Tulane'S Jon Sumrall Unpacks Rmfw Slogan And Honors A Legacy

RMFW – A Slogan with a Twist

In a move that had the room buzzing, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall walked into his weekly press conference sporting a striking green RMFW shirt beneath his casual light blue hoodie. The bold lettering, standing for 'Roll Mother F—ing Wave,' immediately caught everyone's attention. But Sumrall, known for his sense of humor, couldn't resist putting a cheeky spin on it.

“Mother flipping. Yeah, that’s what I tell my mom at least. She’s not pleased,” Sumrall quipped with a grin, sparking laughter across the room. He quickly added a commercial pitch, noting that the hoodies are available for purchase. “We’ll gladly take your business,” he said, blending humor with a hint of entrepreneurial spirit.

“Mother flipping. Yeah, that’s what I tell my mom at least. She’s not pleased,” he said with a grin, the room cracking up at the delivery.

Honoring Coach Kurt Hester

The lightheartedness soon gave way to a touching moment as Sumrall spoke about the recent Celebration of Life for Kurt Hester, Tulane's former strength coach who passed away at 61 from melanoma. Sumrall highlighted Hester’s profound impact on Tulane football, citing his role in transforming a struggling program into a formidable force.

“You cannot overstate the difference Kurt made in so many people’s lives,” Sumrall reflected. “He helped redefine what Tulane football was. The year before he got here, it was a two-win team. Since his arrival, this program has been on solid footing. His legacy lives on here at Tulane football and quite frankly, will forever.”

Hester's pivotal contribution during the coaching transition from Willie Fritz was also emphasized, with Sumrall calling him "a great human" and "a model for how you invest in people."

On to the Next Game

Shifting gears back to the field, Sumrall's tone sharpened as he addressed the team's current momentum. Despite a notable win over Memphis, he cautioned against resting on their laurels. "Anytime you start to feel like a previous result gives you a right to a future result, good luck," he remarked, emphasizing the need for continual effort and focus.

He lauded quarterback Jake Retzlaff, describing him as a "backyard football player" with "a little moxie" and grit. Sumrall's admiration for Retzlaff's toughness was clear, noting his swift return to the game despite an injury.

Even with the RMFW hoodies going viral, Sumrall kept the team's identity and ethos front and center. “You prepare the right way, play the right way, and do your job at an elite level,” he asserted. “That’s who we are.”