golden hurricane Staff Tulsa 2009 football media Guide

Transcription

1 golden hurricane Staff

2 tulsa coaching staff todd Graham HEAD COACH Third Year In two years as Tulsa s head football coach, Todd Graham has done what no other Golden Hurricane coach before him had accomplished post consecutive 10-win seasons, win 11 games in a season and 21 games in his first two campaigns. Tulsa was one of just 11 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to record back-to-back 10 win seasons in 2007 and The Hurricane closed out the 2008 campaign with an 11-3 overall record after registering another lopsided victory in the GMAC Bowl over No. 22-ranked Ball State. In his first two years as the Hurricane head coach, Graham has led his team to an overall 21-7 record, two C-USA West Division titles, two appearances in the C-USA Championship Game and two straight wins in the GMAC Bowl. Graham has posted a three-year career collegiate mark of Winning Championships is the attitude and goal that Graham has infused into the Tulsa football program, and what he has accomplished in his short tenure has made the nation take notice. Former Tulsa head coach and recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee John Cooper is just one who has recognized Graham s knowledge and success. I don t think I can say enough good things about Todd Graham, Cooper told the Tulsa World. If I was named the head coach of some school tomorrow, I would send my entire coaching staff down to Tulsa to learn a few things. I really believe TU s football staff is on the cutting edge of what is going on in college football these days. Tulsa s 10+ wins in back-to-back seasons are just the sixth and seventh times in school history that the Hurricane has posted 10 victories or more. The 2008 season was also the second straight year that the Hurricane led the nation in total offense. Graham File PERSONAL Birthdate: December 5, 1964 Birthplace: Mesquite, Texas Family: wife, Penni, and six children, Bo, Hank, Natalie, Haylee, Dakota and Michael Todd Jr. EDUCATION High School: North Mesquite (Texas) High School, 1983 College: East Central (Okla.), Received bachelor s and master s degrees in education PLAYING EXPERIENCE High School: Was an all-state defensive back at North Mesquite (Texas) High School College: Was a four-year starter and two-year NAIA All-America as a defensive back at East Central (Okla.) BOWL GAMES AS A COACH 2002 Continental Tire Bowl (West Virginia) 2003 Humanitarian Bowl (Tulsa) 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Tulsa) 2006 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Rice) 2007 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) GRAHAM HIGHLIGHTS 2006 Conference USA Coach of the Year Most wins (21) in first two seasons for any Tulsa coach Led Tulsa to a school record 11 wins in 2008 One of only 11 schools to post back-to-back 10+ win seasons (2007, 2008) Tulsa led the nation in total offense in consecutive seasons (2007, 2008) Tulsa scored a school record 661 points in 2008 Led Tulsa to two straight Conference USA West Division Titles (2007, 2008) Tulsa has established 46 school records I see what they are doing with their offense and I m amazed. They ve changed coaches. They have changed quarterbacks. Yet, every year, you see them right up there at the top of the nation in offense. I think Todd is doing a terrific job. John Cooper, former TU head coach and College Football Hall of Famer 76

3 In 2007, Tulsa had the nation s top offense as the Hurricane led the country in total offense with a yard average per game, while setting 29 school records, 15 C-USA marks and four NCAA records. In 2008, the Hurricane averaged another nation-leading yards per game, while scoring the second-most points nationally with a 47.1 average and also ranking fifth for rushing (268.0) and ninth for passing (301.8). Tulsa s 661 points in 2008 was a school record, and the second-most in the modern era of the NCAA, second only to Oklahoma s 2008 total of 716 points. Graham s association with Tulsa football doesn t just include the last two seasons. When the Tulsa head coaching position was vacant following the 2002 season, Todd Graham sent in his Graham s Collegiate Coaching Record Year-By-Year Year School Position Record Postseason 1991 East Central Defensive Coordinator East Central Defensive Coordinator 6-3 OIC Champions 1993 East Central Defensive Coordinator 10-3 NAIA Champions 2001 West Virginia Linebackers West Virginia Co-Defensive Coord. & Safeties 9-4 Continental Tire Bowl 2003 Tulsa Asst. HC/Defensive Coord./Safeties 8-5 Humanitarian Bowl 2004 Tulsa Asst. HC/Defensive Coord./Safeties Tulsa Asst. HC/Defensive Coord./Safeties 9-4 C-USA Champions, Liberty Bowl 2006 Rice Head Coach 7-6 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl 2007 Tulsa Head Coach 10-4 C-USA West Champions, GMAC Bowl 2008 Tulsa Head Coach 11-3 C-USA West Champions, GMAC Bowl application. But it was not until five years later that Graham would take over the reigns as the Golden Hurricane head coach. However, Graham did come to Tulsa for the 2003 season, but as the Hurricane assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under first-year coach Steve Kragthorpe. Graham s blueprint on the program was evident as he built one of the best defensive units in Conference USA and the nation before leaving the position following his third year at Tulsa. Following the 2005 campaign, Graham left the Tulsa program to become the head coach at Rice University a day after helping the Hurricane post an impressive win and outstanding defensive performance against Fresno State in the 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. At Rice, he led the Owls to an overall 7-6 record and the school s first bowl berth in 45 years, thus earning Conference USA Coach of the Year honors. After beginning the season with an 0-4 mark, Graham led a turnaround that saw the Owls win seven of its next nine games, including six straight. After a year away, Graham was introduced as The University of Tulsa s new head football coach on January 12, 2007, becoming the 27th head football coach in Golden Hurricane history. Graham has played major roles in reversing the fortunes of struggling programs, starting with his first college coaching job at East Central University in Ada, Okla. His three seasons as the Tigers defensive coordinator saw ECU improve from a break-even program to the NAIA national championship in As head coach and athletics director at Allen (Texas) High School, Graham led a program that had no district wins in the year prior to his arrival to five playoff berths in six seasons. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 77

4 At West Virginia University, under Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, Graham helped the Mountaineers improve from a 3-8 mark to a 9-4 record in his second season. At Tulsa under Kragthorpe, the Hurricane jumped from 1-11 in 2002 prior to his arrival, to an 8-4 record in 03. Both the WVU and Tulsa turnarounds were the best in NCAA Division I in those seasons. In each of his three seasons ( ) as Tulsa s defensive coordinator, the Hurricane ranked among the nation s top-25 in pass defense and showed continual improvement in all areas defensively. Nationally, the Tulsa defense ranked third in takeaways and interceptions, 11th in pass defense efficiency, 17th in pass defense, 40th in total defense and 43rd in scoring defense for the 2005 campaign. Before the 2003 season, Graham spent two years as an assistant coach at West Virginia, while serving as co-defensive coordinator, defensive scheme coordinator and safeties coach in 2002, and where he coached the linebackers during the 2001 season. In 2002, the Mountaineer defense ranked 33rd nationally in total defense and 30th in rush defense. He helped WVU register a 9-4 record with wins over nationally-ranked Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh in Before his move back to the collegiate ranks, Graham was highly successful at Allen High School in his six years ( ). His teams made five playoff appearances and won two bi-district championships. In 2000, Allen posted a 9-3 record and captured the 5A Division II bi-district title while defeating four teams ranked among the top-10 in the state of Texas. Previously, he was the head coach at Carl Albert (Okla.) High School in 1994, ranking 10th in the state s final class 5A poll. Question & Answer with Head Coach Todd Graham When did you first know that you wanted to be a football coach? The August before my seventh grade year I met a guy named Buddy Copeland (the seventh grade football coach at McDonald Middle School in Mesquite, Texas). Buddy was the best teacher, best coach and best man I ever met and have known in my life. He had a way that he could chew you out and hug your neck all in the same sentence. He had passion for coaching. He was tough. He taught me about not feeling sorry for yourself and not making excuses. The way I looked at Buddy from the time I was in seventh grade, I knew I wanted to be a football coach. I knew I wanted to be a head football coach at a Division I college. What is your recruiting philosophy at Tulsa? We re going to recruit guys that have great character, that embrace a passion for work ethic, their academics are important to them, that they have great speed and explosive power and have the ability to play the game of football. If a guy doesn t not like to work hard, then he s going to be miserable at The University of Tulsa. If academics aren t important to him, then he doesn t fit here. What is your football philosophy? My basic philosophy, which we write on the wall, is... We want to be the hardest working, most disciplined, best conditioned team in the country. We want to be relentless in our efforts and we want to be physical. It s very simple, but it s very hard to get accomplished. What you get done on a daily basis is the key. I think having great character and being smart is a talent. We want to have guys that have great character and are smart, and do what they re coached to do right the first time. That s how you win games in a team sport you get all 11 guys to do what they re supposed to do right the first time and that involves work ethic, discipline and passion. What makes Todd Graham tick? First and foremost is my faith and family. My family is what motivates me to work every day. I have such a great sense of pride in who I am. I m a Graham boy. My family is very, very close. The love I have for my mother, my siblings, for my wife and for my kids is what makes me tick. I ll be honest. My football family is just an extension of that. Sometimes, I ve been guilty of being better to my football kids than my own kids. It s a way of life. Football and competing, and the relationships make me tick. I try real hard in my life to put faith at the top. It s very, very important to me. I know that God has blessed me in my From , Graham was an assistant coach at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, where those teams compiled a 25-5 record. A native of the Dallas-Forth Worth area, Graham was an all-state defensive back at North Mesquite High School. He went on to play at East Central University, where he was a two-year NAIA All-America defensive back and three-time all-conference performer. He signed as a free agent with the NFL s St. Louis Cardinals. Graham, 44, earned both his bachelor s and master s degrees in education at East Central University. He and his wife, Penni, have six children: Bo, Natalie, Hank, Haylee, Dakota and Michael Todd Jr. TU President Steadman Upham hoists the 2009 GMAC Bowl trophy. 78

