This is from Eddie Radosovich on their site...
Tulsa at Oklahoma
Date: Sept. 19
Kickoff: 11 a.m.
TV: FS1
2014 Record: 2-10
Head Coach: Phillip Montgomery (First year)
Series Record: 19-7-1 Oklahoma
OVERVIEW
It was the drastic difference between the first two and final two years that ultimately led to the end of the Bill Blankenship era at Tulsa. While his first two seasons were marked by a conference championship and Liberty Bowl win, the final two were far from continued improvement with just a combined five wins. .
The man tabbed to lead the makeover is no stranger to culture rebuilds. Phillip Montgomery just spent the last seven years doing just that as head foreman for Art Briles at Baylor.
Naturally Montgomery brings with him the fast paced offense to Tulsa, but it will be on the defensive side of the ball where there are many questions left to be answered. Below SoonerScoop.com continues our preview of the 2015 Oklahoma football schedule by taking a look at the final non-conference game of the season. A date with Turner Turnpike neighbor Tulsa University.
DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Bill Young's job is quite different than the one he held at this time last summer. Rather than prepping for the Friday Night Lights of Oklahoma high school football, Young spends his days preparing for Division-I Saturdays.
Not in Dallas for Southern Methodist University -- where he grabbed a coffee over the summer with the Mustangs -- but at the campus of Tulsa University. An uphill battle in its own right.
Just once, a triple-OT win over SMU, did tTulsa manage to hold an opponent under 30 points last season.
The Golden Hurricane were downright bad in 2014 allowing 486.6 yards per game, ranking. No.114 nationally in total defense and -- even worse -- No.119 in scoring defense.
The good news is the return of five starters with ample playing experience. All-AAC second-team defensive end Derrick Alexander, who had a team-high 12 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks last year, returns alongside FWAA Freshman All-American linebacker Craig Suits (81tackles).
Derrick Luetjen has started 24 consecutive games at defensive tackle.
Michael Mudoh returns as the team's leading tackler with 113 as a junior.
OFFENSE
There will be points scored. In fact it'd hard to point towards the Golden Hurricane offense as the problem for its recent decline in the wins column. The obvious reality is the fact it is tough to win games when your defense allows just over 39 points per game.
Junior quarterback Dane Evans returns after throwing for 3,102 yards and 23 touchdowns, but it's hard to overlook his 17 interceptions. Three of his top pass catchers return for another run. Keevan Lucas hauled in a team-leading 101 receptions for 1,219-yards. Senior Keyarris Garrett made 47 receptions for 698 yards and five touchdowns.
Lucas, Garrett and Josh Atkinson combined to all three produce seasons of 35-plus receptions and 400+ yards. This is just an added bonus for co-offensive coordinators Sterlin Gilbert and Matt Mattox.
The biggest question could be where the yards gained on the ground will come from. Running the ball efficiently is a catalyst in completing the process and becoming 'Baylor-like' offensively.
While running the Bears offense the last seven seasons Montgomery's has been aided by massive offensive lines and the luxury of talented running backs like the talents-- most recently-- of Shock Linwood and Lache Seastrunk.
Sophomore 'back D'Angelo Brewer turned heads for the Golden Hurricane during the spring, and will be joined in the backfield by senior Zack Langer. But the fact remains that production from the running back department last season was few and far between.
SUMMARY
The brightest and most promising aspect of Phillip Montgomery's arrival to Tulsa is hope in heading into the future. Heading north across the Red River alongside Montgomery before the start of spring football was the Golden Hurricane (hopeful) future at quarterback in former Rivals.com four-star and one time Baylor commit Chad President.
President, an early enrollee, spent the spring growing more familiar with Montgomery's playbook.
The next step for Montgomery's young program was landing Broken Arrow offensive lineman Rowdy Frederick, laying yet another brick to the foundation set by the first-year head coach in Green Country.
Success on the field won't necessarily be measured by wins in Montgomery's first year, but should perhaps be made in stops defensively. Even a handful here and there would help move things in the right direction.
OF NOTE
Oklahoma and Tulsa have become familiar in recent years having played six times in the last nine seasons. However recent meetings between the Golden Hurricane and Sooners have rarely resulted in competitive contests.
Over the last two seasons Oklahoma has outscored Tulsa to the tune of 103-27, adding the sixth and seventh wins Bob Stoops unblemished 7-0 record vs. the in-state foe.
In 2014, Sterling Shepard turned in a career-high 177 yards receiving to help Oklahoma run over Tulsa 52-7. Oklahoma raced out to a 31-0 lead at halftime and never looked back in a game that included Blake Bell's first career receiving touchdown.
