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The Airport Eight

With TCU playing in the CFP championship tonight it got me to thinking about the Airport Eight. Utah, BYU and TCU came out of the deal pretty good but you have to wonder what CSU, Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico and Wyoming think about that meeting now. While not on a level with the current “power” 5 the WAC was considered way closer to those conferences than any of the current G5.

📝 Larry Lewis Game Recap: TU suffers close loss to Temple; Selebangue says TU making progress

Bryant Selebangue epitomized the never say die attitude Tulsa displayed against Temple. It was especially refreshing considering how the season has turned out so far. Tulsa (4-11, 0-4 AAC) had plenty of chances to get blown out by Temple. But in the end, TU was a free throw away from having a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. Although the Golden Hurricane's 76-72 loss in front of an announced crowd of 3,053 at the Reynolds Center was disappointing, Selebangue feels like things are changing for the positive.


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📝 Larry Lewis Recap: Tulsa comeback falls short against Temple

Bryant Selebangue epitomized the never say die attitude Tulsa displayed against Temple. It was especially refreshing considering how the season has turned out so far. Tulsa (4-11, 0-4 AAC) had plenty of chances to get blown out by Temple. But in the end, TU was a free throw away from having a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. Although the Golden Hurricane's 76-72 loss in front of an announced crowd of 3,053 at the Reynolds Center was disappointing, Selebangue feels like things are changing for the positive.


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🏈 News/Notes Spurrier Jr. and Stanchek officially named to Wilson's TU staff

Release...

Tulsa’s Kevin Wilson Names Two to Coaching Staff, Adding Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach

Mississippi State’s Steve Spurrier Jr. named offensive coordinator

TULSA, Okla. ––
University of Tulsa first-year head football coach Kevin Wilson announced today the appointment of two offensive coaches, filling the roles of offensive coordinator/quarterback coach with Steve Spurrier, Jr., and offensive line coach with Ryan Stanchek.

Spurrier comes from Mississippi State, while Stanchek spent the past season at Austin Peay University.

“It’s a pretty good starting point on offense with Steve’s offensive philosophy being influenced with his years coaching under his father, Steve Spurrier Sr., as well as his time with Mike Leach at Washington State and Mississippi State,” said Wilson. “It will be great to work alongside Steve and I’m also excited to be reunited with Ryan, who began his coaching career with me at Indiana.

“Both coaches have been in coordinator roles in the past and bring to our program the experience and knowledge in putting an efficient and exciting offense on the field. I’m thrilled to have them and their families join us here at Tulsa.”

Steve Spurrier Jr. comes to Tulsa following three seasons (2020-22) as outside receivers coach at Mississippi State, where he also served as the school’s passing game coordinator in 2022.

Spurrier’s collegiate coaching career has included 17 postseason bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, as well as five conference championships (three SEC and two Big 12) and two national championships (Oklahoma, 2000; Florida, 1996).

In 2022, Mississippi State threw for an average of 311 yards and 36 touchdowns in posting a 9-4 overall record.

Before his coaching stint at MSU, Spurrier joined Mike Leach’s staff at Washington State in 2018 as outside receivers coach and spent two years (2018-19) there before moving to Mississippi State with Leach.

Spurrier joined Leach’s staff having spent the 2017 season as the assistant head coach/ quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky. Spurrier helped develop quarterback Mike White into WKU’s first Senior Bowl participant at quarterback and just the second quarterback in school history to post multiple seasons of 4,000 or more passing yards. The Hilltoppers reached the 2017 Autonation Cure Bowl as White’s 4,177 passing yards were fourth nationally while his 368 completions led the nation.

Spurrier spent the 2016 campaign at Oklahoma in an off-field role as a recruiting and offensive specialist.

Prior to his time in Norman, Spurrier spent 11 seasons (2005-15) at South Carolina on the staff of his father, Steve Spurrier Sr., as he coached the Gamecocks’ wide receivers. He added titles of passing game coordinator in 2009, recruiting coordinator in 2011 and co-offensive coordinator in 2012. During his time in Columbia, the Gamecocks went to nine bowl games and his pupils featured future NFL stars Sidney Rice and Alshon Jeffery.

