The home schedule for the Green Wave football season has drawn to a close. Yulman Stadium is retiring for 2019 as the boys in green sit at 6-5 with both some encouraging wins and notable losses.

Tulane’s 34-31 loss against UCF on this past Saturday, Nov. 23, not only marked the end of Green Wave home games, but the end of many seniors’ college careers, if not football careers. Sixteen players said goodbye to the Wave, including QB Justin McMillan. Yet, despite the sorrow of the moment, many reflected on the positive steps the program has made during their tenures as well as their fond memories as students.

Final from Yulman.

We'll wrap up the regular season next week on the road against SMU.#RollWave pic.twitter.com/Kh3XZwHBxG

— Tulane Football (@GreenWaveFB) November 23, 2019

“I would describe it as a learning experience and really, as people say, some of the best years of my life,” senior PJ Hall reminisced. “I have met some of my best friends here that I know I will know for the rest of my life. I got to play football, so I mean I do not really have any complaints about my time here at Tulane.” 

Most of the seniors have contributed to steady improvements in the football team’s record over the course of their college careers. From 4-8 in 2016, the team has seen a consistent increase in wins, to 5-7 in 2017 and 7-6 in 2018 with a win at the AutoNation Cure Bowl against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. This year the team started off hot only to decline as the season continued.

In addition to contributing to the team’s performance, the seniors have acted as valuable mentors to the younger players.

“I have a senior in front of me at my position, and I love the seniors that are around right now,” junior Tirise Barge said. 

The season is far from over as the team plays formerly ranked SMU in perhaps the biggest game of the season next Saturday in Dallas and will likely play in a bowl game after that. While the seniors and their teammates had time to celebrate their accomplishments, their focus now turns to preparing for the 9-2 Mustangs and finishing off the season strong.