5 life because I really shouldn t be doing what I m doing when you see where I come from. When I say family, there s not a whole lot of difference between my mother, brothers and sister, wife and kids to my football family. What s neat about my family is they embrace that. My mom knows every guy on the team. They don t know her, but she knows them. My wife comes to practice. My little boy suits up for practice. It s a way of life. I tell people our staff is unique because of the relationships we have. We ve all been together off and on throughout the years. We truly are a family. This family has one purpose and cause, and that s to make a difference in the lives of the players that we impact everyday. Aside from Buddy Copeland who has had the most influence on you in the game of football? The guys that I admired growing up were Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. Obviously, I didn t know them but they were guys I admired. I think Rich Rodriguez had a big impact on my career. I learned about having a vision and a passion, and developing toughness and how important that is in this game. My high school head coach, Gary Childress, I learned from him that complexity and organization makes simplicity for operations. Organization is what I learned from him. I learned poise from Steve Kragthorpe. He really trusted me, and he had great poise. I think you take a little bit from every place you ve been, but Bubby Copeland had the biggest impact. Who were the most influential people in your personal life? It would be my family. My mother, my brothers and my sister have had the biggest impact. When I think of my mom, I think of perseverance. She is a lady that had to take care of her family and raise five kids when my dad left. She taught me how to be tough too. I tell the story of when I laid down on the field, and I got up and ran off the field and everyone applauded. I thought she was coming down to check on me, but she came down and told me don t you ever embarrass me like that again. If you re hurt, you get up. If you re really hurt you ll fall back down. I wouldn t be sitting where I am today if not for my brothers. They gave me the spirit of competition. We competed every day of my life. We grew up rough and they gave me that passion for competing. I was the smallest of four boys. I was 0-38 in fights with my brothers, but the most important thing about that is I fought them 38 times. My younger sister has always been my cheerleader. We all have the same passion for life and our philosophies are similar in how we approach things. You read quite a bit. What do you read? My favorite book to read is the Bible. I read the Bible a lot. Not just spiritually, but I think there are so many things in the Bible that is common ground for building a winning attitude. I ve read every Joe Gibbs book. His books are a favorite of mine. I ve read Bill Belichick s book, Bo Schembechler s book. Bear Bryant s book, which was actually written by Gene Stallings. When I took this job I read The Undefeated by Jim Dent. I don t read novels and fiction. It s normally books about leadership and positive thinking. A lot of my reading is faith-based reading -- books by Joel Olsteen and Jack Graham. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 79

6 paul Randolph Senior Associate Head Coach Defense and Defensive Line Coach Third Year Paul Randolph is in his third season at The University of Tulsa as senior associate head coach defense and defensive line coach and his 12th season coaching on the collegiate level. In his first two years, Randolph coached two-time second-team all-conference USA selection Moton Hopkins at defensive end. Randolph s defensive front helped the Hurricane defense rank second in Conference USA and 37th nationally in rush defense in Randolph spent the 2006 campaign as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Rice University, where he guided the Owls development in the defensive scheme. At Rice, he helped lead the Owls to a 7-6 record and the school s first bowl game appearance in 45 years. He moved to Rice after three seasons as the defensive ends coach at the University of Alabama ( ), where he helped develop one of the top defenses in the country. In 2005, Alabama led the nation in scoring defense (10.7 points per game) and was second in total defense Randolph File Alma Mater: Tennessee-Martin 90 Birthdate: June 22, 1966 Hometown: Gainesville, Ga. College Coaching Experience: 11 years ( ). Entering third year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Two-year starter as a linebacker at Tennessee-Martin ( ). Was a two-year all-gulf South Conference selection. Bowl Games as a Coach 2001 Motor City Bowl (Toledo) 2002 Continental Tire Bowl (West Virginia) 2004 Music City Bowl (Alabama) 2005 Cotton Bowl (Alabama) 2006 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (Rice) 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) (255.1 yards per game). The Crimson Tide also ranked in the top 10 in rushing defense (ninth, 94.3 yards per game) and pass defense (fifth, yards per game) on its way to a victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. Alabama was also second nationally in total defense in In the spring of 2004, Randolph was named as one of Rivals.com top-25 recruiters. Before his three-year stint at Alabama, Randolph also coached at West Virginia, Toledo, Illinois State, Valdosta State and Tennessee-Martin. In his coaching career, Randolph has coached in six bowl games, including the 2001 Motor City Bowl with Toledo; the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl with West Virginia; the 2004 Music City Bowl; the 2006 Cotton Bowl with Alabama; R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl with Rice in 2006 and the GMAC Bowl with Tulsa in each of the last two seasons. He played 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League, eight with Winnipeg ( ). He helped the Blue Bombers win Grey Cup titles in 1988 and 90. Then came two seasons ( ) as team captain and an all-conference performer with the Montreal Alouettes. He was inducted into the Tennessee-Martin Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Winnepeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in Randolph, 43, received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering technology from the University of Tennessee-Martin in He and his wife, Mia, have two children: son, Patrick, a junior at Rice University, and a daughter, Mya. 80

7 herb Hand Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Third Year Herb Hand is in his third season at the University of Tulsa. Hand joined the Tulsa coaching staff as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in January 2007, and this year will serve as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Last year, Hand was also the director of recruiting. In his 20-year coaching career, Hand has coached 14 all-conference players, four All-Americans and two Academic All-Americans. In his first two years at Tulsa, he coached an offensive line that paved the way for the nation s No. 1-ranked offense both years. The Hurricane totaled yards per game in 2007 and last year averaged Tulsa was also the nation s second-ranked scoring team in 2008 with an average of 47.2 points, while ranking fifth nationally in rushing at 268 yards per game. Tulsa s 2008 offense ranked first among Conference USA schools for rushing, scoring and total offense. Before coming to Tulsa, Hand spent six seasons as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia. He helped the Mountaineers reach five straight Bowl Games and three Big East Conference Champions. He was a member of the WVU coaching staff that won 11 games in consecutive seasons ( ), winning more than 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. While at West Virginia, Hand coached in three Gator Bowls, one Continental Tire Bowl and one Sugar Bowl. In 2006, West Virginia finished with an 11-2 record and was among the nation s top-10 teams for most of the season. He helped lead an offense that ranked second nationally in rushing (303.0 ypg), third in scoring (38.8 ppg) and fourth in total offense (461.3). A year earlier, WVU posted an 11-1 record and was ranked fifth nationally, after winning the Sugar Bowl against Georgia Prior to moving to West Virginia, Hand served as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson in , as the Tigers participated in the 1999 Peach Bowl and 2000 Gator Bowl. Before that, he was defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Concord College for two seasons ( ). From , Hand served as defensive coordinator at Glenville State, where he helped coach the squad to three WVIAC Championships. Previously, Hand was a graduate assistant coach for three seasons ( ) at West Virginia Wesleyan where he coached the linebackers. Hand began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Framingham South (Mass.) High School in 1990, before moving onto the collegiate level. Hand File Alma Mater: Hamilton College 90 Birthdate: January 5, 1968 Hometown: Westmoreland, NY College Coaching Experience: 18 years ( ). Entering his third year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: A three-year letterwinner and starter as an offensive tackle at Hamilton College ( ). He was an allconference selection, College Football Preview All-American and team captain in Bowl Games as a Coach 1999 Peach Bowl (Clemson) 2001 Gator Bowl (Clemson) 2002 Continental Tire Bowl (West Virginia) 2003 Gator Bowl (West Virginia) 2004 Gator Bowl (West Virginia) 2005 Sugar Bowl (West Virginia) 2006 Gator Bowl (West Virginia) 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) A 1990 Hamilton College graduate, Hand received his bachelor s degree in history, and a master s degree in 1993 from West Virginia Wesleyan in business administration. Hand, 41, and his wife, Debbie, have three children: sons, Trey and Cade, and daughter Bailey. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 81

8 keith Patterson Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Seventh Year Keith Patterson is in his seventh year at The University of Tulsa. Patterson serves as defensive coordinator for the Hurricane, a position he has held for the past three seasons. Patterson also coaches the safeties. Last year, Tulsa s defensive ranked fist against the run in Conference USA and was the league s fifth-best total defense. Patterson has coached nine players to all-conference honors in his six seasons, including two first-team all-conference linebackers in 2007 in the likes of Chris Chamberlain and Nelson Coleman. He was promoted to defensive coordinator on Jan. 1, 2006, the day following Tulsa s win over Fresno State, 31-24, in the 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Patterson spent the 2006 campaign also coaching the safeties. In 2006, Tulsa s defense led Conference USA in total defense and pass defense under Patterson s guidance. Tulsa was second in scoring defense and third in rush defense. The Hurricane ranked 11th nationally in pass defense and 21st in total defense, allowing only passing yards and total yards. In 2005 as Tulsa s linebacker coach, Patterson was instrumental in helping the Tulsa defensive unit rank among the tops in C-USA and nationally. That year, Tulsa was first in C-USA for takeaways, pass defense and pass defense efficiency; second in total defense and third in scoring defense. Patterson File Alma Mater: East Central 86 Birthdate: May 20, 1964 Hometown: Marlow, Oklahoma College Coaching Experience: 8 years ( , ). Entering seventh year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Four-year letterman and starter as a defensive back ( ). He served as team captain his junior and senior seasons, and was a member of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference Champions in 1984 and 85. Bowl Games as a Coach 2003 Humanitarian Bowl (Tulsa) 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Tulsa) 2006 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Tulsa) 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) Patterson, 45, came to Tulsa with 16 years coaching experience on the prep level in Oklahoma and Texas. He spent two years (2000 and 02) as linebackers, defensive backs and special teams coach at Allen (Texas) High School. He also coached at Allen High School from He spent three of his five seasons at Allen coaching under current Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham. Before that, he was the head football coach at Ardmore (Okla.) High School for three seasons ( ). At Ardmore, Patterson led his team to the District 5A-1 Championship in 1999, while earning district Coach of the Year honors. In 1994, Patterson was the head coach at Edmond Santa Fe (Okla.) High School. Prior to that, he served as defensive secondary coach at Edmond Memorial High School for two seasons ( ). He began his high school coaching career in 1988 at Altus (Okla.) High School where he coached the outside linebackers and defensive backs for four years. He helped lead Altus to a state runner-up finish in Class 4A, while helping Edmond Memorial to a Class 6A runner-up finish in He received his bachelor s degree in health, physical education and recreation from East Central (Okla.) University in Patterson was a four-year letterman at defensive back at ECU from 1982 through In 1986, he served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater. Patterson earned his master s degree in kinesiology and sport studies in 2003 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Patterson and his wife, Melissa, have four children: daughters Fallon, Bretlie and Erin; and son Kelby. 82

