Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tulane

[Deegeezy]

Tulane Green Wave Graduating Class of 2020

CB Marcus Jackson (LEFT), CB George Wilson (MIDDLE), and SS Troy Cowan (RIGHT) helped transform Tulane's secondary into one of the most feared units in the nation.


TULANE ROSTER GUTTED, LOSES STARTING QB AND 3/4 OF ITS STARTING SECONDARY TO THE NFL
CB Jackson, CB Wilson, and SS Cowan each decide to join QB Williams and take their games to the next level | All three starting linebackers depart, including NFL draft prospect Bret Johnson, who also leaves a year of eligibility on the table | Graduating offensive linemen Powell and Gant each projected as potential first round picks | Tulane will have a brand new look in 2021 after losing its starting QB and 13 of 22 starters in all, as well as four core special teams players | Return specialist Joel Ryan now the lone starter remaining from Geezy's last national championship squad in 2018


2020 Departed Players




* - IMPACT player
Starters in BOLD


Click here to view 2020 Tulane Green Wave Roster

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[djp73]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Ouch! This should keep things interesting moving forward!

[SilverBullet19]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Interesting to see Williams bolt for the NFL after a very mediocre season, especially at a 90 overall. It definitely throws a wrench in the plans for the offseason, I never saw him going this early.

[mattrd39]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Gosh, you are not kidding about the team being gutted by early entries... yikes!

I did like how more underclassmen went pro on NCAA '11, especially compared to how infrequently they do in '14. Definitely makes it a challenge when you lose a guy you don't expect, especially at quarterback!

Looking forward to the offseason and seeing the freshmen/newcomers that replace those studs.

[Cheese2121]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

To echo the sentiments that many others have already said, ouch and double ouch. I had a feeling some of the defense might bolt but not that many and Williams to boot. I tell you, that #15 jersey is just cursed, if I am not mistaken Anthony High wore that same number and pulled a similar stunt bolting earlier than he should for the next level. Got to stop handing that thing out! Jk.

I am more concerned about Williams leaving too, because the defense won't necessarily be there to fall back on. Only a phone call to Erin Andrews? You know coach geezy is sweating when he doesn't visit her in person.

It will be very interesting to see what your roster looks like after the recruiting class. I think Sam will end up being the guy, although probably by default rather than worth. I have faith in you to reload the secondary; the linebackers I am a little more worried about.

And thus the plot thickens...time to grab my popcorn and a nice cold drink. Loving this as always my friend.

[Deegeezy]

Ouch! This should keep things interesting moving forward!

No doubt...I did not see this coming and it has certainly thrown a monkey wrench into my plans.

Interesting to see Williams bolt for the NFL after a very mediocre season, especially at a 90 overall. It definitely throws a wrench in the plans for the offseason, I never saw him going this early.

Same here man. He had a good but not great year, but I guess ultimately it came down to his 90 overall rating. It really sucks because he was a big reason I re-started this project, but with that said, at the same time I like it in that it forces me to adjust and prevents things from becoming too easy.

Gosh, you are not kidding about the team being gutted by early entries... yikes!

I did like how more underclassmen went pro on NCAA '11, especially compared to how infrequently they do in '14. Definitely makes it a challenge when you lose a guy you don't expect, especially at quarterback!

Looking forward to the offseason and seeing the freshmen/newcomers that replace those studs.

Yeah...I was amazed when I went back and realized that I now only have one single starter left from the last national title we won and that he is merely the kick return guy, and it all stems from all my big time playmakers bolting early.

You're right though, this provides quite a big challenge. Plus I don't like to convince guys to stay (it's actually a rule of mine). So now that we have a sustained "good/great team," this will constantly be an issue, just as it is in real life for most great teams.

To echo the sentiments that many others have already said, ouch and double ouch. I had a feeling some of the defense might bolt but not that many and Williams to boot. I tell you, that #15 jersey is just cursed, if I am not mistaken Anthony High wore that same number and pulled a similar stunt bolting earlier than he should for the next level. Got to stop handing that thing out! Jk.

I am more concerned about Williams leaving too, because the defense won't necessarily be there to fall back on. Only a phone call to Erin Andrews? You know coach geezy is sweating when he doesn't visit her in person.

