Gibson coached the Wave from 1980-1982, recording two victories against in-state rival LSU in those three years. That included a now-unbelievable 48-7 blowout win in 1981. Based on his coaching record and Finney's article, it appears that Gibson's strengths laid in his ability to get the most out of his players. The column highlights how Gibson's quiet intensity mentally prepared his squad before a 31-28 upset of the Tigers in his final 1982 campaign.
The Times-Picayune piece undoubtedly brought back feelings of nostalgia to Green Wave fans, who haven't been able to enjoy many LSU-Tulane grudge matches during the last two decades. Looking back at his tenure, it might initially be difficult to understand why Tulane parted ways with Gibson after only three years.
Sure, he only went 17-17 in three years at the helm. But to today's Greenie, two winning seasons in three years, two victories against LSU and a bowl berth sounds awfully appealing. Was he was pushed out the door by administrators who perceived him as an out-of-place southern boy? Could the athletic department have jumped the gun after just one losing season?
Neither theory is likely the case. One might need look no further than his declining records in each successive season at the university. The article brought to mind a passage from "Father of the Superdome" Dave Dixon's book, "The Saints, the Superdome, and the Scandal." Dixon devoted a section of his chapter on Tulane football to Gibson's tenure and had this to say about the former Wave coach:
"Vince had done a tremendous job at Kansas State, actually beating a number-one ranked Nebraska team at Lincoln, Nebraska. Vince eventually moved on to Louisville, where he did well. But the word now on Vince was that he had lost his zest for recruiting, which can be fatal for a college football coach ...
Sure enough, the Arizona head coach was fired, Larry Smith [Tulane's previous football coach] and his wife returned to Arizona, and Hindman Wall [Tulane's athletic director] hired Vince Gibson as head coach at Tulane.
Vince Gibson came as advertised: an excellent coach and an exceptionally bright, entertaining person. He actually gave LSU a fierce whipping while players from Larry Smith's tenure remained, then got murdered in recruiting three days later on Signing Day. Eventually, the quality of Tulane's teams declined severely, and Hindman and Vince moved on. Vince Gibson remains in New Orleans, a first-rate guy and superb storyteller. He was a good football coach, but Tulane never recovered fully from that recruiting slump."
During his time at Tulane, Gibson posted successive records of 7-5, 6-5 and 4-7. It appears as though the simplest explanation is also the most accurate. After leaving the Green Wave, he returned to coaching just one more season, leading the AFL's New Orleans Night, a two-season team, to an 0-10 record in 1992.
LINK TO THE TP ARTICLE:
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