9 ron West Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach First Year Ron West brings 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to The University of Tulsa. West begins his first season as Tulsa s codefensive coordinator and linebackers coach. West has 14 years experience coaching on defense, including seven seasons as a coordinator, and 16 years on the offensive side of the ball. He spent the past 10 seasons on the coaching staff at Clemson University ( ), helping the Tigers win 76 games and play in nine bowl games. West coached on both sides of the ball at Clemson. A 1979 graduate of Clemson, West began his stint on the Tigers coaching staff as offensive line coach in He coached the offensive line for five seasons and spent his final five years on the defensive side of the ball. While on the defensive coaching staff at Clemson, West coached the outside linebackers. In 2005, the Clemson defense finished among the top-25 in six defensive categories. In 2006, West coached one of the greatest players in Clemson history, Gaines Adams, who became the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. The Clemson defense was in the top-25 in all four major categories, including a top-10 finish in scoring defense and total defense in Last year, West served as outside linebackers coach for a Clemson team that posted a 7-6 record and played Nebraska in the Gator Bowl, a game in which he also served as co-defensive coordinator. The Tigers defense was among the nation s best in 2008, ranking 10th in pass efficiency defense, 12th in pass defense, 13th in scoring defense and 18th in total defense. Prior to Clemson, West spent two years on Tommy Bowden s coaching staff at Tulane University ( ), where he coached the offensive line. His influence as line coach saw the Green Wave total nearly 4,700 yards and a school record 375 points in his first season. A year later, Tulane posted a 12-0 record as the offensive line helped pave the way for an offense that averaged over 300 passing yards and 200 rushing yards. West began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at West Alabama in He was at East Carolina in December of 1979, then became the offen- sive line coach at North Texas in the spring of In 1981, West joined the Texas Tech coaching staff as the offensive line coach. He served in that capacity for four years before moving to defense in 1985 as assistant linebackers coach. His next stop was at Louisiana-Lafayette where he spent seven seasons ( ) as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. His defenses were ranked among the nation s top-20 in total defense three times. In 1992, West added the title of assistant head coach. West joined the Baylor coaching staff for four seasons ( ) as offensive line coach and served as the co-offensive coordinator in charge of the running game in his final year. In 1994, the Baylor Bears were co-southwest Conference Champions and played in the Alamo Bowl. During his playing career, West was a reserve offensive lineman in 1977 and 1978 for the Clemson Tigers after transferring from Marion Institute, where West File Birthdate: Clemson 79 Birthdate: February, 12, 1957 Hometown: East Point, Georgia College Coaching Experience: 30 years ( ). Entering his first year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Was an offensive lineman at Clemson ( ). Bowl Games as a Player 1977 Gator Bowl 1978 Gator Bowl Bowl Games as a Coach 1994 Alamo Bowl (Baylor) 1998 Liberty Bowl (Tulane) 1999 Peach Bowl (Clemson) 2001 Gator Bowl (Clemson) 2001 Humanitarian Bowl (Clemson) 2002 Tangerine Bowl (Clemson) 2004 Peach Bowl (Clemson) 2005 Champs Sports Bowl (Clemson) 2006 Music City Bowl (Clemson) 2006 Hula Bowl All-Star Game 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl (Clemson) 2008 Toyota Gator Bowl (Clemson) he earned junior college All-America accolades. He started two games as a senior and helped Clemson post an 11-1 record and No. 6 national ranking in the final Associated Press poll. West, 52, and his wife, Becky, have two adult children: Brad and Lori. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 83

10 BILL Blankenship Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach Third Year Bill Blankenship is in his third season at The University of Tulsa, but his first as assistant head coach and running backs coach. Blankenship is in his second year serving as the special teams coordinator. Blankenship, a former Tulsa quarterback, returned to his alma mater in January 2007 and coached the Hurricane wide receivers in his first year. Under his guidance, Tulsa ranked eighth nationally in kickoff return yardage last year. After the 2008 season, Blankenship was recognized by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame with the Merv Johnson Integrity in College Coaching Award. Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Blankenship spent 22 years as an Oklahoma High School coach. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in July Blankenship resigned as the head football coach at Tulsa s Union High School in December 2005 after leading his team to a second consecutive state championship at the Oklahoma Class 6A school. As a head coach on the prep level, Blankenship compiled a record, including a 10-win average per season for his last 20 years, appeared in the state championship game eight times and won three state titles. He spent 14 years as the head football coach and athletic director at Union High School, where he registered a record of His teams qualified for the state playoffs 14 times, reached the quarterfinals 10 times and the semifinals in nine seasons. Blankenship s teams made the state championship game seven times. He guided his Union team to Oklahoma Class 6A state titles in 2002, 2004 and Blankenship s teams at Union won eight straight District championships and had a 56-game home winning streak from 1997 through Blankenship had more than 100 student-athletes receive college scholarships in his 14 seasons at Union High School. Before moving to Union, Blankenship coached two seasons at Edmond Memorial High School and before that posted a mark in four seasons at Spiro High School. He also coached at Sapulpa High School and Eastwood Christian School. Blankenship File Alma Mater: Tulsa 79 Birthdate: December 12, 1956 Hometown: Spiro, Okla. College Coaching Experience: 2 years ( ). Entering his third year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Three-year letterwinner at Tulsa ( ). Was the starting quarterback in 1977 and Bowl Games as a Player 1976 Independence Bowl (Tulsa) Bowl Games as a Coach 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) Blankenship, 52, was a three-year letterman and quarterback at Tulsa during the seasons, starting in 1977 and 79. He earned a bachelor s degree in biology in 1979, and received a master s degree from Northeastern State in He and his wife, Angie, have three sons, all three of whom played college football. His oldest son, Josh, played quarterback at Tulsa before earning All- America honors at Eastern Washington University. Caleb was an all-conference tight end at Tulsa, while his youngest son, Adam, played at Illinois State. 84

11 clarence James Outside Receivers Coach and Director of Recruiting First Year School in Clarence James is in his first season at The University of Tulsa, joining the Golden Hurricane coaching staff in April He returns to the state of Oklahoma, where he was an allstate halfback at Okmulgee Dunbar High James coaches the outside receivers and serves as the director of recruiting for the Golden Hurricane. He brings 29 years of collegiate coaching experience to Tulsa. His last coaching stop was at SMU, where he spent six seasons ( ) as an offensive assistant James File Alma Mater: Langston 73 Birthdate: May 10, 1950 Hometown: Okmulgee, Okla. College Coaching Experience: 29 years ( , ). Entering his first year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Was an all-conference running back at Langston University ( ). Bowl Games as a Coach 1986 Independence Bowl (Texas Tech) 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl (Texas) 1991 Cotton Bowl (Texas) 1993 John Hancock Sun Bowl (Oklahoma) 1994 Copper Bowl (Oklahoma) coach. He spent his first two seasons as the wide receiver coach and the last four as running backs coach for the Mustangs. In 2005, he coached Freshman All-America running back DeMyron Martin at SMU. Before joining the Mustangs coaching staff, James spent the 2001 campaign as the receivers coach at Kansas. Before that, he spent the 2000 season coaching on the high school level as the assistant head coach at Allen (Texas) High School under current Hurricane Head Coach Todd Graham. James spent seven seasons as the wide receiver coach at Oklahoma ( ) and in the five previous years coached that same position at the University of Texas ( ). Prior to that, James was on the coaching staff at Texas Tech for six years ( ), first as the defensive ends coach and later as the receivers coach. His first collegiate coaching job came as the defensive ends coach at North Texas State from the 1978 through the 1980 season. James was an all-conference running back at Langston University and earned his bachelor s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the school in He was drafted in the 17th round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers in the intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 85

12 bob McClain Tight Ends Coach and Recruiting Coordinator First Year Bob McClain is in his first season as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Golden Hurricane. He was appointed to his present position in March McClain is reunited with Graham and Tulsa s Offensive Coordinator Herb Hand, all three of whom previously worked together at West Virginia University. McClain File Alma Mater: Waynesburg 96 Birthdate: June 27, 1974 Hometown: Salem, WV College Coaching Experience: 9 years ( ). Entering his first year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Played varsity baseball at Salem Teiyko University for two years ( ). Transferred to Waynesburg College and played defensive back for two years ( ). Bowl Games as a Coach 2002 Continental Tire Bowl (West Virginia) 2003 Gator Bowl (West Virginia) 2004 Gator Bowl (West Virginia) 2005 Sugar Bowl (West Virginia) McClain spent the 2008 season as the special teams and offensive quality control coach at the University of Michigan. He assisted with coaching the tight ends and special teams for the Wolverines. Before that, McClain spent two seasons ( ) as the offensive coordinator at Glenville State College in West Virginia, where he also served as recruiting coordinator. He tutored the offensive line, tight ends and running backs in his two-year tenure, and had six athletes earn all-conference accolades in those two seasons. Previously, McClain spent six seasons at West Virginia ( ). His final three years were spent as an offensive graduate assistant coach, where he worked with the offensive line and tight end positions. McClain s first two years at WVU was spent as an offensive video graduate assistant, while also assisting with coaching the offensive line and tight ends. He began his stint at West Virginia as an academic graduate assistant in September At West Virginia, McClain was a part of four Bowl teams and three Big East Conference Championships, one outright and two shared titles. McClain earned his bachelor s degree from Waynesburg College (Pa.) in business is He also received three master s degrees from West Virginia, earning degrees in secondary education, elementary education and educational leadership. 86

