As the Broncos travel to
Tulsa
,
Oklahoma
for what could be their toughest
road game of the season and a speed bump in their route to BCS Bustin', let's
take a closer look at the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes...
Tulsa
was of course part of the Western
Athletic Conference before joining Conference
USA
in 2005. The Broncos are 4-0
all-time against the Golden Hurricanes, with the last meeting being a close
45-42 victory in 2004. However, things have changed in the past years as
Tulsa
continues to strive for success
while building its program.
Tulsa
is currently sitting atop the
Conference USA standings with a 2-0 conference record (4-1 overall) with their
only loss coming from the Oklahoma Sooners. They are led by third-year
coach Todd Graham who is 21-7 with the Golden Hurricanes and 28-13 overall.
Graham built one of the best defensive units in the C-USA and nation as
defensive coordinator before taking on his successful stint as head coach.
In just two years, he has lead the team to two C-
USA
division titles, two appearances
in the C-USA Championship Game, and two straight appearances in the GMAC Bowl.
Tulsa 2009 Season Results (prior to
Boise
State
):
Tulsa 2009 Remaining Schedule (after
Boise
State
):
Tulsa
Players to Watch:
- Sophomore quarterback G.J.
Kinne. The University of Texas transfer not only leads the team in
passing with 1,142 yards, 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions, but also
in rushing attempts (58), rushing yards (300), and rushing touchdowns (2).
- The entire Golden Hurricane
defense. Not only does the defense lead C-USA, but they continue to
get better every week.
Tulsa
's
Gem
State
Connection:
- Jacob Bower, a Junior QB from
Meridian
, is currently active on the
Tulsa
roster.
-
Tulsa
played in the 2004 H-Bowl in
Boise
, taking a 10-52 whomping from Georgia Tech.
Golden Hurricane Stadium Info:
- Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman
Stadium is located on historic Route 66 in
Tulsa
,
Oklahoma
and currently seats 30,000 people. The stadium was originally built 79
years ago, hosting its first game to
Arkansas
on
Oct. 30, 19
30
. The stadium, renovated at the end of the 2007 season, is the
smallest stadium in the C-USA and its playing grounds are surfaced with
FieldTurf.
Tulsa Coach Todd Graham on
Boise
State
:
(Courtesy of www.tulsahurricane.com)
"They're very
explosive on offense. Their quarterback, Kellen Moore, makes everything work.
Defensively, the difference from playing them in 2003 and 2004 to now is that
they're much faster and have more skill players. They dominated
Oregon
. They have a very good
defensive football team as well."
How big a game is
the
Boise
State
game going to be and
how much do you need fans to support you?
It's going to be big
and we're going to need them out here. There needs to be a very loud and adverse
place for
Boise
to come to. We've
guarded our field very well in the last two-plus years that I've been here.
We're 12-2 out here. We're going to need a great home field advantage and that's
one of the things I'm excited about. They've going to have to come here and
play. It's the highest-ranked team that we've played since I've been associated
with the program. It's the biggest game that we've played.
How good is this
team?
They're very good.
They're very explosive on offense. Their quarterback makes everything work. He's
a tremendous operator. He operates very well in the pocket and manages the
offense very well. He does a lot of checks and things like that. They also move
him out of the pocket. He can run with the football as well. (Jeremy) Avery, the
tailback is very fast and explosive. He's as good a back as we've played against
and I'd rank him up there with (Demarco)
Murray
from OU. The wide
receivers are very good skill players. The key is to get lined up. They're very
multiple in what they do on offense. We can't give up cheap touchdowns.
We have to stop the
run first. Special teams wise, we have to be alert. They're wide open on special
teams. That's probably the single-most important thing for us, to win the
special teams battle.
Their defense ...
the difference from playing them in 2003 and 2004 to now is that they're much
faster, have more skill players and their defense is much improved. They
dominated
Oregon
and are athletic in the back end. They have a very good
defensive football team.
I look at their
personnel and I see similar teams. Our teams are similar in our approaches.
They're elusive and multiple on offense. They play extremely hard on defense and
are very good against the run. It's going to be a heck of a battle.
Can you speak of
your relationship with Coach Petersen? A couple of summers ago, he spent time
visiting your coaching staff.
We know each other.
