From Syracuse.com...
It took some time for things to fall apart in the post-Todd Graham years at Tulsa, but fall apart they did — and precipitously over the last two seasons.
More often than not, it is lazy to make the "won with another coach's players" argument on a lot of levels, but if there's a place where that assertion holds up, it's Tulsa. Bill Blankenship went 19-8 in his first two years, then 5-19 the last two and was sent on his way.
Needless to say, Tulsa is not in better shape than he found it, and it is former Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery who is tasked with rectifying that situation. It comes as little surprise he'll try to make the Golden Hurricane's offense look as much like the one that's vaulted Baylor into annual Big 12 contention, but that's not his biggest immediate chore (at least if competitiveness in 2015 is the priority).
Tulsa couldn't stop anyone a year ago, giving up at least 28 points to every opponent, and that won't be easy to fix. Perhaps the Golden Hurricane, which brings back the bulk of its offense, can quickly adapt to Montgomery's system and help offset the problems a fairly young defense is bound to experience.
With Southern Methodist and Tulane also struggling to get traction, Tulsa does not find itself in a miserable hole. It can be a midpack team in the American in little time, and Montgomery's Texas ties are bound to help in many ways. His hiring looks like a good one, but it's best not to expect miracles in his first season.
NUMBER OF NOTE
11-25
Combined record last season for Tulsa's three nonconference opponents not named Oklahoma this season. The Golden Hurricane will get routed in Norman, but should have a reasonable chance to collect victories against the likes of Florida Atlantic, New Mexico and UL Monroe in the first half of the season.
It took some time for things to fall apart in the post-Todd Graham years at Tulsa, but fall apart they did — and precipitously over the last two seasons.
More often than not, it is lazy to make the "won with another coach's players" argument on a lot of levels, but if there's a place where that assertion holds up, it's Tulsa. Bill Blankenship went 19-8 in his first two years, then 5-19 the last two and was sent on his way.
Needless to say, Tulsa is not in better shape than he found it, and it is former Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery who is tasked with rectifying that situation. It comes as little surprise he'll try to make the Golden Hurricane's offense look as much like the one that's vaulted Baylor into annual Big 12 contention, but that's not his biggest immediate chore (at least if competitiveness in 2015 is the priority).
Tulsa couldn't stop anyone a year ago, giving up at least 28 points to every opponent, and that won't be easy to fix. Perhaps the Golden Hurricane, which brings back the bulk of its offense, can quickly adapt to Montgomery's system and help offset the problems a fairly young defense is bound to experience.
With Southern Methodist and Tulane also struggling to get traction, Tulsa does not find itself in a miserable hole. It can be a midpack team in the American in little time, and Montgomery's Texas ties are bound to help in many ways. His hiring looks like a good one, but it's best not to expect miracles in his first season.
NUMBER OF NOTE
11-25
Combined record last season for Tulsa's three nonconference opponents not named Oklahoma this season. The Golden Hurricane will get routed in Norman, but should have a reasonable chance to collect victories against the likes of Florida Atlantic, New Mexico and UL Monroe in the first half of the season.