It will be very interesting to see what your roster looks like after the recruiting class. I think Sam will end up being the guy, although probably by default rather than worth. I have faith in you to reload the secondary; the linebackers I am a little more worried about.

And thus the plot thickens...time to grab my popcorn and a nice cold drink. Loving this as always my friend.

Man that is some amazing recall on your part, remembering Anthony High's departure and jersey # all the way back from the 2015 season, played literally 5-real life years ago! You're spot-on right. I definitely will think twice now about distributing that jersey number to QBs.

Things will undoubtedly be interesting now with how the roster shakes out. We are significantly weaker now on the defensive side of the ball. I think our offense, even without Williams, should be good though. We still have the best WR in the nation in Jean, and as reported on earlier this season, we have the #1 WR recruit in the nation signed, Jason Mason, so whoever ends up as the QB certainly won't be devoid of talented pass catching targets. And of course Buck Johnson III is ready to explode this year. I am going to have to lean on him a bit. Maybe we'll get our first 1,000 yard rusher since ol' Brett Curtis was toting the rock.

LOL...Geezy and Andrews are extra careful with their reports after their little, ahem, incident last season.

I see the same problem area as you at the LB position. I like that my D-Line remains intact, especially Paul Byrd, who has 10 sacks last season and really came on in the final weeks.

Thanks for checking in all! I always really appreciate you guys taking time out to chime in on this.

I decided to take a little "off-season break" to re-charge the batteries and also decided to kind of "slow-play" recruiting, doing one recruiting week a day. I should have those results posted by mid-week.

[Deegeezy]

Green Wave News Clips

Geezy has no interest in coaching outside of New Orleans.

Tulane | Geezy turns down lucrative offers from USC and Florida
Thu, 21 Jan 2021 9:25:01 -0700

report courtesy Britt McHenry, ESPN.com

In an exclusive, in-home interview with ESPN reporter Britt McHenry, Tulane head coach D. Geezy indicated that he was approached by USC and Florida with contract offers at the conclusion of this past season. Citing "no interest in coaching outside of his hometown," Geezy quickly turned down both offers.

The Trojans are coming off a season in which they finished #2 in the nation, including a 31-28 win that snapped the Green Wave's 39-game Superdome winning streak. Florida on the other hand, is coming off a year in which they were ranked #6 in the preseason polls, yet finished the year with a very disappointing 4-8 record.

"This is my home, and I have been here at Tulane for 11 seasons now," said Geezy, who has six years remaining on his then-NCAA record 10-year $50 million contract extension signed in 2016.

"We have something special built here and I am in this for the long haul. We are in the top conference in the nation, playing in the toughest venue in the nation to play in, and have won multiple conference and national championships. Who could ask for anything more?

"I'm certainly not going to jump ship just because of one bad season, if you even want to call it that."


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Tulane | No staff changes
Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:16:09 -0700
Tammy Nunez of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports that despite the team's substandard finish, the Tulane Green Wave's coaching staff will remain in place for the 2021 season.


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QB Bryce Allen
---- ----

Recruiting | Blue chip QB Allen narrows choices
Sun, 24 Jan 2021 9:07:27 -0700
Eve Jewell of TulaneInsider.com reports that blue chip QB prospect Bryce Allen has pared his list of school choices down to Alabama, Michigan, and Tulane ahead of next Wednesday's National Signing Day.

Allen, 6-4 226 pounds from Federal Heights, Colorado, is the #3 quarterback prospect in the nation, according to ESPN.com. According to Scout.com, he runs a 4.74 40-yard dash and has a B grade in both throwing power and throwing accuracy.

Tulane officials, including head coach D. Geezy and offensive coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr., are expected to visit with Allen on Monday. It is believed that Allen's #1 priority is playing at a school that gives him the best opportunity to play at the next level.

The team is looking for competition for redshirt junior QB Sam Weaver (77 overall), the team's lone returning signal caller on the roster following the departures of starter Jimmy Williams (90 overall) and backup Antoine Atkinson (77 overall).




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Former Green Wave LB Richards is still sacking quarterbacks.

