Sports

Northwestern Football Coach Responds After ‘Disrespecting New Orleans’ With Uniform Decision

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Northwestern Wildcats football helmet

© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images


The Northwestern football team was beaten soundly in New Orleans on Saturday as Tulane rolled to a 23-3 season opening victory. After the game, Green Wave coach Jon Sumrall detailed added motivation behind his team’s performance.

Sumrall says the Wildcats disrespected the city with a pregame uniform decision. The Green Wave played with a chip on their shoulders in the convincing win.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the storm that destroyed the Big Easy in 2005. To pay homage, Tulane requested to wear white uniforms at home.

That request was denied by the Wildcats.

Northwestern disrespected New Orleans.

At least according to Sumrall. Here’s what he had to say after the win.

“We wore the green helmets today for the 20th anniversary of Katrina,” he said. “I’m gonna say one thing. I’m not trying to take a shot, but we requested to wear white jerseys because that’s what that team wore. It got denied by the other team.

“That’s their prerogative, but when you show disrespect to the city of New Orleans, that’s what’s gonna happen to you.”

Tulane wanted to honor the 2005 team in its 2025 debut. It was unable to do so in the manner it had hoped.

Northwestern chose to wear white. The Green Wave were forced to green. The reasoning likely had to do with the location more than anything.

The Wildcats play in Illinois where temperatures are much lower than Louisiana, particularly in August. Humidity only adds to the adverse playing conditions.

Northwestern did not want to wear its dark purple tops. It felt the white would give it an advantage on the road. The uniform decision did not help as they were in a 20-3 hole by halftime.

Head coach David Braun caught wind of Sumrall’s comments after the fact. He ensured that no disrespect was meant.

David Braun responds to Jon Sumrall.

Braun said no ill-will was intended. It was simply a strategic move to help his team.

“The second that I heard about his comments postgame, I immediately tracked down Jon’s number and gave him a call,” Braun said. “It caught me off guard, but I understand where he’s coming from. He did a great job of using that to motivate his team. They played inspired football.

“Ultimately, the decision behind that was certainly not a gesture of disrespect.”

Sumrall viewed it differently, though the phone call might’ve helped change his mindset. Tulane was unable to rep the white tops, but it did make the city proud with a dominant performance.