games. Then, Willie Fritz and his team won 11 games and then stunned the Trojans in a 46-45 victory in the Cotton Bowl in one of the best games of the entire season.
Tulane earned a ton of appreciation after the win, and deservedly so.
TRULY UNBELIEVABLE
Incredible comeback by Tulane, Green Wave stuns USC, 46-45, to win the Cotton Bowl
Tulane wins 12 games in a season for the second time in program history
Unbelievable job this year by Willie Fritz!
— Ricardo LeCompte (@RLeCompteTV) January 2, 2023
2 TO 12 -- THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY
Breaking news : The #14 Tulane Green Wave have defeated the #8 USC Trojans in the GoodYear Cotton Bowl by a score of 46-45.
From 2 wins to 12! The greatest turnaround in FBS history ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/0mnFm7Wwx7
— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) January 2, 2023
GREAT FEAT
What a great comeback win by Tulane. Green Wave overcame a 15-point deficit to beat a USC team, with its Heisman-winning QB, and that was a win away from the College Football Playoff.
The job Willie Fritz has done in New Orleans is sensational.
— Andy Yanez (@AYanez_5) January 2, 2023
WHAT A TEAM
Tulane miracle comeback Cotton Bowl win was NOT something anyone could conceive of when this season started, and the Wave were coming off a 2-10 year. SO so so so cool.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 2, 2023
CONGRATULATIONS INDEED
Tulane won 2 games last year and just beat Heisman QB Caleb Williams and USC by erasing a 15 pt deficit w under 5 min to go to win the Cotton Bowl. Congrats @GreenWaveFB on an incredible win and season. USC’s defense needs a complete overhaul.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) January 2, 2023
HE TRULY IS
This year, Tulane:
✅ Beat the Big 12 Champion
✅ Won a conference championship
✅ Beat USC and won its first major bowl game in 80+ yearsWillie Fritz is the man. pic.twitter.com/uiGjaOrfs7
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 2, 2023
HISTORIC
What a season for @GreenWaveFB. What a story. What a game. Willie Fritz is a good reminder that coaches who win at multiple spots at lower levels tend to translate. Bravo to him and @Tulane_AD for a historic season at Tulane. https://t.co/FWKf1Bpzsk
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 2, 2023
HOME RUN
Lincoln Riley opens by congratulating Tulane and Coach Willie Fritz. “They kept swinging.”
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) January 2, 2023
12-TEAM PLAYOFF PREVIEW?
Would-be 16-seed just defeated the Heisman Trophy winner and Pac-12 runner up USC in an all-time classic.
Great example of what can happen with the new expanded playoffs.
Hell of a job Willie Fritz, Green Wave.
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 2, 2023
BIG WOW
Tulane beating USC in the Cotton Bowl–and its entire season–is an amazing story. Sonny Dykes is still coach-of-the-year but Willie Fritz has to be second. WOW.
— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) January 2, 2023
EUPHORIA
The Tulane side of the stadium on the TD call. pic.twitter.com/2XFyTQPIGY
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 2, 2023
YES
I think a lot of teams should regret not hiring Willie Fritz. https://t.co/EjVyyolj5t
— Steven St.John (@SSJWHB) January 2, 2023
IT HAS
Willie Fritz is one of the best coaches in CFB. It's been that way for a while.
— Anish Shroff (@AnishESPN) January 2, 2023
HE DESERVES IT
Tulane went 2-10 last year.
Willie Fritz gonna be a rich man, whether in the Big Easy or elsewhere.
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) January 2, 2023
GOOD GUY, GREAT RESULT
I’m so freakin’ happy for Willie Fritz, @CoreyGloor, Steve Barrios & that whole Green Wave community…Good on ya, guys!! https://t.co/fydUlFlAjl
— Andrew Allegretta (@AAllegretta) January 2, 2023
SPECIAL STORY
From 2 wins to 12 wins, in the most dramatic way possible.
Hats off to Willie Fritz, Michael Pratt and Tulane. Cotton Bowl champs.
What. A. Story.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 2, 2023
MAGICAL
So happy for Tulane, Willie Fritz & all the Green Wave fans (especially my dad!)
A storybook end to their season 💚 https://t.co/68QbFfA3Pn
— Rachel Whittaker Jones (@RachelW504) January 2, 2023
UNFORGETTABLE
Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson takes in the emotions after beating USC in the Cotton Bowl 46-45.
What a game. What a magical season for Tulane. pic.twitter.com/COz0H5T0Y1
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) January 2, 2023
EVERYWHERE
Willie Fritz getting it done in the Cotton Bowl. Dude builds and wins everywhere on all levels. Great person too. Love to see it!
— Roy Philpott (@RoyPhilpott) January 2, 2023
TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN
willie fritz such a legend
you won’t find a more impressive coaching performance this decade than that. salute! pic.twitter.com/sTrZduGGPm
— Sam Richmond (@samrichmondBR) January 2, 2023