Tulane | Richards takes home NFL Defensive MVP award
Sat, 30 Jan 2021 9:25:47 -0700
Seattle Seahawks LB Mark Richards was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year at Saturday night's NFL Honors event. The former Green Wave standout, taken in the 2nd round (34th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, finished the 2020 season with 107 tackles and a league-high 19.5 sacks along with 3 interceptions and 1 touchdown.

Richards started all three seasons of his collegiate career, and finished with 265 tackles, 25 sacks, and 7 interceptions.

After a slow start to his career, Richards has come on after signing with the Seahawks as a free agent in 2019, notching a combined 34.5 sacks in the past two seasons combined.

He's helped lead the Seahawks to a 12-4 record this past season and a trip to last weekend's NFC Championship Game, where the Seahawks lost 27-24 at Detroit.

Richards finished his career at Tulane as the team's all-time leading sacker with 25 in three seasons. He helped lead Tulane to a 13-1 finish in his senior season and their first SEC conference title since re-joining the conference in 2014. He left Tulane for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

"I could not be happier for Mark and his family," said Tulane head coach D. Geezy, who attended the ceremony.

"This kid came here with not a whole lot of fanfare, as a 3-star recruit from Laplace, Louisiana, which is right outside of the city my family and I lives in, Destrehan. We watched his entire career, starting at East St. John High School while we recruited him as a young kid and now he is an NFL MVP, a husband, and father of three kids of his own.

"What a career; and he is just now reaching his prime."


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[Cheese2121]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Fantastic update.

No surprise on the contract offers but we all know Tulane will forever be the home of the legendary Geezy. Good opportunity to meet with McHenry though, haha.

Oh man Mark Richards, ah the memories. I love that you keep tying in storylines from former legends. I really hope you continue to incorporate those sorts of things down the roads. Especially from someone who has been here since the beginning, I love it. Richards will forever be a favorite of mine. The guy just had "it."

I like the look of Bryce Allen. Hopefully the in-home visit can go well and you can snag him. It would be a bit of a shift back to a more traditional pocket passer. I would assume the South Carolina playbook still lends itself favorably to a less-mobile quarterback.

Looking forward to reading more!

[djp73]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

love the details in the offseason, really cool to see the mark richards story

[MGomaha]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Just caught up on this and I'm loving it. Love the layout, and hope you can get back to winning conference championships this fall...

Even if you did beat my Michigan Wolverines, haha!

[Deegeezy]

Fantastic update.

No surprise on the contract offers but we all know Tulane will forever be the home of the legendary Geezy. Good opportunity to meet with McHenry though, haha.

Oh man Mark Richards, ah the memories. I love that you keep tying in storylines from former legends. I really hope you continue to incorporate those sorts of things down the roads. Especially from someone who has been here since the beginning, I love it. Richards will forever be a favorite of mine. The guy just had "it."

I like the look of Bryce Allen. Hopefully the in-home visit can go well and you can snag him. It would be a bit of a shift back to a more traditional pocket passer. I would assume the South Carolina playbook still lends itself favorably to a less-mobile quarterback.

Looking forward to reading more!

Appreciate it brother!

Yeah, no drama there on the contract offers; Geezy and McHenry just needed an explanation/cover story in case she got caught at the house. LOL

I'm too far into this thing to even think about changing teams. I am at Tulane for life and this will be the team (and dynasty report) I will go down with; I just felt it was worth noting - you know the whole "creating an organic dynasty universe" thing. Haha

Glad you liked the Mark Richards story - I'd say these trips down memory lane will be a permanent fixture, particularly in the off-season. I don't want the first decade of this dynasty's history to fade away into oblivion. I gotta keep that history alive. He's one of my all-time favorites as well - the most intriguing thing about him was that he wasn't even all the highly rated (came in a 3-star 78 ovr, exited an 84), yet he produced year in year out, and that's what made him so unique. I haven't been able to match his production at that position ever since, and we have had far more superior players, ratings wise, in the time since he's left us. Just a truly special player and I guess he just had the exact perfect combination of ratings attributes.

...as for Bryce Allen's in-home visit. It never even got a chance to happen:

Spoiler

Yep, I was all ready to set up the visit when I turned on my XBOX Monday morning and this is what popped up on the screen at the start of the phone call. Needless to say, this was a classic fist-pump/chest-thump moment in the Geezy man cave (no idea why insta-commits always display the Air Force logo).

