Tulane'S Jon Sumrall Unpacks The Cheeky Rmfw Slogan And Celebrates Late Coach'S Legacy

Tulane Coach Jon Sumrall Spills the Beans on RMFW

In an unscripted moment at his weekly press conference, Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall caught everyone's eye with a bold green RMFW shirt peeking out from under his light blue hoodie. The room buzzed as the oversized letters hinted at the cheeky slogan: Roll Mother F—ing Wave. But Sumrall had a humorous twist up his sleeve. "Mother flipping," he said with a grin, adding, "Yeah, that’s what I tell my mom at least. She’s not pleased." The room erupted in laughter, and Sumrall playfully noted the hoodies were available for purchase, inviting fans to join in the fun.

“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 a Beloved Coach

The mood shifted when Sumrall paid tribute to former Tulane strength coach Kurt Hester, who passed away in October at 61 due to melanoma. Sumrall expressed the profound impact Hester had on Tulane football, highlighting how he transformed the team from a two-win season to a program on solid ground. "You cannot overstate the difference Kurt made in so many people’s lives," Sumrall reflected. "His legacy lives on here at Tulane football and quite frankly, will forever." He credited Hester with steadying the program during a coaching transition, describing him as "pivotal," "a great human," and "a model for how you invest in people."

Focus on Football and Future

Moving back to football, Sumrall's focus sharpened. Despite coming off a ranked victory over Memphis, he emphasized the Green Wave's commitment to hard work and not resting on their laurels. "Anytime you start to feel like a previous result gives you a right to a future result, good luck," he warned. "They don’t go out at the coin toss and say, ‘You’ve got the better record, you win.’ You’ve got to go earn it." Sumrall praised quarterback Jake Retzlaff for his grit and toughness, calling him "a backyard football player" with "a little moxie about him."

As the RMFW hoodies go viral, Sumrall keeps his eye on Tulane's identity. "You prepare the right way, play the right way, and do your job at an elite level," he affirmed. "That’s who we are."