I have a lot of respect for him. He came and brought his staff down. We didn't
realize that we'd be playing each other. We exchanged some ideas offensively. We
have a mutual respect for each other. We have a lot of respect for what his
program has done. We got to spend a little bit of time with them and talk a
little football. They have similar philosophies as us and that was the
attraction.
Can you talk
about what
Boise
State
has done for the non-
BCS
schools?
What they've done
has been remarkable. It gives a target for everyone else to shoot for. We're
trying to do the same for our program. I think they've opened the door for that
discussion. You see that the games this year and the success that Houston's had
against the
BCS
teams, it gives more validity that teams like Boise State,
Utah, BYU and teams in our league like Tulsa, Houston and East Carolina should
have opportunities for access to the
BCS
. I think they've been
the catalyst in that.
I've watched what
they've done. You see what
Boise
State
has done. Coach Petersen
and Coach (Dan) Hawkins didn't try to make
Boise
State
into a UCLA or a USC.
They went about it in a unique way.
Boise
State
is a unique place.
They've marketed themselves in a way ... they have the blue turf. That draws
attention to them. It's a very difficult place to go in and play.
What you've seen
over the course of the last seven years is success on the football field.
There's no way around that. You have to have success on the football field. You
can package anything anyway you want to, but it boils down to winning games.
What they've been able to do is be very unique. They have a unique offensive
system, they're very unique on defense and they have unique special teams.
They've not tried to
mimic anyone and have blazed their own trail. It's something that I've looked at
and studied a lot and tried to pattern our program. It's not after
Boise
's, but from that same
philosophy of being a program that's unique in how we approach things. The plan
is to get better and better personnel and to do that you have to have something
that sets you apart from everyone else.
This is a challenging month for you, can you talk about
that?
I'm really excited. I don't know if there's been any other
time in my time in
Tulsa
that we've been sitting
in a position to opportunities with this kind of schedule. I said at the first
of the year that there's going to be three conference champions on the schedule
and seven bowl teams. There are six bowl teams left out of the last eight games.
We're going to play a top-five team in the nation (
Boise
State
) and by the time we play
Houston
, they can be a top-five
team in the nation. Southern Miss could be in the top-25.
We have a tremendous challenge ahead of us, but it's an
exciting time. What a great opportunity that we have. We just have to keep
getting better and chipping away at it. We're going to lay low and keep working,
keep plugging at it and trying to get better.
The key for us is we have to get better at the offensive
line and get better at that. We have good players to work with. We just have to
get that continuity going and not give up big plays on defense.
We're going to be in the national spotlight. We have eight
regular season games left and you couldn't ask for a better situation. I divide
the season up in fours. We've had our first four games. These next four games,
no question, will decide what kind of season we're going to have. They're very
challenging. We're going on the road to Rice and UTEP. Our first three
conference games are on the road. If you can be successful in those two games,
you only have one left away. The rest are all coming here. That's what I'm
excited about. We're going to have a great opportunity to play some great
football teams down the stretch and they're going to be here for our fans to
see. We're excited about the opportunity and, again, its one week at a time. I
know that's a cliché, but we have to get better.
We've beat three
teams we should have beat and we played poorly in a game that we should have
played a lot better in. That's where we're at right now. We have a good football
team and we still have a great belief in what we're doing. We have eight
ball games and look at the home schedule our fans are going to have - Boise
State,
SMU
, Houston, East Carolina and Memphis. That's going to be
some pretty exciting games and two of them, we're going to play nationally
ranked teams and have some great opportunities down the stretch.
Tulsa
2009 Combined Team
Stats (as of Oct. 3):
RECORD:
OVERALL HOME
AWAY NEUTRAL
ALL
GAMES........... (
4-1-0
) (1-0-0) (
3-1-0
) (0-0-0)
CONFERENCE..........
(2-0-0) (0-0-0) (2-0-0)
(0-0-0)
NON-CONFERENCE......
(
2-1-0
) (1-0-0) (
1-1-0
) (0-0-0)
DATE
OPPONENT
W/L SCORE ATTEND
------------
------------------------ --- ----- ------
*
Sep 04, 2009
at Tulane
W
37-13 27638
Sep 12, 2009
at
New Mexico
W
44-10 30051
Sep 19, 2009
at #12
Oklahoma
L
0-45 84803
Sep 26, 2009
SAM
HOUSTON
STATE
W
56-3 26048
*
Oct 03, 2009
at Rice
W
27-10 11420
TEAM
STATISTICS
TLS
OPP
---------------------------------------------------
FIRST
DOWNS.............. 100
81
Rushing................
