Tulane didn't make a big deal about it because their own coach - Tommy Bowden - said that having coached in the SEC, he could not justify the gauntlet teams like Tennessee (who, of course, went unbeaten that year) as being the same as Tulane's own piddly schedule.
Scott Frost basically said the same thing about UCF.
They just chose to not get the memo.
Yeah but the BCS in the beginning was very strict against the inclusion of non BCS conferences. The KSU rule of 1998 started the movement of the inclusions of Non BCS AQs. The KSU rule in 2004 put Texas in the Rose Bowl being ranked #4 because the Rose was given the first choice. They were forced to take the #4 team due to Sugar having the SEC AQ who was ranked #3. It denied California the BCS invite and forced the Fiesta to take Utah at #6 because the Rose was forced to take Texas instead of the PAC 10 runner up. It also forced a non BCS AQ from 2005- present because Utah ended up winning.
The order of matchups in 2004:
Orange (NCG): #1 USC vs #2 Oklahoma
Rose: Big 10 champ vs Top atlarge if in Top 5 then PAC 10 alternate
Sugar: SEC champ vs at large
Fiesta: Big East vs at large
Point is neither Tulane or Marshall ever sniffed an opportunity to voice a semi legitimate opinion like Utah in 2004. After Utah went undefeated the BCS started giving highly ranked non BCS teams a chance. Point is had the KSU rule not existed then California would’ve been in the Rose and Texas would’ve been in the Fiesta and we would’ve never worried about Utah or Boise.