He will indeed allow us to go back to being more of a traditional, pocket-passing offense (more on our offensive plans in the next post).

love the details in the offseason, really cool to see the mark richards story

Thanks man...I'm one of the rare guys that enjoys football off-season drama just as much as the in-season stuff. Off-seasons are full of random news drops here and there, and I am just trying to bring that concept to the dynasty report until I am ready to start the new season.

It's safe to say that re-starting this dynasty has officially sucked me all the way back in to this whole reporting thing!

Just caught up on this and I'm loving it. Love the layout, and hope you can get back to winning conference championships this fall...

Even if you did beat my Michigan Wolverines, haha!

Thanks for taking the time out to respond MGomaha. Always great to have a new reader and I appreciate the compliments.

Hopefully with this next batch of recruits we can start up a new era of dominance and get back to the top again. Tulane will be back with a vengeance next season.

[Deegeezy]

Green Wave News Clips

QB Bryce Allen

Tulane | Blue chip QB Allen commits
Mon, 25 Jan 2021 8:45:01 -0700

report courtesy Eve Jewell, TulaneInsider.com

Eve Jewell of TulaneInsider.com reports that 5-star QB Bryce Allen has committed to Tulane, choosing the Green Wave over Alabama and Michigan. Allen, a Federal Heights, Colorado native, is expected to immediately compete for playing time as the Green Wave looks to replace starting QB Jimmy Williams, who left Tulane for the NFL Draft despite having two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"Tulane gives me the best opportunity to play at the next level, having sent their last two quarterbacks to the pros as first round picks - Jamie Manning and soon to be Jimmy Williams," said Allen, who elected to commit hours before he was scheduled to meet with Tulane brass at his home. No word on how or why he was in contact with Jewell with the news so quickly.

"Coach D. Geezy and (offensive coordinator) Steve Spurrier Jr. laid out a solid plan over the phone for how they see me fitting in and the rapport we quickly built was amazing. I told them not to waste their plane money for the visit because I am already in and the other two schools I was seriously considering, Bama and Michigan, each already had a full depth chart at quarterback and/or already signed another top rated quarterback. Meanwhile, Tulane just lost Jimmy Williams a week or so ago, so it really became a no-brainer that this school gives me the best chance to play early.

"We already have the best receiver in the nation in (junior) Ryan Jean and the #1 high school wide receiver Jason Mason committed there right at the beginning of this past season; what more can a quarterback ask for? I can't wait to get down to New Orleans and get to work."

According to sources, who wish to not be identified due to NCAA rules (and because of Jewell's suspect ties to the university, ahem), Geezy envisions Allen as a classic, drop back passer and he will not force the Green Wave to alter its playbook much if he were to win the starting job this upcoming fall. Allen is the first ever "blue chip" rated quarterback to sign with Tulane during Geezy's tenure.

The 6-4 226 pound signal caller has drawn comparisons to former NFL QB Tom Brady, and that is not lost on the Pinnacle Charter High School star that is rated as the #3 quarterback prospect in the nation.

"I actually model my game after Tom and that's a big reason why I wear #12; in fact, it is the only reason," said Allen, who says he has already negotiated a number switch with returning redshirt junior QB Sam Weaver (77 overall), who currently wears #12.

"I tore my ACL in my sophomore season and that's why I wear a brace, just like Tom did for so long after tearing his. Ok, ok, you got me and I'm just going to come clean. - I'm a total Tom Brady fan boy.

"I just really like his cerebral approach to the game and all of the audibilizing, motioning, and "hot" adjustments he's allowed to do at the line of scrimmage, which we did a lot of in high school and Coach Geezy has said we'll slowly try to incorporate some of it here at Tulane moving forward. I also like the way he used his tight ends like (former Patriot and current Saint) Rob Gronkowski - I do the same because it opens up so much on the outside; and that's another thing Coach Geezy and Coach Spurrier said they will implement to fit my game should I win the starting job."

Tulane returns just one quarterback from last season's roster, Weaver, who is a former 3-star recruit from White Settlement, Texas. The team also has a commitment this year from Louisiana 3-star QB Obi Clemons to round out next year's quarterbacks group.

