Tulsa looking to rebound

[NT80]

Tulsa looking to rebound

By Ron Clements, East Carolinian

July 20, 2005

(U-WIRE) GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Entering a new conference this year, Tulsa head football coach Steve Kragthorpe will try to turn back the clock to just two years ago. Kragthorpe enters his third season at the helm of the Golden Hurricane and hopes to find the magic that made him the WAC Coach of the Year in 2003, when he guided Tulsa to an 8-5 record and a Humanitarian Bowl berth.

2004 was a different story for the Hurricane, which finished with a 4-8 record. Kragthorpe is looking forward to a rebound year in 2005.

"We're heading in the right direction," Kragthorpe said. "We've made significant progress in the last two years. We've tasted victory and we've also realized the fine line between winning and losing, particularly in the 2004 season. I'm excited about the opportunity to continue to build and grow our program."

"Tulsa is one of four former WAC schools to join Conference USA in 2004, along with UTEP, Rice and Southern Methodist, and will be in the newly formed Western Division of the conference with the former WAC schools and Tulane and Houston. With a new conference comes new changes and new rivalries may be born.

"The Western Athletic Conference has been good for the University of Tulsa," said Judy MacLeod, Tulsa's director of athletics.

"Geographically and financially, Conference USA is a better fit for Tulsa's athletic program, and we'll be matched with old rivals and some new opponents as well."

Tulsa returns just 13 starters from a year ago, including their quarterback James Kilian and the two starting guards off the offensive line.

One player that is back is one of the top defensive players in the country -- linebacker Nick Bunting. Bunting, who was put on the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the nation's top defensive player, is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior and a Tulsa native. Surrounding Bunting with the necessary talent to be competitive in the Western Division of Conference USA is now Kragthorpe's concern.

In addition to Bunting, the Golden Hurricane also returns both defensive ends from last season, Brandon Lohr and Robert Latu. Latu plays bigger than his 263-pound frame. He shuffled between end and nose tackle in 2004 and could do that this year also, with the transfer of defensive end Chadd Evans from Colorado. The Golden Hurricane also has five junior college transfers coming in that are expected to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball.

"We want to be a bigger and more physical defense and have recruited to that philosophy," Kragthorpe said.

"As we have addressed our needs from a physical standpoint, I'm also encouraged by the fact that we have bolstered our defense with athleticism and speed at all positions."

Bunting is joined at linebacker by his starting teammate from 2004, sophomore Nelson Coleman and Tulsa brings back two starters in the secondary -- juniors Bobby Blackshire and Shannon Carter. Tulsa's leading tackler from 2003, Kedrick Alexander, returns to the lineup after sitting out last year. Alexander had 121 tackles as a sophomore in 2003 while starting at safety.

What Kragthorpe hopes to improve upon is TU's play in the close games. Tulsa dropped three overtime games last season, one at Boise State. Tulsa did beat UTEP 37-35 to close the 2004 campaign. Tulsa brings back a strong running game and enough offensive weapons that scoring points should not be a problem for the Golden Hurricane, as long as their new quarterback can minimize mistakes with the ball.

Tulsa returns three starters on offensive line, both tackles and the center, junior Aaron Danenhauer, who will have to adjust to a new quarterback, now that Kilian has graduated. The question is who will replace Kilian, who was a three-year starter and threw for 2,247 yards last year with 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, while completing 55 percent of his passes. Sophomore quarterback Paul Smith and redshirt freshman quarterback David Johnson competed in the spring for the starting job in 2005 and whoever starts, Kragthorpe feels good about the position.

"Obviously anytime you lose your starting quarterback you have questions about that marquee position," Kragthorpe said.

"We have two very, very capable guys in Paul and David.

"We had the luxury of being able to redshirt Paul last year and this year he is bigger, stronger and more physical. David is a tremendous athlete and throws the ball extremely well. Both these guys can throw the ball vertically and outside the numbers," said Kragthorpe.

"Both of their performances throughout the spring did nothing but confirm in my mind that we have excellent quarterback talent."

One thing Tulsa does not lack is experienced weapons for the quarterback to get the ball to. The Golden Hurricane returns their top two running backs and its top two receivers from last season.

"I'm excited about the explosive capabilities that we possess on the offensive side of the football," said Kragthorpe.

"Modern day football has included an emphasis on explosive big-play opportunities. We feel that we have the weapons available to not only control the football, but create big plays."

All-American kick returner Ashlan Davis, who set an NCAA record in 2004 with five kick returns for touchdowns, returns for his senior season and was a big spark for Tulsa's offense. The diminutive (5-foot-8, 179) but lightning quick Davis was second on the team in receptions in 2004 with 30 catches for 462 yards and his role on the offense will be expanded in 2005.

If there is one position that Tulsa is deepest and strongest at, it is at running back. Tulsa boasts a strong running game with senior Uril Parrish and junior Brandon Diles returning. Parrish ran for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns last year while Diles had 616 yards and seven TDs, including 141 and a score in the upset of UTEP in 2004's final game.

"Running back is probably the most proven position from a depth standpoint on the offensive side of the football," Kragthorpe said.

"Both Uril and Brandon had quality years in 2004 and have proven that they can both be starters, having both started at various times in their careers."

Tulsa's best player may be senior tight end Garrett Mills. Tulsa's leading receiver in 2004 with 51 catches for 560 yards comes back for his final year and is an All-American candidate.

"Mills has proven over the course of the last two years that he is one of the most complete players on our football team," Kragthorpe said.

"He's athletic, extremely intelligent and plays with great toughness and tenacity."

Kragthorpe believes his team can rebound from a disappointing 2004 season and be competitive in 2005.

"I believe that [C-USA] will be one of the most competitive conferences in the country," Kragthorpe said.

"We have goals and expectations that we're continuing to strive towards. I feel like the future of Tulsa football is very bright with the addition of three strong recruiting classes, and yet I realize that Division I football is a very competitive environment and we have to continue to make progress at a significant rate to realize those goals."