13 mike Norvell Passing Game Coordinator and Inside Receivers Coach Third Year Mike Norvell is in his third season on The University of Tulsa coaching staff, but his first as a full-time assistant coach. Norvell coached the wide receivers for the Golden Hurricane a year ago as a graduate assistant coach, and assisted coaching the receivers in Last year, Norvell tutored a receiving corps that was part of the nation s top offensive unit by averaging yards and second in the nation in scoring at 47.2 points per game. Senior receiver Brennan Marion amassed a team-leading 1,112 yards while earning first-team all-conference USA accolades. Norvell also coached Freshman All-American Damaris Johnson, who caught 53 passes for 743 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns as a true freshman. In 2007, Norvell served as assistant receivers coach in his first year as an offensive graduate assistant. It was a year that saw Tulsa produce three 1,000-yard receivers while the Hurricane led the nation in total offense. Before coming to Tulsa, Norvell spent the 2006 campaign as a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas where he helped coach the receivers and H-Backs. He also coached positions on kickoff, punt return and kickoff cover teams. Norvell File Alma Mater: Central Arkansas 05 Birthdate: October 11, 1981 Hometown: Irving, Texas College Coaching Experience: 3 years ( ). Entering his third year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Was a four-year starting receiver and became the school s career leader for receptions with 213 and third for receiving yards with 2,611 at Central Arkansas ( ). Bowl Games as a Coach 2008 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) Norvell was a four-year starter on the Central Arkansas football team from He completed his career as the UCA career record-holder for receptions and ranked third all-time for receiver yards, as he caught 213 passes for 2,611 yards. Norvell twice earned firstteam Academic all-gulf South Conference honors, was named second-team all conference in 2004 and was the Conference Freshman of the Year in He earned his bachelor s degree of education in social studies in 2005 and a master s of science degree in training systems in 2007, both from UCA. Norvell s wife s name is Maria. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 87

14 galen Scott cornerback COACH Second Year Galen Scott is in his second season as an assistant coach at Tulsa and tutors the cornerbacks for the Golden Hurricane. Scott coached the outside linebackers/safeties for the Hurricane last year. In 2008, he coached safety James Lockett, who earned second-team all-conference USA honors, while leading the Hurricane in tackles for lost yards, sacks and forced fumbles. Lockett was also 10th in the nation for caused fumbles. Before coming to Tulsa, Scott spent seven years on the coaching staff at Illinois State while serving the past two seasons as the Redbirds defensive coordinator. The 2005 AFCA I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year is one of the most decorated players to ever wear a uniform at Illinois State. Scott owned the career tackles record until 2004 when one of his players, Boomer Grigsby, broke the mark. Scott, who coached under former Tulsa football offensive lineman Denver Johnson, helped mold Grigsby into an unprecedented three-time Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year award winner and a consensus all-american. With the graduation of Grigsby after the 2004 campaign, Scott continued his trend with Cameron Siskowic, who won the 2006 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year award. A two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, Siskowic led the Gateway in tackles both in 2005 and 2006, giving the Redbirds the league leader in stops for the fifth straight season. In 2006, his first season as the defensive coordinator, Scott s Redbird defense ranked No. 3 in the conference in total defense and No. 2 in scoring defense allowing only 19.7 points per game. During Scott s four-year playing career ( ), he set ISU records for tackles in a game, season and career from his linebacker position. He also helped the Redbirds win their first Gateway Football Conference Championship (1999) and a pair of appearances in the NCAA I-AA playoffs (1998, 1999). Scott was a four-time All-American and was only the fifth player in school history to earn All-America status in at least three different seasons. He also snagged All- Gateway Football Conference honors in each of his four seasons and was a member of the 1997 All-Gateway Newcomer team. Scott File Alma Mater: Illinois State 01 Birthdate: July 9, 1979 Hometown: Orlando, Fla. College Coaching Experience: 8 years ( ). Entering his second year at Tulsa. Playing Experience: Was a four-year All-America linebacker at Illinois State ( ). Bowl Games as a Coach 2009 GMAC Bowl (Tulsa) An honor roll student during his career, he set the single-game Illinois State tackle record of 27 and the season tackle record at 186. He was the first Illinois State player to exceed 500 career tackles and his final figure was 109 more than that posted by the previous record holder. Scott, 30, received his bachelor s degree in health education and his master s degrees in sports administration, both from Illinois State. He hails from Orlando, Fla., where he was an all-state selection at Evans High School as a senior. He and his wife, Tashauna, were married in June

15 Shawn Griswold Director of Strength and Conditioning Second Year Shawn Griswold is in his second stint at The University of Tulsa as the Director of Strength and Conditioning. Griswold returned to TU prior to the 2008 season after spending the 2007 campaign at the University of Louisville. Griswold handles the strength and conditioning development for the Golden Hurricane football program, and oversees the entire strength and conditioning program at Tulsa. Griswold has been a part of three bowl games with the Golden Hurricane, including the 2005 Liberty Bowl, 2006 Armed Forces Bowl and the 2009 GMAC Bowl. He was also on the staff when the Hurricane won the 2005 Conference USA Championship. In his first stint, Griswold spent three years as Tulsa s director of strength and conditioning. He first came to Tulsa in May 2004 after spending five years as the head strength and conditioning coordinator at Utah State. He oversaw the athletic development for 16 varsity sports, and was directly responsible for designing the strength and conditioning program for football, basketball and volleyball. Previously, he was the assistant strength and conditioning coordinator at Utah State for one year, and before that he served as a graduate assistant coach at the school for two years. Griswold earned both his bachelor s and master s degrees from Utah State, where he also played football. He received a bachelor s degree in exercise science in 1996, and a master s of science degree in Griswold and his wife, Angie, have two children: Jaxson and Mollie. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 89

16 Joe Walker Director of Football Operations Second Year Joe Walker is in his second season as the director of football operations at The University of Tulsa. Walker came to Tulsa from the University of Texas, where he spent three seasons as defensive graduate assistant and defensive quality control coach for the Longhorns. While serving on the defensive staff, Walker was a part of three bowl championships as well as the national championship season of He helped coach all-big XII defensive backs Marcus Griffin, Michael Griffin, Cedric Griffin and the only back-to-back Thorpe Award winners, Michael Huff and Aaron Ross. Before that, Walker spent three years at Houston s North Shore High School, his alma mater, as a teacher and assistant football, track and basketball coach. While there, North Shore posted a 38-2 record and were the 2003 Class 5A state champions, finishing with a 15-0 record and a No. 6 national ranking by USA Today. Walker was a four-year letterwinner at Texas as a defensive back, and played in three bowl games. He earned his bachelor s degree from Texas in Applied Learning and Development in May Jess Loepp Director of high school relations First Year Jess Loepp returns to The University of Tulsa for his third stint with the Golden Hurricane. Loepp will serve as the Director of High School Relations. Last year, Loepp served as assistant football coach and strength coordinator at Lake Travis High School in Texas. He helped lead that team to the Class 4A Division I State Championship, a 16-0 record and a top-10 ranking in most national prep polls, with the highest being third nationally. In 2007, Loepp coached the Hurricane safeties and also served as Tulsa s recruiting coordinator. He helped Tulsa post a 10-4 record, reach the Conference USA Championship game and win the GMAC Bowl. The year before, Loepp was an assistant coach at Rice University in 2006, where he coached the Owls safeties and served as recruiting coordinator. At Rice, he helped coach a team that made a bowl game appearance for the first time in 45 years. Loepp first came to Tulsa in 2003, where served under Graham as defensive graduate assistant coach for three years. He was a part of Tulsa s C-USA Championship team in 2005 as well as two bowl game appearances, including the 2003 Humanitarian Bowl and 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Before coming to Tulsa for his first stint, Loepp held his first coaching position at the Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid as a volunteer assistant coach. He coached the linebackers and receivers. Loepp, 31, attended the University of Central Oklahoma and was an all-lone Star Conference performer at linebacker. He helped UCO win league titles in 1998 and 99. He earned his bachelor s degree at UCO in 2000 and completed his graduate work at Tulsa in He and his wife, Kelly Lynn, were married in June football support staff Tammi Sinclair Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach Dannie Schultz Department Assistant Alex Hodge Director of Football Video David Johnson Offensive Graduate Assistant/Quaterback Coach Bobby Klinck Defensive Graduate Assistant Chris Gunter Offensive Quality Control Adam Jenkins Defensive Quality Control Ulysses Allen Recruiting Graduate Assistant Justin Morsey Video/Strength Graduate Assistant 90

