This week, Tulane’s and Army’s longstanding series will reach heights it has never seen in its 71-year history. Two of the oldest schools in the American play for the conference championship tomorrow in front of a prime-time, network TV audience on ABC. Despite being one of the longest-running series between two AAC schools, with 23 meetings, hardly any meetings have meant as much as this one. Still, it is worth revisiting past nationally-relevant meetings in this series.
In 1953, Army entered the inaugural meeting with a 4-1 record and ranked #15 in the AP Poll. Two years removed from the infamous West Point Cheating Scandal of 1951, the Cadets returned to the national consciousness. The Black Knights’ only loss to date that season had come against Northwestern. Despite going through a dreadful 1-8-1 season that year, Tulane killed Army’s national title hopes by scoring a 0-0 tie. An offside penalty in the first quarter took a Black Knight touchdown off the board, and a fumble two plays later ultimately ended Army’s only scoring threat of the day. The tie did not derail Army’s season. The Cadets finished 7-1-1, with a #14 finish in the AP Poll and the Lambert Trophy.
Four years later, Army again entered their meeting with Tulane ranked in the AP Poll. The Black Knights had a 6-1 record with wins over Nebraska, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. The lone loss came on a two-point heartbreaker to #12 Notre Dame in Philadelphia. Ranked #10 entering its penultimate game against the Green Wave, the Black Knights had an outside chance at the national championship and the attention of the Cotton Bowl.
Army redeemed itself of its 1953 tie with a 20-14 win in which they ran for 344 yards. All-American and future College Football Hall of Famer Bob Anderson ran for 145 yards to break Glenn Davis’ single season-rushing record of 930 yards. Although the Black Knights lost their next game against Navy, they still finished #18 in the AP Poll with a 7-2 record. Nonetheless, Army had to wait another 27 years for its first bowl appearance.
For the seniors, for this Brotherhood.
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) December 5, 2024
Game 11 Victory Reel 🎥 pic.twitter.com/U6WQsZqRnI
Over four decades passed before the Army-Tulane series saw a game nearly as relevant as those two 1950s era clashes. In 1998, Tulane entered its meeting with Army with an 8-0 record, the #14 ranking in the AP Poll, and the #16 ranking in the Bowl Championship Series. With no one knowing where non-Power conference teams fit into this new system, the Green Wave could have positioned themselves for the Orange or Sugar Bowl with an undefeated season.
With Sugar Bowl representatives in attendance, Tulane beat a determined 2-6 Army team, 49-35. Army led 21-14 in the second quarter and entered halftime tied with the unbeaten Green Wave. Tulane QB Shaun King dueled with Army signal caller Johnny Goff, becoming the first Tulane quarterback to pass for 300 yards and run for 100. Goff ran for 148 yards and threw a touchdown in a losing effort.
The BCS snubbed 11-0 Tulane at the season’s end, forcing them to settle for the Liberty Bowl. However, the Green Wave proved themselves deserving with a 41-27 win over WAC runner-up BYU.
The 2020 game had a hint of relevance when Army entered with the #25 ranking in the Coaches Poll but no ranking in the AP Poll. The 6-1 Black Knights were never considered for a New Year’s Six bowl. Nonetheless, that initial ranking paved the way for Tulane to get their first win over a team ranked in any poll since 1984. Tulane beat Army 38-12 at home. Ultimately, Army landed in the Liberty Bowl after COVID-19 opt-outs, while Tulane played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
And now Army’s rivalry with Tulane once again has national implications and a conference championship on the line. Tomorrow’s meeting recalls a time when both schools were significant players on the national stage and perhaps presages a future where this will again be the case within the American Athletic Conference.
Go Army! Beat Tulane!!!
Cover image via USMA Flickr.
