Summer training begins tomorrow! I think the first few days will be physicals/getting players cleared for training, as well as orientation for new players. As was done last summer, it would be nice to read the thoughts of people who are able attend practices, to get an idea of how the new team is looking. Of course, since they are just starting tomorrow, it might be a little bit before one can take away much from a practice.

Head Basketball Coach Eric Konkol discusses the three latest recruits, Justin Amadi, Dwon Odom and Tyler Behrand, along with summer camps and comments about the new TU AD, on Eye of the Hurricane Podcast:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

Head Coach Eric Konkol discusses recruits Justin Amadi, Dwon Odom & Tyler Behrand, along with info on summer camps and a comment on the new TU AD:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

I'm retired now, need a new hobby. But I found an old ukelele in storage. Got a harmonica too. I might be able to perform "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by the Dylan Center. I could have at hatful of cash, or an escort to the bum's rush.

Late 70’s early 80’s TU football player Kurt Nichols passed away yesterday. He was a tough player and a fun guy to be around. After his TU career he was a HS, JUCO and college coach. He was the Head Coach at East Central in Ada for a few years. Most recently a HS HC in Texas. He will be missed.

3-star defensive back Decari Prater of Prescott, Arkansas, committed to Tulsa over a host of other scholarship offers. The 6-foot-3 and 175-pounder initially attended a Golden Hurricane junior day in March and then took an official visit to TU on the weekend of May 31.

Cornerback Decari Prater just messaged me and said he committed to Tulsa. From Prescott, Arkansas, he had several offers and took an official visit to Tulsa on May 31. Story coming soon.

Login to view embedded media
EDIT -- FULL STORY:

3-star defensive back Decari Prater of Prescott, Arkansas, committed to Tulsa over a host of other scholarship offers. The 6-foot-3 and 175-pounder initially attended a Golden Hurricane junior day in March and then took an official visit to TU on the weekend of May 31.

In this new world of college sports does it seem possible that in the near future we might be crowning Harvard, Yale, or Princeton as our national basketball champion? Why wouldn't the numerous well-heeled alums come together and buy 3 or 4 or the best players and roll to a national championship. These schools have incredible resources and maybe they might want to break the P5's strangle hold on titles.

He is a former Golden Hurricane Football player from Bishop Kelley. And two time Director of Athletics at TU. Rick Dickson sat down and discussed his time at TU on Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, along with the current state of college athletics, and what he might say to the next TU AD:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

I spent a couple hours at TU's first summer camp yesterday. Not a ton of talent at this one, but still several quality guys on hand. Some good 2026 and 2027 up-and-coming guys. I'm sorting through photos and will put a list together. Braylin's younger brother -- 2026 Braeden Presley from Bixby -- was there working with the DBs.

I got to meet most of TU's incoming freshmen, as they were helping with the camp before going to lift. Some great looking young talent. The receivers are much bigger, weight-wise, than what was coming in two to five years ago. Dax Collins is already up to 192 and looks impressive. Colten Christian, Jack Tanner and Brody Duffel are all really big dudes that look further along physically than most incoming OL. LB Will Smith has an impressive physique but is dealing with some back issues. Jaxon Lee, DeDaunte Scott, Jo Williams, Jackson Ford...I could go on. Impressive group of guys. QB Tim Carpenter definitely looks the part.

I'm completely lost with both rosters. Chris can you provide us with a new FLOW CHART?

Tulsa had a visit from 6-10 big man Tyler Behrend, and he has since committed. He last played in 2021-22 at Olympic as a freshman, and I believe he has 3 years remaining. He's been in the Navy and was apparently on a ship this past year. I found a video from a week ago of him playing pick-up ball. The video says he's an overseas pro....but he was just overseas....or on the seas.

In his one season at Olympic, he started 25 of 28 games, averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 47.3% from the field, 30.7% from three and 71.1% from the charity stripe. For some reason, he was dismissed from the team after that. The Olympic coach said, "He probably would have been a top-five player in the NWAC this year." Not sure if he was dismissed due to Navy deployment or something else.

In the video below, he is in the green t-shirt with his hair pulled back...hard to miss.

Login to view embedded media

Saw some minor problems with aphasia, but that may never go away completely. I have problems with it 30 years later. Notice where he stutters a bit and tries to use the word channel, realizing that's not the word he wants, until he finally finds the proper word, challenge. Right after that, in the next few sentences he hesitates a bit, probably from aphasia difficulties as well. The hesitation was short enough that he found the word before it became obvious. His recovery has been much shorter than mine, because he had a much milder stroke. I'm glad he got through his depression problems as well, after treatment at Walter Reed. Been exactly where he was, considering suicide for the first and only time in my life. Happy to see him seeming to be successful as a member of congress. Glad that he came through his recovery as well as I thought he might.

He's been TU's AD two different times, with stints at Washington State and Tulane in between. And his time as VP/Director of Athletics comes to and end this month. In a long ranging interview, Dickson discussed his time at TU, the current climate in college athletics, some reminiscence of his playing days, and what he would tell the next TU AD:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

He's less than a month away from retiring, and VP/Director of Athletics Rick Dickson sat down for a long ranging discussion of TU, college athletics in general and a few anecdotes about his playing career:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

How many of my Covid brothers are still getting the boosters ? We will not pass judgment on anyone

I keep waiting for his Wilson, Konkol big articles, but it seems like 90% of his articles are all about Norman, OK. He does live and work in a town called Tulsa now and works for a newspaper called the TULSA WORLD, not the Norman gazette.......... Haisten at least acknowledges TU even though some have considered it usually negative..........

With Dan Bitson taking over Booker T and I just saw that McKinley Whitfield got the HC job at Porter.

No clue what that means but, they interview Cayden McFarland about TU.

Login to view embedded media

On Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, WBB Coach Angie Nelp discusses her new recruits, camps and summer workouts:

https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

On Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, WBB Coach Angie Nelp talks about her new players, along with camps and summer workouts:


https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/2019/8/26/eye-of-the-hurricane-podcast

6-foot-1 and 170-pound cornerback Cordarian “CD” Powell made an official visit to Tulsa last weekend and came away impressed.

One of the biggest upsets in the history of cricket. US takes down Pakistan. Don't ask me the score because I don't understand it