17 Lawrence (Bubba) Cunningham Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham is in his fifth year as the Director of Athletics at The University of Tulsa. He was named to the position on October 7, 2005, and began his tenure at Tulsa on November 11, Cunningham came to Tulsa following three years as the athletics director at Ball State University. In June 2009, Cunningham was honored as the FBS Central Region Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year, an award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics at the Annual NACDA Convention. During his tenure at Tulsa, Cunningham has guided TU through its infancy of membership in Conference USA and has spearheaded a $60 million athletics initiative, which included a $20 million renovation to Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, a goal of $20 million for an athletics scholarship endowment and $20 million for coach s salary endowment. Cunningham has implemented and continues developing a strategic plan for personal and professional growth and development for TU s student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff. He also continues developing relationships with national sponsors. During Cunningham s four years, Tulsa has won a leaguebest 25 Conference USA Championships. In addition, the sports of men s and women s basketball, men s cross country, men s and women s golf, men s soccer, softball, men s and women s tennis and volleyball have made national post-season tournament play. In the last four seasons, the Tulsa football team has made four straight Bowl appearances, winning three of those games. In December 2005, Cunningham spearheaded a ticket campaign that saw over 15,000 Golden Hurricane fans storm Memphis, Tennessee for the 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In the spring of 2006, he oversaw Tulsa s fundraising campaign that surpassed a goal of $2.2 million, and in each year since then the annual campaign continues to meet its fundraising goals. Academic success has thrived under Cunningham s leadership. Tulsa has 15 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America performers over the last four years, while each year more than 150 student-athletes have earned Conference USA Commissioner s Honor Roll accolades, including a high of 176 for the academic year. Tulsa has had a total of 11 student-athletes earn C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year honors. as the Hurricane ranked 61st with points in the final standings. Bubba Cunningham s leadership has resulted in unparalleled achievement for TU sports, said The University of Tulsa President Steadman Upham. Our student-athletes achieve top honors in the classroom, our teams win championships, and our community supports the Golden Hurricane as fans and donors. Bubba s commitment to excellence is reflected in all aspects of our program. Since Cunningham s arrival, Tulsa has also hosted conference, regional and national events. TU has hosted Conference USA Championships for men s soccer, women s basketball and golf, men s and women s tennis and track and field. Tulsa also hosted NCAA Men s Tennis Regional Tournaments and the 2008 NCAA Men s and Women s Tennis National Championship. The school and the Tulsa Sports Commission will host the 2010 C-USA Men s and Women s Basketball Tournaments. In his tenure at Ball State, Cunningham guided a program with 19 intercollegiate sports and a budget of $12.4 million. In his final year, Ball State completed a $12M campaign to renovate the football stadium. In raising those funds, Cunningham secured the largest single gift in Ball State Athletics history. Ball State continued its rich academic and athletic tradition under Cunningham s guidance. Cardinal teams had an average Academic Performance Rate (APR) Index of 983 with 12 programs at a rating of 1,000. He implemented a variety of firsts for the Cardinals. The football team played the first-ever night game in Ball State Stadium and the first-ever weeknight home game in the university s 78-year history in Cunningham also developed and implemented a marketing plan for a record football attendance mark in He was able to secure funding exclusively from private donors to have permanent lights installed at Ball State Stadium. Prior to his appointment at Ball State, Cunningham spent 15 years working in the athletics department at the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame between , Cunningham served as associate director of athletics for external affairs. He renegotiated the school s footwear contract, developed a communications and marketing plan, created marketing teams for all 26 varsity sports, increased corporate sponsorship income, created a financial/equity plan for the department and served as chairman of the NCAA Division I Women s Golf Committee. Before that, he served as associate athletics director for finance and facilities ( ). In that time, Cunningham was responsible for a $30 million budget and all business affairs. In that capacity, Cunningham was responsible for developing and implementing an equity plan to meet Title IX requirements, completed the master plan for Notre Dame athletic facilities, coordinated the bid process and negotiation with Westwood for football radio rights and helped plan and complete the $50 million renovation and 20,000 seat expansion of Notre Dame Stadium. He also coordinated the planning and construction of the Warren Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course on the Notre Dame campus. Cunningham earned his bachelor s and master s degrees in business administration, both from Notre Dame, in 1984 and 1988, respectively. He played on the Irish golf team in Cunningham serves on the NCAA Division I Men s Golf Committee and a member of the Rotary Club of Tulsa. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Tulsa Sports Commission, the Alzheimers Association of Oklahoma Board of Directors and the Folds of Honor Foundation Board. Cunningham also served on the Gatorade National Advisory Board and has been a featured speaker at numerous NACDA and I-A institute conferences. Born in Flint, Mich., and raised in Naples, Fla., Cunningham and his wife, Tina, have four children: Matthew, Michael, John and Sarah. intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media Tulsa had the school s best-ever ranking in the Learfield Sports Directors Cup Standings for the season, 91

18 tulsa athletics staff Gretchen Altevogt Assistant Athletic Trainer Paul Arndorfer Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Chris Becker Director of Video Services Bill Brogden Assistant Athletic Director Nathan Brooks Media Relations Assistant Laura Campbell Student Services GA Christina Carter Assistant AD for Compliance Greg Criser Assistant Equipment Manager Melissa Dawson Associate AD for Student Services Trevor Dieleman Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Kyle Grooms Athletic Department GA Michael Grunewald Asst. Ticket Manager/ Business Stephanie Hall Asst. Director of Media Relations Edwin Henshaw Student Services GA Russ Hoffman Head Equipment Manager Eric Hollier Asst. Director of Media Relations Bruce Howard Director of Broadcasting Tommy Hudspeth Asst. Director of Development for Athletics Brian Kegler Director of Development for Athletics Jeana Lunsford Golden Hurricane Club Department Assistant April Merrill Student Services GA Megan Meussner Asst. Director of Golden Hurricane Club April Montgomery Athletic Department GA Teresa Moyer Athletic Department Assistant Schnea Nealy Director of Student-Athlete Development Chris Nerio Assistant Athletic Trainer Jacob Newby Assistant Athletic Trainer Ross Parmley Associate AD for Administration/Operations Travis Pelletier Strength & Conditioning GA Shawn Pfannenstiel Director of Ticket Sales/ Business 92

19 Dave Polanski Assistant AD for Student Health/Performance Patrice Swanson Olympic Sports Department Assistant Facilities Staff Terry Hossack Associate Vice President for Facilities Nick Salis Assistant AD for Operations/Event Services April Thompson Academic Coordinator/ Learning Specialist Juanita Brockman Administrative Assistant Golden Hurricane Properties Brian McKinnell General Manager Joey King Account Executive Dan Schinnerer Athletic Training GA Don Tomkalski Associate AD for Communications Dickey Lovell Facility Operations Specialist Brian Scislo Director of Golden Hurricane Club Crista Troester Associate AD for Compliance/SWA Jeff Ross Stadium Assistant Jessica Stanley Assistant Athletic Trainer Bonnie Williams Administrative Assistant to the Athletics Director Jamie Yocham Stadium Assistant Michael Stevenson Assistant AD for Academic Services Edgar Meza Stadium Assistant intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 93

20 university administration Dr. steadman Upham President Steadman Upham was named president of The University of Tulsa in June 2004, after having served for six years as president of Claremont Graduate University. Prior to this time, he was vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School and professor of archaeology at the University of Oregon. Dr. Upham has written numerous books and scholarly articles on the prehistory and archaeology of the American Southwest. He has received several awards for his teaching and research while serving as a faculty member at New Mexico State University and the University of Oregon. President Upham is a fellow of the American Anthropological Association, a member of Sigma Xi, the international honor society of scientific and engineering research, and a member of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. President Upham has provided extensive service to the scholarly professions. He has been president of both the National Physical Science Consortium and the Western Association of Graduate Schools. He was the 1999 chair of the Council of Graduate Schools Board of Directors, and has served in the executive committees of the Association of Graduate Schools of the Association of American Universities and the Council on Research Policy and Graduate Education of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. He also served as commissioner for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission. Dr. Upham is currently a director and member of the executive committee of the American Council on Education. He also serves as a national director of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Other directorships include the American Mutual Funds, Capital Group Companies; St. Francis Health System; Tulsa Chamber of Commerce; and Oklahoma Conference on Community and Justice. President Upham earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from Arizona State University in 1980, where he also earned an M.A. in the same field. He has a B.A. from the University of Redlands, Redlands, California where his major areas of study were English Literature and Spanish. He and his wife, Peggy are the parents of two children: Erin, a master s student in architecture at the University of Oregon, and Nathan, a doctoral student in evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago. Roger N. Blais Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevan Buck Executive Vice President and Treasurer Jacqueline Caldwell Executive Assistant to the President Duane King Vice President for Museum Affairs and Director, Gilcrease Museum Joan Nesbitt Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dale Schoenefeld Vice President for Information Services and CIO Al Soltow Vice President for Research Roger W. Sorochty Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Janis I. Zink Senior Vice President for Planning and Outreach Chris Anderson Faculty Athletics Representative 94

