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Big Ten Football Coach Addresses 'Disrespectful' Uniform Decision

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 2:01 PM ET

Northwestern head coach David Braun addressed the controversy surrounding the team's decision to deny Tulane's uniform request.

Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall said Northwestern blocked the program from wearing all-white uniforms without team logos to honor the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Sumrall claimed the Green Wave used the denial as motivation in Saturday's 23-3 win in New Orleans.

"When you show disrespect to the city of New Orleans, that's what's going to happen to you," Sumrall said. "You're going to run into a team like this -- they had a chip on their shoulder. I wanted them to wear the same exact uniforms that team wore 20 years ago."

During Monday's press conference, Braun said Sumrall's comments "caught me off guard." He reached out to Sumrall to discuss the incident.

"The second that I heard about his comments post-game, I immediately tracked down Jon's number and gave him a call," Braun said. "Left him a message, he texted me back later Saturday night. We had a chance to connect yesterday, which I appreciated."

Braun responds to Sumrall's 'disrespect' claim

Braun credited Sumrall for using the situation to ignite his team into playing "inspired football" at Yulman Stadium. However, he insisted his program didn't intend any disrespect.

"The decision around that was certainly not a gesture of disrespect," Braun said. "I don't pretend to understand what the city of New Orleans has been through, but what I can tell you is this university and myself have a tremendous amount of respect for the impact that Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans and that region."

Braun recalled traveling to New Orleans with his Winona State teammates in 2006 to help rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

"Seeing it first-hand, it was devastating," Braun said. " ... Having a chance to return to New Orleans for the first time since that trip, I think where that city's at right now is a reflection of the people that call it home. It was good to have that opportunity to talk with Jon yesterday."

Although Tulane couldn't wear the all-white uniforms from its first game after Hurricane Katrina, the team donned the same green helmets on Saturday. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported that Tulane made the request on Aug. 17, "well after such uniform changes are normally made," after Northwestern already prepared jerseys and decals for the matchup.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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