Before moving to South Carolina, Spurrier spent one season at the University of Arizona (2004) under head coach Mike Stoops, two seasons as wide receivers coach in the NFL with the Washington Redskins (2002-03) and was a part of Bob Stoops’ rebuilding project at Oklahoma (1999-2001), culminating with a perfect 13-0 record and national championship in 2000. He also worked alongside Leach during the 1999 season at Oklahoma.

A native of Palo Alto, Calif., Spurrier played collegiately at Duke where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1994. While working as a graduate assistant at Florida, Spurrier received his master’s degree in 1996.

Spurrier Jr. and his wife, Melissa, are the parents of triplets, Luke, Gavin and Emmaline; Nolan; twins, Palmer and Hayden, and McKinley.

Ryan Stanchek joins the Tulsa coaching staff following one season as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Austin Peay. Previously, he spent the 2021 season in the same capacity at Florida A&M, helping A&M reach the school’s first FCS Playoff appearance since 2001.

Before that, Stanchek spent two seasons (2019-20) as the offensive line coach at Southern Miss.

Prior to joining the Southern Miss staff, Stanchek was a member of the Alcorn State coaching staff for five seasons (2014-18), beginning as an offensive line coach before earning a promotion to run-game coordinator in 2016 and ultimately offensive coordinator for the 2018 season.

During Stanchek’s time at Alcorn State, the Braves won the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s East Division title five times, the SWAC Championship three times, played in the Celebration Bowl three times, and won the SBN Sports Black College Football National Championship in 2014.

At Alcorn, Stanchek coached 13 offensive linemen to the SWAC’s all-conference team and also mentored eight HBCU All-Americans during his tenure.

Stanchek began his coaching career as an offensive quality control assistant at Florida State in 2010, working with the offensive line. He then spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Indiana, coaching under head coach Kevin Wilson.

A two-time All-America offensive lineman at West Virginia, Stanchek started 48 consecutive games in Morgantown. He helped the Mountaineers win four bowl games in four years, including the 2006 Sugar Bowl and 2008 Fiesta Bowl, and Big East Conference titles twice (2005 and 2007).

Stanchek signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2009 before playing for the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators in 2010.

A Cincinnati native, Stanchek earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from West Virginia. He and his wife Jessica have a daughter, Bella Sky, and a son, Skyler.
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Chris Paul to play Sunday vs Cowboys

With the Commanders eliminated from the playoffs they are playing those players that have not received meaningful playing time. Sam Howell the 5th round draft pick will be making his first start and will play in his first regular season game against the Cowboys who are playing for the East title. Chris Paul is supposed to be playing at Left Guard. Not sure if he is starting but the vibe is that he will start at Left Guard. The defense has been raving about how stout he is at that position but has yet to play in the only game he was active for. He has been listed as inactive all year except one game even though he was healthy. This will give the staff a chance to evaluate both of these picks going against a team that is fighting for something so this will be a great chance to evaluate both players.

Games of Interest (1.4.23 - 1.9.23) @ Tulane

ITS GAMEDAY!!!

Today Tulsa Men travel to New Orleans to take on Tulane. The Tulsa Women host Wichita State in the Reynolds Center. Lets hope both teams have better showing than their last game. Tulsa Men need a conference win and the ladies need to not keep it so close even though they won.

Todays games

The only “interesting” games today are

UCF travels to East Carolina
Bradley takes on Murray St.

And One

Demar Hamlin, the Bills Safety who collapsed Monday night is still in the ICU. He started a Toy Drive through his foundation, Chasing M’s and hoped to raise $25,000 for Toys for children that are underprivileged. The Go Fundme for the drive at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning had 2.4 Million, as I am typing this has raised 6.12 Million dollars as of this morning. This is the feel good story of the week.

GO TU!!!!