21 golden hurricane Review

22 game 1 tulsa 45 uab 22 August 30, 2008 Legion Field Birmingham, Ala. Attendance 19,672 Birmingham, Alabama Senior quarterback David Johnson made his starting debut and threw for 332 yards abd three touchdowns while leading Tulsa to a season-opening victory over UAB in front of 19,672 fans at legendary Legion Field. Tulsa scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to overcome a one-point halftime deficit. The Hurricane trailed at the intermission after Swayze Waters connected on a 32-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to put the Blazers ahead. The Hurricane came out of the locker room at halftime and took the kickoff 80 yards in seven plays in retaking the lead, 28-22, and never relinquished it again. For the game, Tulsa gained 601 yards and scored on seven of its 12 possessions. To start the game, the Blazers took the opening kickoff 92 yards in 12 plays in an elapsed time of 7:18 to take a 7-0 lead on a 32-yard pass from Joe Webb to Frantrell Forrest. Tulsa struck back on its first possession 77 yards in eight plays as Johnson hit Jacob Collums on a 10-yard strike in the end zone in taking just 3:10 off the clock. UAB wasted little time in equaling Tulsa s score and going ahead 13-7 on a nine-yard pass from Webb to Jeff Anderson, as the drive went 80 yards in seven plays, to close out the first quarter. It was Tulsa s time as the Hurricane took its first lead of the game on a 74-yard, four-play drive as Johnson threw the final five yards to Charles Clay, as Tracy put the Hurricane up one with the extra point. The Hurricane had a chance to go up by more as Tulsa moved the ball 82 yards to the UAB four-yard line, but failed to get the first down, thus turning the ball over on downs to the Blazers. When Tulsa got possession back, the Hurricane took four plays to go 52 yards as Tarrion Adams ran over from three yards out for a lead. UAB s Forrest took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, but the Blazers two-point conversion was snuffed, as Tulsa held a advantage with 4:58 to play in the first half. UAB s Swayze Waters 32-yard field goal gave the Blazers a one-point halftime at lead with no time left on the first half clock. In the second half, Adams nine-yard run gave the Hurricane its lead at the 12:12 mark. Tulsa marched down the field again, getting to the UAB four-yard line, and as it did in the first half failed to get any points out of the drive. This time it was a 30-yard field goal that went wide right. On Tulsa s next possession, though, the Hurricane went 43 yards in seven plays and 2:14 to take a 13-point lead, 35-22, as Courtney Tennial jumped over the line from one yard out. The Hurricane added two fourth quarter scores, one on a 73-yard pass from Johnson to Clay and a 41-yard field goal from true freshman Kevin Fitzpatrick. Game Notebook Brennan Marion went over 100 yards on his fourth reception (for 125 yards). It was his seventh 100+ receiving game in just his 15th collegiate game. For the 15th straight game going back to last year s season opener Tulsa has had a 300-yard passer. Five freshmen were in Tulsa s starting lineup on opening day, including linebackers Curnelius Arnick and Zack Wallace, safety DeAundre Brown, receiver Damaris Johnson and offensive tackle Tyler Holmes. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa UAB Team Statistics TU UAB First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 25:51 31:55 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD; Jamad Williams, 7-58 UAB Joe Webb, Passing TU David Johnson, 20-of-24 for 332 yards, 3 TD UAB Joe Webb, 17-of-31 for 169 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Receiving TU Brennan Marion, 4-125; Charles Clay, TD UAB Mario Wright, 3-46 Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score UAB 1 7:42 Joe Webb 32 pass to Frantrell Forrest (Waters kick) Tulsa 1 4:24 David Johnson 10 pass to Jacob Collums (Tracy kick) UAB 1 0:13 Joe Webb 9 pass to Jeffe Anderson (Kick NG) Tulsa 2 14:02 David Johnson pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 5:11 Tarrion Adams 3 run (Tracy kick) UAB 2 4:58 Frantell Forrest 90 kickoff return (Pass NG) UAB 2 0:06 Swayze Waters 32 FG Tulsa 3 12:12 Tarrion Adams 9 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 3:25 Courtney Tennial 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 9:13 David Johnson 73 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 3:42 Kevin Fitzpatrick 41 FG

23 game 2 tulsa 56 North Texas 26 September 6, 2008 Fouts Field Denton, Texas Attendance 22,785 Denton, Texas Tulsa used a first-half scoring barrage to capture a victory over the North Texas Mean Green in non-conference action on Saturday night in front of 22,785 fans at Fouts Field. Hurricane quarterback David Johnson completed 25-of-33 passes for 418 yards and a career-best six touchdowns to six different receivers. Tulsa built a halftime lead as Johnson threw for four touchdown passes and ran for another one as the Hurricane accounted for 300 of its 555 total yards in the first half, and the Tulsa defense held the Mean Green to 169 first-half yards. Tulsa scored on its first possession of the game, traveling 57 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead at the 9:17 mark of the first quarter. The Hurricane converted 2-of-2 third downs and one fourth down try en route to its first score. The Hurricane scored on its second drive going 53 yards in three plays to take a 14-0 lead, as Johnson threw an 18-yard TD strike to true freshman Damaris Johnson for his first collegiate touchdown. The Mean Green scored its first touchdown with 2:02 left in the first period as Lance Dunbar ran in from two yards out to cap a 7-play, 70-yard drive. Tulsa took its first possession of the second quarter 67 yards in eight plays to take a 21-7 lead, as David Johnson ran in from four yards out for the score at the 10:21 mark. The Hurricane added to its lead on the next possession going 80 yards in seven plays and taking 2:46 of the clock. Johnson threw an 11-yard toss to Charles Clay for the touchdown at the 5:18 mark of the first half. On the subsequent kickoff, Tulsa s Ade Manga recovered a fumbled kick at the North Texas seven-yard line. Three plays later, Johnson threw a five-yard TD toss to Jake Collums to take a 35-7 lead at the 4:32 mark. On its next possession Tulsa went 50 yards for its 42nd point. At the half, the Hurricane held halftime lead, while scoring on all six of its possessions in the red zone. North Texas began the second half with a 22 yard field goal. Tulsa didn t score until its third possession following a Moton Hopkins fumble recovery. The Hurricane offense went 64 yards in three plays as Johnson hit Brennan Marion for a 50-yard TD strike giving the Hurricane its first second half score with 14:12 gone in the half. UNT scored with 9:55 left in the game on a 32-yard pass from Giovanni Vizza to Casey Fitzgerald, capping an eight-play, 62-yard drive to cut Tulsa s lead to The Hurricane added to it score with a five-play, 58-yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard pass play from Johnson to Whitmore. The Mean Green then marched 80 yards in nine plays to make the score with 4:01 left in the game. Game Notebook David Johnson s six TD passes is the most for a Tulsa quarterback since the 1993 season when Gus Frerotte threw six touchdown passes against East Carolina. Tulsa improved to 2-0 on the season and it was the first time that Tulsa opened the season with two wins in its first two road games in a season. Tulsa surpasses 500 total yards for the 12th time in the last 16 games dating back to last year. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa North Texas Team Statistics TU UNT First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:11 32:49 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, UNT Lance Dunbar, Passing TU David Johnson, 25-of-33 for 418 yards, 6 TD UNT Giovanni Vizza, 30-of-45 for 247 yards, 2 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion, TD; Slick Shelley, 4-85 UNT Casey Fitzgerald, TD Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 9:17 Charles Clay 13 run (Fitzpatrick kick) Tulsa 1 4:45 David Johnson 18 pass to Damaris Johnson (Fitzpatrick kick) UNT 1 2:02 Lance Dunbar 2 run (Knott kick) Tulsa 2 10:21 David Johnson 4 run (Fitzpatrick kick) Tulsa 2 5:18 David Johnson 11 pass to Charles Clay (Fitzpatrick kick) Tulsa 2 4:32 David Johnson 5 pass to Jake Collums (Fitzpatrick kick) Tulsa 2 1:02 David Johnson 22 pass to Trae Johnson (Fitzpatrick kick) UNT 2 0:02 Jeremy Knott 47 FG UNT 3 8:17 Jeremy Knott 22 FG Tulsa 3 0:46 David Johnson 50 pass to Brennan Marion (Fitzpatrick kick) UNT 4 9:55 Giovanni Vizza 32 pass to Casey Fitzgerald (kick NG) Tulsa 4 7:36 David Johnson 22 pass to AJ Whitmore (Fitzgerald kick) UNT 4 4:01 Giovanni Vizza 6 pass to Breece Johnson (Knott kick) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 97

24 game 3 tulsa 56 new mexico 14 September 20, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 30,000 Tulsa, Oklahoma It was opening night for the newly renovated H.A. Chapman Stadium, and the host Hurricane held up its end of the bargain as Tulsa posted a win over New Mexico in front of a sellout crowd of 30,000 fans. David Johnson completed 24 of 39 passes for 469 yards and six touchdowns in the victory, while receivers Slick Shelley and Damaris Johnson exceeded 100 yards receiving. Johnson had three TD receptions and Shelley two. Tulsa finished with 606 yards of total offense against a defense that had been allowing just 305 per game. Tulsa s defense chipped in as well, as Roy Roberts returned an interception 41 yards for a score as Tulsa limited New Mexico to 316 yards of offense. Johnson directed Tulsa to touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions, with the only miscue being an interception in the end zone by the Lobos Glover Quin. The first quarter saw the Hurricane take a 21-0 lead as David Johnson connected on touchdown passes of 23 and 28 yards to Damaris Johnson and 13 yards to Shelley. A.J. Whitmore s seven-yard run with 8:56 left in the second quarter put the Hurricane ahead The situation worsened for New Mexico when quarterback Donovan Porterie was injured with 3:42 to play in the first half. Porterie had completed 11 of 13 passes for 92 yards with one interception. With 0:51 left in the first half, Shelley took in a 64-yard pass from David Johnson to give the Hurricane a 35-0 halftime lead. Johnson threw his fifth TD pass 20 yards to Charles Clay at the 6:35 mark of the third quarter giving the Hurricane a 42-0 lead before New Mexico could get into the end zone. The Lobos scored on a 37-yard run by Rodney Ferguson, who gained 122 yards on 27 carries, with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Tulsa added two more scores as the Johnson-to-Johnson connection combined for a nine-yard TD toss, David to Damaris. Roberts interception return for a touchdown put the icing on the game for the Hurricane when he returned it 41 yards with 9:06 remaining in the contest. Brad Gruner, who replaced the injured Porterie for the Lobos, connected with Bryant Williams on a 21-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, making the final score Johnson threw for 324 yards in the first half alone, his third consecutive game with more than 300 yards passing. Tulsa, which led the nation in total offense in 2007, has now thrown for more than 300 yards in 17 consecutive games. Game Notebook It was the second consecutive week that quarterback David Johnson threw for six touchdowns. Tulsa s 42-point win was its largest margin of victory in a home opener since a 51-point win over Indiana State in the 2001 opener. Junior linebacker Mike Bryan had a career-high 13 tackles. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa UNM Team Statistics TU UNM First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 4 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:46 32:14 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, UNM Rodney Ferguson, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 24-of-39 for 469 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT UNM Donovan Porterie, 11-of-13 for 92 yards, 1 INT; Brad Gruner, 7-of-12 for 98 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT Receiving TU Slick Shelley, TD; Damaris Johnson, TD UNM Chris Hernandez, 4-73 Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 12:17 David Johnson 23 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 1 5:42 David Johnson 13 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) Tulsa 1 0:28 David Johnson 28 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 8:56 A.J. Whitmore 7 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 0:51 David Johnson 64 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 6:35 David Johnson 20 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) UNM 3 5:08 Rodney Ferguson 37 run (Aho kick) Tulsa 4 10:28 David Johnson 9 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 9:06 Roy Roberts 41 INT return (Tracy kick) 56-7 UNM 4 3:45 Brad Gruner 21 pass to Bryan Williams (Aho kick)