PREDICTION
Oklahoma 55
Tulsa 24
Tulsa at Oklahoma
Date: Sept. 19
Kickoff: 11 a.m.
TV: FS1
2014 Record: 2-10
Head Coach: Phillip Montgomery (First year)
Series Record: 19-7-1 Oklahoma
OVERVIEW
It was the drastic difference between the first two and final two years that ultimately led to the end of the Bill Blankenship era at Tulsa. While his first two seasons were marked by a conference championship and Liberty Bowl win, the final two were far from continued improvement with just a combined five wins. .
The man tabbed to lead the makeover is no stranger to culture rebuilds. Phillip Montgomery just spent the last seven years doing just that as head foreman for Art Briles at Baylor.
Naturally Montgomery brings with him the fast paced offense to Tulsa, but it will be on the defensive side of the ball where there are many questions left to be answered. Below SoonerScoop.com continues our preview of the 2015 Oklahoma football schedule by taking a look at the final non-conference game of the season. A date with Turner Turnpike neighbor Tulsa University.
DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Bill Young's job is quite different than the one he held at this time last summer. Rather than prepping for the Friday Night Lights of Oklahoma high school football, Young spends his days preparing for Division-I Saturdays.
Not in Dallas for Southern Methodist University -- where he grabbed a coffee over the summer with the Mustangs -- but at the campus of Tulsa University. An uphill battle in its own right.
Just once, a triple-OT win over SMU, did tTulsa manage to hold an opponent under 30 points last season.
The Golden Hurricane were downright bad in 2014 allowing 486.6 yards per game, ranking. No.114 nationally in total defense and -- even worse -- No.119 in scoring defense.
The good news is the return of five starters with ample playing experience. All-AAC second-team defensive end Derrick Alexander, who had a team-high 12 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks last year, returns alongside FWAA Freshman All-American linebacker Craig Suits (81tackles).
Derrick Luetjen has started 24 consecutive games at defensive tackle.
Michael Mudoh returns as the team's leading tackler with 113 as a junior.
OFFENSE
There will be points scored. In fact it'd hard to point towards the Golden Hurricane offense as the problem for its recent decline in the wins column. The obvious reality is the fact it is tough to win games when your defense allows just over 39 points per game.
Junior quarterback Dane Evans returns after throwing for 3,102 yards and 23 touchdowns, but it's hard to overlook his 17 interceptions. Three of his top pass catchers return for another run. Keevan Lucas hauled in a team-leading 101 receptions for 1,219-yards. Senior Keyarris Garrett made 47 receptions for 698 yards and five touchdowns.
Lucas, Garrett and Josh Atkinson combined to all three produce seasons of 35-plus receptions and 400+ yards. This is just an added bonus for co-offensive coordinators Sterlin Gilbert and Matt Mattox.
The biggest question could be where the yards gained on the ground will come from. Running the ball efficiently is a catalyst in completing the process and becoming 'Baylor-like' offensively.
While running the Bears offense the last seven seasons Montgomery's has been aided by massive offensive lines and the luxury of talented running backs like the talents-- most recently-- of Shock Linwood and Lache Seastrunk.
Sophomore 'back D'Angelo Brewer turned heads for the Golden Hurricane during the spring, and will be joined in the backfield by senior Zack Langer. But the fact remains that production from the running back department last season was few and far between.
SUMMARY
The brightest and most promising aspect of Phillip Montgomery's arrival to Tulsa is hope in heading into the future. Heading north across the Red River alongside Montgomery before the start of spring football was the Golden Hurricane (hopeful) future at quarterback in former Rivals.com four-star and one time Baylor commit Chad President.
President, an early enrollee, spent the spring growing more familiar with Montgomery's playbook.
The next step for Montgomery's young program was landing Broken Arrow offensive lineman Rowdy Frederick, laying yet another brick to the foundation set by the first-year head coach in Green Country.
Success on the field won't necessarily be measured by wins in Montgomery's first year, but should perhaps be made in stops defensively. Even a handful here and there would help move things in the right direction.
OF NOTE
Oklahoma and Tulsa have become familiar in recent years having played six times in the last nine seasons. However recent meetings between the Golden Hurricane and Sooners have rarely resulted in competitive contests.
Over the last two seasons Oklahoma has outscored Tulsa to the tune of 103-27, adding the sixth and seventh wins Bob Stoops unblemished 7-0 record vs. the in-state foe.
In 2014, Sterling Shepard turned in a career-high 177 yards receiving to help Oklahoma run over Tulsa 52-7. Oklahoma raced out to a 31-0 lead at halftime and never looked back in a game that included Blake Bell's first career receiving touchdown.
PREDICTION
Oklahoma 55
Tulsa 24
