Guerry Smith gives his top takeaways from Tulane's 41-20 Military Bowl loss to Virginia Tech on Wednesday.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Not much. Tulane played with passion on Wednesday, erasing any question about its motivation level under a makeshift coaching staff, but the energy did not last against peaking Virginia Tech in a constant downpour that favored the Hokies. New Tulane coach Jon Sumrall will take over a team that won 23 games the past two years but was not equipped to make it 24 without Willie Fritz, defensive coordinator Shiel Wood and several players who either transferred, were injured or opted out of the game. It was tied at 17 early in the second half before the Hokies scored on four straight possessions.
TRENDING NOW
Rain, rain and more rain. The weather was the star of the Military Bowl, leading to eight fumbles and a ninth that was not called when Tulane linebacker Jared Small stripped Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones as he crossed the goal line — or maybe right before — when the Wave led 7-3 in the first quarter. Tulane quarterback Kai Horton lost a fumble on first and goal from the 1 a little later, and Dontae Fleming muffed a punt that led to Virginia Tech’s go-ahead touchdown. The outcome was officially decided when Shedro Louis lost a fumble after a reception in the fourth quarter.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Optimism for next season should be high. Sumrall appears to be the perfect hire to replace Fritz after winning 23 games himself at Troy the past two years, and now he needs to go to work to find a replacement for quarterback Michael Pratt and keep the momentum going. The Wave has reached the AAC championship game two years in a row, and the league will be weaker without SMU, which is leaving for the ACC. Tulane missed an opportunity to finish ranked at the end of a second consecutive season for the first time in school history, but the odds were stacked against it considering the circumstances.