Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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LMiiiSiSajBS ■ ■i iJ-li J.- ' The next week at Southern Methodist University, Tulane ' s offense would never look so bad and yet so good in one game. Wave kicking specialist Ed Murray notched an early three for Tulane, but SMU soon took advantage of an unprepared Wave rolling up 28 unanswered points — a barrage that stemmed from a controversial 104-yard interception return by the Mustangs. Not only did the SMU player making the interception later admit that the ball had bounced off the ground, but game films show that he stepped out of bounds on his TD scamper as well. In the second half Tulane ' s quarterback Roch Hontes completed a sensational jj of 42 passes for 373 yards. Hontas shattered several Tulane records as he became the nation ' s number one percentage passer. But in the final drive that could have won the game, three of his near- perfect spirals were dropped by key receivers who had otherwise enjoyed a flawless half. Tulane went home, having been burned again, this time on the bottom side of a 28-23 score. As if it were going to be any consolation, it was said that Tulane was the best 0-3 team in the country. And perhaps they were. The next week, Vanderbilt ' s Commodores were in town and the Wave ' s defense handed the Tulane community a desperately needed 36-7 win. Literally forcing seven turnovers, the Wave ' s defense made the big piays to give Tulane ' s otherwise ineffective offense several opportunities to score. The 36-7 victory found Coach Smith ecstatic. Calling the win the best team effort since I ' ve been here, Smith added that, the key thing was that we made no mistakes. Tulane had not fumbled or thrown an interception the entire night. Athletics

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At Boston College the following week, Wave hopes for a two game winning streak seemed justified. With time running out late in the fourth quarter, Tulane was up 28-27. Boston had just scored, and their coach opted to go for a two point conversion rather than an almost certain tie. In a one on one situation, Tulane defender, Bob Becnel, appeared as though he would be the team ' s hero, standing up B.C. ' s running back at the goal line. Tulane ' s defense had seemingly preserved the win. But after the ensuing kickoff, Tulane quarterback Tommy Hightower lost the handle on the ball on the very first play. Boston recovered, kicked a field goal, and went away laughing 30-28. It was that kind of year. Everyone was laughing except for Tulane. At least Homecoming weekend brought a brief reprieve before the end-of-season onslaught. Cincinnati was in town that week and had had a fairly decent season up to that point. Yet Tulane ' s defense came through again, this time forcing five turnovers. Ed Murray ' s clutch field goal in the fourth quarter provided the difference as Tulane squeaked by 16-13. Georgia Tech dropped in for a visit the next week, bringing their wishbone offense (something that most of Tulane ' s players had never seen). Noting recent history, which records Tech ' s dominance in the rivalry series, they once again succeeded in belittling what little confidence the Wave players had acquired from Cincinnati. It was becoming obvious that Smith ' s PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) program was not working. The Yellow Jackets had little trouble in rolling to a 38-14 win. V r . ' ' ■ -»» t.i 1977-78 FOOTBALL ROSTER Keith Alexander Arnie Diaz Alfred Jones Jim Price Alton Alexis Derry Donaldson Jeff Jones Mike Purdy John Ammerman Chris Doyle Rick Kelly Nick Ray Marcus Anderson Ricky Dunaway Bill Kramer Donny Rice Nick Anderson Joe Dunphy Eric Laakso Andre Robert Donald Bailey Carl Duvigneaud Curtis Lee Frank Robinson Bob Becnel Jim Fitzgibbons Thaddeus Lee Bobby Rodwig James Becnel Chip Forte Wayne Lemelle Reggie Scott Mark Benedetto Gene Forte Donald Louviere Buddy Seeling Larry Bizzotto Jeff Forte Marty Martinex Gerry Sheridan Tommy Boudreaux Nolan Gall Dee Methvin Dennis Showalter Owen Brennan Jeff Gates Tom Milfelt JoeSilipo Doug Brewington Darrel Griffin Percy Millet Wilfred Simon Gary Brown Carl Hall Zack Mitchell Mike Sims Larry Burke Jerry Harris Mark Montini Ricky Smith Tommy Calandro Terry Harris Scott Morrell Rory Stone Jeff Carnes Fred Hicks Paul Mudrich Glenn Thomas Skip Charles Tommy Hightower David Munson Phillip Townsend Tom Cheviot Dwain Holland Edward Murray William Turriff Marvin Christian Roch Hontas Stewart Nance David Vicknair MikeClarkson Steve Hubbell Kimball Octave Harold Villere Terry Daffin Rob Indicott MikeO ' Leary Marty Wetzel Darryl Dawkins Ken Johnston Chuck Pitcock Terry Williams Tony Delaughter Frank Wills 344 Athletics