Allen will officially sign his Letter of Intent next Wednesday on National Signing Day.


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Tulane | Tulane, Virginia Tech finalize late home-and-home contract, set to begin this fall
Wed, 27 Jan 2021 08:16:09 -0700
Tammy Nunez of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports that after weeks of negotiations, Tulane University has finally filled its lone remaining 2021 scheduling vacancy by agreeing to a 2-year contract to face the Virginia Tech Hokies each of the next two seasons. The Green Wave will travel to Blacksburg to face the Hokies this upcoming fall, and in 2022, Virginia Tech will pay a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Tulane last played Virginia Tech at the conclusion of the 2015 season in a 38-21 victory in the Sugar Bowl.

The two teams last met on the gridiron in the 2015 Sugar Bowl. After winning their first SEC championship since returning to the conference in 2014, the then-#3 ranked Green Wave went on to cruise past the then-#8 ranked Hokies in a 38-21 victory at the Superdome.

The two teams have not met in the regular since the 1989 season, a game Virginia Tech won at home 30-13. Tulane is 5-5 all-time versus the Hokies, with their last regular season win coming in a 57-38 shootout at the Superdome in 1987. The Hokies finished last season with an 8-4 record and a 24-20 victory over Buffalo in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Tulane's non-conference slate for next season is now completed - they will finish the second half of their home and home contract versus Texas at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this upcoming fall and will travel to Virginia Tech and annual rival Southern Miss on dates to be determined. In addition, they will finish their home and home contract with a home date versus defending national champion Florida St., who they beat 20-17 in 2018 at Tallahassee at the front-end of the two-game pact.

All exact dates and times will be released later this off-season.



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[Cheese2121]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

Huge signing in Allen. I am really excited to see your offense running under a true pocket passer again; assuming of course that he wins the job over Weaver which I expect to happen. I am predicting big things for him in the future. I think he becomes the second best quarterback in Tulane history, don't see him catching Manning but you never know.

Sounds like that visit from Eve made for a better home visit than the one from the planned one from the coaching staff...Probably shouldn't say that too loudly though..wouldn't want anymore sanctions.

As a Hokie alum and current vet student there, you know I am loving the series with them. Try not to beat up on them too badly!

So excited for the season to start.

[djp73]

Re: Coach Geezy in the Big Easy: Our City, Our Team | Part II - The Golden Age of Tul

great pull in bryce allen, always nice to have that "traditional" passer in the mix

[Deegeezy]

Huge signing in Allen. I am really excited to see your offense running under a true pocket passer again; assuming of course that he wins the job over Weaver which I expect to happen. I am predicting big things for him in the future. I think he becomes the second best quarterback in Tulane history, don't see him catching Manning but you never know.

Sounds like that visit from Eve made for a better home visit than the one from the planned one from the coaching staff...Probably shouldn't say that too loudly though..wouldn't want anymore sanctions.

As a Hokie alum and current vet student there, you know I am loving the series with them. Try not to beat up on them too badly!

So excited for the season to start.

Coach Geezy and Tulane University have no control over what a Tulane graduate that operates her own independent unofficial website does in her spare time. Furthermore, we can neither confirm or deny any involvement.

That said, I am absolutely estatic about landing Allen. He was one of those guys that suddenly appeared in the off-season and we had to recruit hard to get him. Needless to say, my face lit up when I saw that instant commitment.

I'm hoping he is good enough to start from day 1, like Manning. You're right though, that's a tough standard set for him. Manning went 40-2 as our starting QB, with both losses coming in games in which he was injured within the first two possessions of the game. I don't see any other QB doing what he did, but we shall see!

For some reason, I had the hardest time deciding who I wanted my fourth out of conference opponent to be, so ultimately I began trying to think of what team one of, if not my most loyal follower would be interested in seeing. I'm looking forward to the trip to Blacksburg. And as you will see in the coming weeks, their team is actually pretty darn good on paper too; so it won't be a cake walk.

great pull in bryce allen, always nice to have that "traditional" passer in the mix

Thanks man...I'm anxious to see how this guy looks on the field. And as you'll see in a moment, he'll have a nice supporting cast to "grow up" with these next few seasons.