46 33
Passing................
51 38
Penalty................
3 10
RUSHING
YARDAGE.......... 840
475
Rushing Attempts.......
212 176
Average Per Rush.......
4.0 2.7
Average Per Game....... 168.0
95.0
TD’s Rushing............
9 0
PASSING
YARDAGE.......... 1231
1021
Att-Comp-Int........... 144-89-2 163-86-6
Average Per Pass.......
8.5 6.3
Average Per Catch...... 13.8
11.9
Average Per Game....... 246.2
204.2
TD’s Passing............
11
8
TOTAL
OFFENSE............ 2071
1496
Average Per Play.......
5.8 4.4
Average Per Game....... 414.2
299.2
KICK
RETURNS: #-Yards.... 20-479
28-532
PUNT
RETURNS: #-Yards.... 12-198
12-72
INT
RETURNS: #-Yards.....
6-78
2-18
FUMBLES-LOST.............
7-5 13-5
PENALTIES-Yards..........
30-285 25-222
PUNTS-AVG................
27-39.8 31-42.5
TIME OF
POSSESSION/Game.. 30:26
29:34
3RD-DOWN
Conversions..... 29/71
27/81
4TH-DOWN
Conversions..... 2/6
2/8
RUSHING
GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Williams,
Jamad
5 45 175 6 169 3.8 1
15 33.8
Kinne,
G.J.
5 59 300
133 167 2.8 2 45 33.4
Opeseyitan,
Charles 5 31 160
1 159 5.1 1 23 31.8
Carter,
Willie
4 10 88 7 81 8.1 1
39 20.2
Johnson,
Damaris
5 11 85 8 77 7.0 0
28 15.4
Clay,
Charles
5 10 51
0 51 5.1 2 16 10.2
Beaver,
Shavodrick 4
18 69 29 40 2.2 0 13 10.0
Bower,
Jacob
4 6 38 1 37 6.2
1 14 9.2
Whitmore,
A.J.
5 8 23 6 17 2.1
1 6 3.4
Fitzpatrick,
Kevin 5
1 16 0 16 16.0 0 16
3.2
Skillens,
Justin
4 1 12 0 12 12.0
0 12 3.0
Singleton,
Alex 1
5 13 1 12 2.4 0
5 12.0
Sears,
Clay
5 1
9 0 9 9.0 0
9 1.8
Johnson,
Ricky
3 1 0 0
0 0.0 0 0 0.0
Johnson,
Trae
5 1
0 0 0 0.0 0
0 0.0
TEAM
3 4 0 7 -7
-1.8 0 0 -2.3
Total..........
5
212 1039
199 840 4.0 9 45
168.0
Opponents......
5 176 665 190 475
2.7 0 22 95.0
PASSING
GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Kinne,
G.J.
5 161.66
82-128-2 64.1 1142 10 63 228.4
Bower,
Jacob
4 125.17
6-13-0
46.2 83 1 28
20.8
Beaver,
Shavodrick 4
50.13
1-3-0
33.3 6
0 6 1.5
Total..........
5 156.04 89-144-2
61.8 1231 11 63 246.2
Opponents......
5 114.21 86-163-6
52.8 1021 8 68 204.2
RECEIVING
GP No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------
Johnson,
Damaris
5 20 369 18.5 1 63 73.8
Whitmore,
A.J.
5 17 163 9.6 1 39 32.6
Clay,
Charles
5 14 126 9.0
0 23 25.2
Shelley,
Slick
5 12 214 17.8 3 45 42.8
Johnson,
Trae
5 11 177 16.1
5 34 35.4
Williams,
Jamad
5 5 36 7.2 1 21 7.2
Sears,
Clay
5 4
58 14.5 0 31 11.6
Carter,
Willie
4 3 17 5.7 0 8
4.2
Johnson,
Ricky
3 1 33 33.0 0 33 11.0
Opeseyitan,
Charles 5 1
32 32.0 0 32 6.4
Collums,
Jake
5 1
6 6.0 0 6 1.2
Total..........
5 89 1231 13.8 11 63
246.2
Opponents......
