I watched some of Eric Konkol's Elite camp today with really good players from OK, TX, AR , MO and Kansas. I suspect a couple will be offered. I didn't get to visit with him as he was really busy but it looked like some of our new players might have made some money helping out.

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, WR Coach Ryan Switzer discusses his career and his new job at TU. Not long ago, he was returning punts (including an 83 yd TD) and catching passes for the Cowboys, Raiders, Steelers and Browns!

https://t.co/GGuXp1qs62

Nolan Richardson Inducted Into NJCAA Hall Of Fame​

June 8, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE – Nolan Richardson will add a third Hall of Fame honor to his illustrious resume as he will be inducted into the third annual National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be Thursday (June 8) in Charlotte, N.C.
Designed to tell the story of the NJCAA, the NJCAA Hall of Fame seeks to honor individuals who have paved the way for opportunities at the two-year level – athletically and professionally, and those who have been pioneers throughout the history of the association. Inductees to the Hall of Fame include administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and meritorious contributors and influencers.
Joining Richardson in the Class of 2023 are Brittany Reese (three-time track and field Olympic team member), Kirby Puckett (MLB Hall of Famer), Leonard Hamilton (current head men’s basketball coach at Florida State) and Bruce Arena (all-time winningest Major League Soccer head coach).
Richardson is a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted as part of the 2008 and 2014 classes, respectively. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Richardson played basketball collegiately at NJCAA member Eastern Arizona Junior College for one season before transferring to Texas Western College. After Western, he retired from playing and decided to leave his mark through coaching.
Richardson began his coaching career in 1968 at Bowie High School in El Paso. He coached there for 10 years before returning to the two-year college level at Western Texas Junior College in 1977. At Western Texas, he posted a record of 101-13 in three seasons. In his third and final season, Richardson led the Westerners to the 1980 NJCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with a 37-0 record. Western Texas became just the third team to finish the season with an undefeated record in the history of NJCAA basketball.
Moving on to the University of Tulsa in 1981, Richardson became the first African American coach to win the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) championship. Staying at Tulsa for five years, Richardson is credited with bringing the Tulsa program to national prominence, and with a winning percentage of .763, became the first coach in NCAA history to win 50 games in his first two seasons.
Leaving Tulsa and moving on to the University of Arkansas, Richardson led the team to 15 post-season appearances in 17 seasons. Finding great success at Arkansas, he led the Razorbacks to three Final Fours and, in 1994, the Hogs won the National Championship. Richardson’s career garnered numerous accolades including NABC Coach of the Year, Naismith College Coach of the Year, two-time MVC Coach of the Year, three-time SWC Coach of the Year, SEC Coach of the Year, and the USBWA Most Courageous Award.

Sounds like the conference is going with 18 games. So we'll play 5 teams twice and 8 teams only once. Historically, teams have been arranged by strength (or perceived strength) in basketball to ensure the top teams get more bites at the quality win apple. So I would anticipate a much easier schedule next year.

Stud HS guard visited Tulsa today.

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Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos fame reported to jail today for defrauding several VC's, Walmart, and several wealthy investors with false claims about Theranos' capabilities. I thought that was a good outcome and frankly about time. But also today the Sackler family had their freedom from further liability confirmed. All Sacklers did was addict millions of Americans to opiods to make tens and tens and tens of billions leaving the US to deal an of of control addiction problem that will go on for decades or perhaps forever. But in a deal negotiated in part with the Trump DOJ, they will face no further liability.

Elizabeth Holmes problem was that she that while she was rich on paper based on an inflated valuation of her company, she wasn't wealthly enough to tap into the tens of billions needed to buy hoardes of lawyers, former DOJ attorneys, and swing real political heft through donations. Those she hurt were sophisticated and wealthy on at least her level if not more. So she staved off the outcome for years, but couldn't make it go away.

The Sacklers scam, however, fed on the poor and everyday joes which had aleady earned them the billions needed to hire the best attorneys, consultants, and policians to work out their heck of a deal. The deal allows the Sacklers to give a portion of their wealth to the states to help pay for addiction programs, keep the rest, and oh, have no further financial liability. Criminal charges could still be brought, but that's not going to happen either. A system that requires criminals who are caught to pay an admittedly steep fines but keep most of their faudulent gains is not going to provide much deterence.

It's a sad reflection of our system that those with billions have their legal environment that even the merely wealthy cannot tap into. Below that system is another for the merely wealthy and below that are additional legal evironments distinguished largely by the income of its inhabitants.

I almost feel sorry for Elizabeth Holmes because the Sackers deserve to be an jail for the rest of their lives, but she is the one going inside.

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, CB Coach and Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Michael Hunter discusses his playing career at Indiana (under coach Wilson) then OSU and then in the NFL, along with his new role at TU

https://t.co/97sbICuC0k

He was with coach Wilson at Indiana, then at OSU for one year, and then with six teams in the NFL. CB Coach and Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Michael Hunter is the guest on Eye of the Hurricane Podcast

https://t.co/97sbICuC0k

Tulsa has a top-30 collegiate long snapper entering the 2023 season. We also have UNLV transfer Austin Ortega. We should be set at this important position.

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The NCAA spring recruiting period has begun with coaches going to various sites to evaluate 17U, 16U and 15U players. Information is sketchy, but based on previous offers and doing social media searches, I’ve pieced together a list of potential recruits the coaches are watching.

Coach Konkol is in Omaha, NE watching 17U teams. He was seen Friday night by Rival’s recruiting analyst Eric Bossi watching Team Trae Young 17U.

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We had posted previously that the following 2024 Team Trae Young 17U players had been offered by Tulsa:

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Login to view embedded media Also, Tulsa has been evaluating another Team Trae Young 17U PG Ketraeus Aldridge of Topeka, KS.

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I saw where Former Jenks standout quarterback Stephen Kittleman was named a captain

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, Special Teams Coordinator Joe Bolden talks coming to Tulsa, and has interesting comments about his playing days at Michigan....including a bad targeting call ejection (almost as bad as Kolton Shindelar at the Miami Beach Bowl) & his rivalry with Michigan State:

https://t.co/oz7oPGyawr

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, an interview with Special Teams Coordinator Joe Bolden. Great energy guy and not that far removed from his playing days at Michigan. Interesting comments on one of the worst ever targeting calls which kicked him out of a game v. Michigan State. That targeting rivals only the terrible ejection of Kolton Shindelar of TU in the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl. Also, fun comments about planting a metal stake in the turf at rival Michigan St.

https://t.co/oz7oPGyawr

Current junior college prospects with offers or interest from Tulsa coaches:

Was today the first prospect camp?

Tulsa basketball coaches hosted another round of visits from big men out of the transfer portal last weekend.

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, TE Coach Greg Frey, who has been in the coaching business since 1996, discusses his career and his career move to Tulsa:

https://t.co/tUX1732U76

On the latest Eye of the Hurricane Podcast, an interview with TU FB TE Coach Greg Frey:

https://t.co/tUX1732U76

Thinking back on who we've gotten over the years who stood out (excluding obviously Nolan's teams). Who are some of our better transfers? Self added some good pieces this way, Tony Heard and Brandon Kurtz come to mind. David Shelton. Who else comes to mind? It's been a while since we had much top shelf talent so you kinda have to throw your memory back.