Today’s games

AAC Games

TeamRatingTeamRatingTimeTV
Temple166atSouth Fla.1896:00 p.m.ESPN+
UCF48atEast Carolina1676:00 p.m.ESPN+
Tulsa266atTulane1356:00 p.m.ESPN+

Other Games of Interest (Expansion Teams, Possible Teams and TU Women)

TeamRatingTeamRatingTimeTV
Mississippi Val.354atAlabama A&M3346:00 p.m.ESPN+
Loyola Chicago249atDavidson1637:00 p.m.CBSSN
Bradley61atMurray St.1797:00 p.m.ESPN+
Tulsa Women
Wichita St.112atTulsa846:30 p.m.ESPN+

Rankings

AAC

RankTrendTeamRecordRoadNeutralHomeQ1Q2Q3Q4
1EvenHouston14-13-02-09-13-13-00-08-0
48EvenUCF10-41-12-17-21-22-11-06-1
59Up 1Memphis11-41-33-17-01-12-34-04-0
106Down 3Cincinnati9-50-21-28-10-30-03-26-0
133Down 1Wichita St.7-71-21-25-30-40-03-14-2
135EvenTulane8-50-12-36-10-11-11-36-0
166Up 6Temple8-72-21-25-31-00-14-43-2
167Down 22East Carolina10-51-23-16-20-01-11-28-2
183Up 3SMU6-80-32-14-41-21-40-14-1
189Up 2South Fla.7-71-21-15-40-20-12-15-3
266Down 2Tulsa4-90-41-23-30-20-30-34-1

Rest of GOI

RankTrendTeamRecordRoadNeutralHomeQ1Q2Q3Q4
33Up 4Oklahoma St.9-51-22-26-12-40-02-15-0
41Up 2Oral Roberts8-34-30-04-00-31-02-05-0
76Up 1Charlotte11-32-22-17-00-11-02-28-0
94EvenLMU (CA)10-52-32-16-10-13-23-24-0
179Up 1Murray St.7-62-42-13-10-01-30-26-1
204Down 4Detroit Mercy5-92-70-13-10-11-32-32-2
221EvenOregon St.6-70-30-36-10-20-32-04-2
250Up 5Central Mich.4-81-51-12-20-11-10-33-3
308Up 1Jackson St.2-122-100-20-00-50-21-21-3
339EvenLoyola Maryland3-101-61-11-30-20-00-43-4
354EvenMississippi Val.1-140-120-21-00-40-50-21-3

Expansion Teams

RankTrendTeamRecordRoadNeutralHomeQ1Q2Q3Q4
11Up 1Fla. Atlantic10-14-10-06-02-00-12-06-0
53Up 1North Texas9-32-14-13-10-21-13-05-0
62Down 4UAB11-20-12-19-00-10-04-17-0
140EvenRice8-33-30-05-00-10-23-05-0
318Down 2UTSA4-80-50-04-30-30-10-24-2

Quad Tracker

Q1Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
WinQuadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 136-240
noneQuadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353
Loss
Oklahoma St. (A)
Houston (H)
Q2
Win
None
Loss
Charlotte (N)
Oral Roberts (H)
LMU (A)
Q3
Win
None
Loss
Oregon St. (A)
Murray St. (N)
SMU (A)
Q4
Wins
Jackson St. (H)
Loyola Chicago (N)
Central Mich (H)
Miss Val St. (H)
Loss
Detroit Mercy (H)
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Positive Momentum-How Many Scholarships Available?

Nice to see K-Ray come back in the fold. Every D-1 football program has had players enter the portal, as far as I can tell.

The high number? Arkansas at 26. Do we need to lease office space across the street from campus? The low? TCU with a whopping 1?

One question and a thought.

1. Approximately, how many football scholarships do we have available?
2. Everyone is fishing the portal, what about some shake’n bake Juco?

Prayers for GameParson

For those of you that don’t know, GameParson is a former TU football player from the late 70’s and early 80’s. He also had a son that played at TU several years ago.

The GameParson currently is in the hospital following a stem cell transplant. His disease is public knowledge and his Son has been keeping his church family and friends updated on Facebook. If you believe in the power of prayer please lift him and his family up at this time.

Thank you. 🙏
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