5 86 1021 11.9 8 68
204.2
FIELD
GOALS FGM-FGA Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg Blk
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FITZPATRICK,
K. 6-7 85.7 0-0 4-4 2-2 0-0 0-1
36 0
|------- PATs -------|
SCORING
TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf Points
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fitzpatrick,
Kevin 0 6-7
20-21 0-0 0 0-0 0 0
38
Johnson,
Trae
5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0
0 0 30
Shelley,
Slick
3 0-0 0-0
0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18
Williams,
Jamad
2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0
0 0 12
Kinne,
G.J.
2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0
0 0 12
Clay,
Charles
2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0
0 0 12
Whitmore,
A.J.
2 0-0 0-0
0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12
Johnson,
Damaris
2 0-0 0-0
0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12
Bower,
Jacob
1 0-0
0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0
6
Opeseyitan,
Charles 1 0-0
0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0
6
Carter,
Willie
1 0-0 0-0
0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6
Total..........
21 6-7 20-21 0-0 0
0-0 0 0 164
Opponents......
9 6-10 9-9 0-0 0 0-0 0
0 81
SCORE BY
QUARTERS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Total
--------------------
--- --- --- --- ---
Tulsa
............... 45 37 47
35 - 164
Opponents...........
16 34 21 10 - 81
INTERCEPTIONS
No. Yds Avg TD Long
--------------------------------------------
Destin,
John
3 50 16.7 0 32
Wilkins,
Trent
1 0 0.0 0 0
Brown,
DeAundre
1 10 10.0 0
10
Bryan,
Mike
1 18
18.0 0 18
Total..........
6 78 13.0 0
32
Opponents......
2 18 9.0 0
15
PUNTING
No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 Blkd
----------------------------------------------------------
Such,
Michael
22 950 43.2 56 4 5 5 0
Kinne,
G.J.
4 125
31.2 41 1 0 2 0
TEAM
1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
1
Total..........
27 1075 39.8 56 5 5 7 1
Opponents......
31 1318 42.5 57 2 2 5 0
PUNT
RETURNS No. Yds
Avg TD Long
--------------------------------------------
Johnson,
Damaris
12 198 16.5 1 66
Total..........
12 198 16.5 1 66
Opponents......
12 72 6.0 0 32
KICK
RETURNS No. Yds
Avg TD Long
--------------------------------------------
Johnson,
Damaris
13 350 26.9 0 75
Kelley,
Freeman
4 106 26.5 0
41
Black,
Laquentin
3 23 7.7 0 10
Total..........
20 479 24.0 0 75
Opponents......
28 532 19.0 0 38
ALL
PURPOSE
G Rush Rec
PR
KOR
IR Tot Avg/G
-----------------------------------------------------------
Johnson,
Damaris
5 77 369 198 350 0 994 198.8
Shelley,
Slick
5 0 214 0 0
0 214 42.8
Williams,
Jamad
5 169 36 0 0
0 205 41.0
Opeseyitan,
Charles 5 159 32
0 0 0 191 38.2
Whitmore,
A.J.
5 17 163 0 0
0 180 36.0
Total..........
5
840 1231
198 479 78 2826 565.2
Opponents......
5
475 1021
72 532 18 2118 423.6
TOTAL
OFFENSE G
Plays
Rush
Pass
Total Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------
Kinne,
G.J.
5 187
167 1142
1309 261.8
Williams,
Jamad
5 45 169 0 169 33.8
Opeseyitan,
Charles 5 31
159 0 159 31.8
Bower,
Jacob
4 19 37 83 120 30.0
Carter,
Willie
4 10 81 0 81
20.2
Total..........
5 356
840 1231
2071 414.2
Opponents......
5 339
475 1021
1496 299.2
|--------Tackles--------| |-Sacks-| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE
LEADERS GP Solo Ast Total
TFL/Yds No-Yds Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Brown,
DeAundre 5 17
19 36 2.0-13 1.0-10 1-10
. . .
1 . .
43 Bryan,
Mike
5 17 16 33 6.5-18 1.5-9
1-18 1 . .
1 . .
40 Antle,
Tanner 5
10 17 27 2.5-10 2.5-10
. . . .
. . .
6 Lockett,
James 5 17
8 25 4.5-25 2.5-19
. 2 . .
1 . .
18 Destin,
John 5
17 3 20 1.0-1
. 3-50
3 . .
. . .
Total.......... 5 204 156
360 43-163 15-91 6-78
12 2 5--7 9 1 .
Opponents...... 5 236 140
376 33-164 19-108 2-18
12 11 5-92 4 1 .