25 game 4 tulsa 62 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 34 September 27, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 20,646 Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa went to 4-0 on the season, the first time since 1978, with a victory over the Central Arkansas Bears in front of a crowd of 20,646 at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Senior running back Tarrion Adams made history when he hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass and ended the game with 120 yards and one TD rushing along with his one touchdown reception. Quarterback David Johnson completed 18-of-22 passes for 286 yards and four TDs, while senior receiver Brennan Marion had his third 100+ yard receiving game of the year with 136 yards and two TDs on six catches. The Hurricane out-scored UCA in the second half after Tulsa held just an eight-point lead at halftime. Tulsa surpassed the 600-yard plateau for the third time this year, while putting up 641 to UCA s 435 yards. After the intermission, the Hurricane defense clamped down on UCA, allowing the visitors only 182 total yards, 60 of which came on a touchdown pass. Tulsa opened the game with a 64-yard, seven-play scoring drive as Johnson connected with Marion on a 51-yard touchdown toss. The Bears knotted the score on its first possession, going 76 yards as UCA s Nathan Brown hit Eric Ware with a 16- yard touchdown. Tulsa went ahead 14-7 on a Slick Shelley 14-yard touchdown reception followed by a Bears field goal. For the fourth straight game, the Hurricane scored on its first two possessions as this week Johnson hit Slick Shelly for a 14-yard touchdown giving the Hurricane a 14-7 lead. The Bears took its subsequent possession 62 yards, but had to settle for a 36-yard Eddie Carmona field goal. Adams 24-yard touchdown reception from Johnson on Tulsa s next possession made him the only Hurricane player in school history to surpass 1,000 yards receiving and 2,000 yards passing in a career. UCA added another field goal to cut into Tulsa s lead, making it The Hurricane responded with a nine-play, 79-yard drive as Courtney Tennial ran in from one-yard out to give Tulsa a lead at the 4:36 mark of the second quarter. The Bears cut the Hurricane lead to eight points right before halftime, scoring on a seven-yard pass from Brown to Nick Cowger, at the 0:49 mark of the second period capping a 74-yard, eight-play drive. After a failed UCA fake punt in the third quarter gave the Hurricane the ball at the Bears 41-yard line, Tulsa went five plays in 1:37 as Johnson hooked up with Marion on a 26-yard touchdown pass. On Tulsa s next possession, Jarod Tracy s 29-yard field goal at the 6:17 mark of the third quarter capped a 50-yard, nine-play drive. Tulsa scored 17 points in the fourth quarter on Tennial s two 1-yard runs and a Tracy 27-yard field goal. Game Notebook The 62 points is the third straight contest that Tulsa scored over 50 points, marking the first time in school history since 1920 that has occurred. Tarrion Adams became the first player in school history to gain 2,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards. Brennan Marion had his third 100+ receiving game of the season. This was the fourth straight game and ninth out of the last 10 that Tulsa has scored over 40 points. Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa UCA Team Statistics TU UCA First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 24:20 35:28 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD; Jamad Williams, 10-77; Charles Opeseyitan 6-66 UCA Brent Grimes, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 18-of-22 for 286 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT UCA Nathan Brown, 24-of-33 for 342 yards, 3 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion, 6-136, 2 TD UCA Willie Landers, TD Scoring Summary Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 13:34 David Johnson 51 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) UCA 1 10:32 Nathan Brown 16 pass to Eric Ware (Carmona kick) Tulsa 1 7:49 David Johnson 14 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) UCA 1 0:49 Eddie Carmona 36 FG Tulsa 2 14:54 David Johnson 24 pass to Tarrion Adams (Tracy kick) UCA 2 7:45 Eddie Carmona 27 FG Tulsa 2 4:36 Courtney Tennial 1 run (Tracy kick) UCA 2 0:49 Nathan Brown 7 pass to Nick Cowger (Carmona kick) Tulsa 3 11:13 David Johnson 26 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 6:17 Jarod Tracy 29 FG UCA 3 3:49 Nathan Brown 60 pass to Willie Landers (Carmona NG) Tulsa 3 2:16 Tarrion Adams 9 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 13:26 Courtney Tennial 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 7:34 Jarrod Tracy 27 FG UCA 4 5:42 Brent Grimes 1 run (Brown pass to Landers) Tulsa 4 0:13 Courtney Tennial (Tracy kick) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 99

26 game 5 tulsa 63 RICE 28 October 4, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attedance 24,926 Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa scored over 60 points for the second straight game as the Hurricane tallied 42 second half points in capturing a victory over the Rice Owls in front of 24,926 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Tarrion Adams led the Hurricane rushing attack with 112 yards, followed by Charles Opeseyitan s 94 yards, AJ Whitmore with 83 yards and Jamad Williams with 47 yards. David Johnson completed 13-of-25 passes for 177 yards and four touchdowns, while the Hurricane defense forced four Rice turnovers. Tulsa came out in the second half and scored two quick touchdowns within the first four minutes to take a lead with 11:58 on the third quarter clock. The first came on a 25-yard punt return by Slick Shelley after the Tulsa defense held Rice on the opening second-half possession to two yards on three plays. Tulsa s second third period score came after a Kenny D. Sims interception gave the Hurricane the ball at the 39-yard line. Johnson threw a 21-yard pass to Charles Clay to cap the five-yard rive. Rice capitalized on an interception five plays later to cut the Tulsa lead to 14 points, 35-21, as James Casey threw two yards to Taylor Wardlow. Tulsa followed that score with a 57-yard, 10-play drive in 2:05 as Johnson had his fourth straight game with at least four touchdown passes connecting for the second time on the day with Charles Clay. This one went for two yards to give the Hurricane a lead. The Hurricane defense stuffed the Owls on the next possession, and Tulsa went 52 yards in two plays as AJ Whitmore s 51-yard run put the Hurricane at the one-yard line. Courtney Tennial had his fifth one-yard TD run of the season on the next play to put Tulsa ahead The Hurricane went over 50 points for the fourth straight game when AJ Whitmore ran in from nine yards out to give the Hurricane a lead with 9:49 left in the contest. The drive capped a six-play, 40-yard drive. The Owls wasted little time in marching 65 yards for a score, as Casey caught a 6-yard pass. Both teams failed to score on their first possessions of the game. Tulsa scored on its second possession of the game, going 88 yards in eight plays, as AJ Whitmore took the direct snap and raced in from 15 yards out to give the Hurricane a 7-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first quarter. The Owls knotted the score 7-7 on a two-yard Casey run, capping a 12-play, 74-yard drive. Tulsa began the second half with an eight-play, 72-yard drive that saw Johnson throw the final seven yards to Brennan Marion. With 3:06 on the clock Rice s Chase Clement threw 25 yards to Jarett Dillard. The Hurricane took only 1:41 off the clock to go 57 yards in five plays as Johnson hit Damaris Johnson on a 20-yard touchdown. Game Notebook Tulsa scored 60 points for the second straight game, the first time since 1975 when the hurricane had two consecutive 60+ scoring games. When Tulsa did not score on its first drive, it stopped a streak of four straight games scoring on its first possession. Tulsa scored over 50 points for the fourth straight game, which happened for the first time for the Hurricane since With 577 yards Tulsa has gone over 500 yards in its first five games. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa Rice Team Statistics TU RICE First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 30:10 29:50 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, ; Charles Opeseyitan, TD Rice Chase Clement, Passing TU David Johnson, 13-of-25 for 177 yards, 4 TD Rice Chase Clement, 22-of-42 for 321 yards, 2 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion, TD Rice Jarett Dillard, TD; James Casey, TD Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 7:27 AJ Whitmore 15 run (Tracy kick) Rice 1 2:00 James Casey 2 run (Fangmeier kick) Tulsa 2 14:05 David Johnson 7 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) Rice 2 3:06 Chase Clements 25 pass to Jarett Dillard (Fangmeier kick) Tulsa 2 1:18 Davis Johnson 20 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 14:12 Slick Shelley 25 punt return (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 11:58 David Johnson 21 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) Rice 3 6:20 James Casey 2 pass to Taylor Wardlow (Fangmeier kick) Tulsa 3 2:05 David Johnson 2 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 14:28 Courtney Tennial 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 9:49 AJ Whitmore 9 run (Tracy kick) Rice 4 8:39 Chase Clement 6 pass to James Casey (Fangmeier kick) Tulsa 4 5:54 Charles Opeseyitan 35 run (Tracy kick)

