This was originally posted in the Army Game Thread…
State of the Tulsa Football Program:
Tailgating/Game Day Experience: 9/10 Tailgating and the overall atmosphere on game days have been great. It’s one of the few things we can consistently count on to deliver a solid experience.
Academic Improvement: 9/10 The academic side of the program continues to be a bright spot. The team is performing well in the classroom, and that’s definitely something we can be proud of.
Recruiting: 7/10 Recruiting has improved, but it’s not where we need it to be if we want to compete at a higher level. We’re getting some decent talent, but we need too develop them, especially with our current struggles on the field.
Player Development: 4/10 This is a huge area of concern. We’re not seeing enough improvement from players over their time here. There’s potential on the roster, but it feels like they’re not getting the coaching or development they need to reach the next level.
Coaching/Game Planning: 4/10 I’m scratching my head at some of the decisions being made. For example, in the Army game why go for it on 4th down on our own side of the field on our first possession? There’s a lack of coherent strategy and situational awareness that’s costing us.
Coaching Adjustments: 3/10 This might be the most frustrating part. Once the opposing team adjusts to our game plan, it’s over. We don’t counter well, and that’s leading to blowouts. It feels like we’re getting outcoached every week.
Strength of Schedule (Second Half): 4/10 The remaining schedule isn’t daunting, but with teams like Temple and UAB, we’ve got some potential wins. However, if we don’t fix the above issues, even these games could slip away from us.
Fan Enthusiasm for Coaching Staff: 3/10 Let’s be honest, the fanbase is losing faith and some would rate this a zero. Even those who have been optimistic are starting to see that we might need a change in leadership. If the team doesn’t start winning and showing some life, it’s going to be hard to justify sticking with the current staff.
Overall, the program has some positives, but the negatives are piling up, especially in terms of coaching and player development. It’s time for a serious evaluation of where we’re headed.