27 game 6 tulsa 37 smu 31 October 11, 2008 Gerald J. Ford Stadium Dallas, Texas Attendance 15,324 Dallas, Texas Tulsa improved to 6-0 after scoring 13 fourth-quarter points in a come-from-behind victory over the SMU Mustangs on Saturday night in front of 15,324 fans at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. After trailing at halftime and after three quarters, Tulsa out-scored SMU 13-0 in the final period to pull out the victory. Tulsa tied the score when on fourth-and-22 from the SMU 33-yard line with 9:53 left in the game, David Johnson faked a pouch punt and threw in the end zone for Trae Johnson, who went up and caught the touchdown. Following DeAundre Brown s interception on SMU s subsequent possession, the Hurricane took its first lead since 3-0 when A.J. Whitmore s eight-yard run capped a three-play, 26-yard scoring drive. Tulsa held on as the SMU s final drive resulted in a failed fourth down attempt from the Tulsa 26-yard line. It took the nation s top offense over 20 minutes to put its first touchdown on the scoreboard, but the Hurricane did score the games first points. Tulsa put three points on the board at the 3:34 mark of the first quarter with a 24-yard Jarod Tracy field goal, his first of three field goals, capping a nine-play, 65-yard drive. The Mustangs took the next possession 70 yards in six plays as Mitchell threw the final 26 yards to Cole Beasley for a 7-3 lead with 0:52 remaining in the first quarter. SMU took a 14-3 lead with 6:44 left in the first half. It wasn t until 4:56 of the second quarter that the Hurricane scored its first touchdown, as Johnson connected on a 15-yard toss in the end zone to Slick Shelley. After a fumbled punt by Tulsa s Trae Johnson, SMU took over at the Tulsa 17-yard line. The Hurricane defense held the Mustangs to just a 47-yard field goal, as the drive amounted -12 yards for the Mustangs. Tulsa took possession just before halftime with 0:39 left on the clock, and went 57 yards in six plays, but had to settle for Tracy s second field goal. This one traveled 34 yards, cutting SMU s halftime lead to four points, It was the first halftime deficit for the Hurricane since trailing UAB by one-point in the season opener. At the halftime break, Tulsa still held a 259 to 240- yard edge in total offense, but the two Tulsa turnovers led to 10 points for the Mustangs. Tulsa opened the second half with a 65-yard, eightplay drive, but again had to settle for a Tracy field goal, as this one he connected from 22 yards out, cutting the SMU lead to The Mustangs took its first secondhalf possession 63 yards for its third TD of the game, as Mitchell threw the final 10 yards to Terrance Wilkerson to cap a six-play, 63-yard scoring drive. Game Notebook Tulsa moved to 6-0 on the season for the first time since the 1942 campaign. Tarrion Adams moved into second place on the school s career rushing chart after totaling 121 yards. Tulsa failed to score 40 points for the first time this season. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa SMU Team Statistics TU SMU First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 29:40 30:20 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, ; AJ Whitmore, TD SMU Chris Butler, 9-95 Passing TU David Johnson, 17-of-30 for 281 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT SMU Bo Mitchell, 19-of-34 for 318 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Receiving TU Slick Shelley, 6-105, 2 TD; Trae Johnson, TD SMU Emmanuel Sanders, TD; Cole Beasley, TD Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 3:34 Jarod Tracy 24 FG SMU 1 0:52 BL Mitchell 26 pass to Cole Beasley (Morstead kick) SMU 2 6:43 BL Mitchell 18 pass to Aldrick Robinson (Morstead kick) Tulsa 2 4:56 David Johnson 15 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) SMU 2 0:46 Thomas Morstead 47 FG 4/ Tulsa 2 0:00 Jarod Tracy 34 FG Tulsa 3 12:23 Jarod Tracy 22 FG SMU 3 8:57 BL Mitchell 10 pass to Terrance Mitchell (Morstead kick) Tulsa 3 8:05 David Johnson 40 pass to Slick Shelley (Johnson run) SMU 3 7:49 BL Mitchell 77 pass to Emmanuel Sanders (Morstead kick) Tulsa 4 9:53 David Johnson 33 pass to Trae Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 8:40 A.J. Whitmore 8 run (Tracy kick BLKD) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 101

28 game 7 tulsa 77 utep 35 October 18, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 21,873 Tulsa, Oklahoma The game began as if it would be a shoot-out in the wild west, but when the dust settled David Johnson threw for 434 yards and five touchdowns to help lead Tulsa to a record-setting performance and a blowout of UTEP. Brennan Marion had six catches for 233 yards and three touchdowns, setting a Conference USA record for yards per catch in a game (38.8), as Tulsa improved to 7-0, 4-0 in C-USA and strengthened its case to move into the national rankings. The Golden Hurricane hovered just outside the Associated Press poll this week. Tulsa amassed 791 total yards, including 321 rushing. The 791 yards fell just seven yards shy of a 41-year school record of 798 total yards. UTEP kept pace with Tulsa early and the game was tied in the first quarter. In the 56-point first quarter, Tulsa s Johnson connected with Marion on touchdown passes of 97 and 51 yards; A.J. Whitmore caught a 24-yard strike from Johnson, and Damaris Johnson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score For the Miners in that fast paced first period, quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, who finished 21 of 34 for 321 yards and four touchdowns, hit Jeff Moturi with a six-yard pass, Kris Adams with a 22-yard strike and a one-yarder to Jamar Hunt for a score. James Thomas added a 34-yard touchdown run as well. When the first quarter ended, the two teams had amassed 56 points, 498 yards, scored on 8 of 10 possessions and all eight of the touchdowns each took less than three minutes off the clock. By the second quarter, Tulsa had turned up the heat, rattling Vittatoe with a variety of blitzes and holding the Miners scoreless, while the Golden Hurricane scored 28 consecutive points. Tulsa scored on its first three second quarter possessions as Jamad Williams scored from eight yards out, AJ. Whitmore had a five-yard run and David Johnson, who finished 21-for-27 with one interception, threw 31 yards to Slick Shelley with 2:55 left before halftime for a Hurricane lead. Tarrion Adams, who finished with 115 yards, scored Tulsa s first two touchdowns in the third quarter that gave Tulsa a advantage. Marion added a 40-yard touchdown before the quarter ended to make it 70-35, while backup quarterback Jacob Bower s six-yard run with 6:51 left capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive. Game Notebook David Johnson s 97-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Marion was the longest in school history since 1996 when Troy DeGar completed a 99-yard TD pass to Wes Caswell against Oklahoma. With a 97-yard pass completion and 94-yard kickoff return for touchdowns, it marked the second time in school history that Tulsa had scored two TDs of 90 yards or more in the same game. The previous time came against UNLV on Oct. 15, 1994 with a 93-yard rushing TD and a 100-yard kickoff return. Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa UTEP Team Statistics TU UTEP First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 33:29 26:25 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD UTEP J. Thomas, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 21-of-27 for 434 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT UTEP Trevor Vittatoe, 21-of-34 for 306 yards, 4 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion TD; Slick Shelley, TD UTEP Kris Adams, TD Scoring Summary Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score UTEP 1 12:26 Trevor Vittatoe 6 pass to Jeff Moturi (Martinez kick) Tulsa 1 11:37 David Johnson 97 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) Tulsa 1 8:10 David Johnson 51 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) UTEP 1 7:14 James Thomas 34 run (Martinez kick) Tulsa 1 4:55 David Johnson 24 pass to A.J. Whitmore (Tracy kick) UTEP 1 3:35 Trevor Vittatoe 22 pass to Kris Adams (Martinez kick) UTEP 1 0:03 Trevor Vittatoe 1 pass to Jamar Hunt (Martinez kick) Tulsa 1 0:00 Damaris Johnson 94 kick-off return (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 11:34 Jamad Williams 8 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 5:47 A.J. Whitmore 5 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 2:55 David Johnson 31 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 1:49 Tarrion Adams 11 run (Tracy kick) UTEP 3 6:43 Trevor Vittatoe 9 pass to Elijah Goldtrap (Martinez kick) Tulsa 3 4:20 Tarrion Adams 10 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 1:29 David Johnson 40 pass to Brennan Marion (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 6:51 Jacob Bower 6 run (Tracy kick)

29 game 8 tulsa 49 ucf 19 October 26, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 30,000 Tulsa, Oklahoma With a chance to stand alone in the college football spotlight, Tulsa brought out a couple of former legends to be a part of the celebration. David Johnson threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as No. 19 Tulsa overpowered UCF in the Golden Hurricane s first game in the Top 25 in 17 years. Getting the only college game on an NFL-free Sunday night, aired on ESPN, Tulsa pulled out all the stops by honoring future Hall of Fame coach John Cooper in a second quarter break and retiring former receiver Steve Largent s No. 83 jersey at halftime. But the real fun only started when the Golden Hurricane got out of an unexpected halftime hole. Damaris Johnson provided the spark, making up for a critical first-half fumble by returning the secondhalf kickoff 70 yards to set up the go-ahead touchdown, David Johnson zoomed in from 10 yards out to give Tulsa a lead, and he kept the nation s top-ranked offense in gear from there on out. It was the first of five second-half touchdowns for the Hurricane. Courtney Tennial scored on a one-yard dive to complete a drive that was extended by Trae Johnson s leaping 29-yard catch on fourth-and-13 and again when David Johnson fumbled and then got the ball back after defensive back Johnell Neal coughed it right back up. The country s top-rated quarterback added a twoyard touchdown run to close out the third quarter with a lead. In the fourth period, Johnson threw a 15-yard TD toss to a diving Damaris Johnson as the Golden Hurricane kept pulling away. Tennial added a seven-yard run with 1:45 left in the contest to give the Hurricane the victory. For a brief time in the second quarter, it appeared Tulsa might give the game away as the Knights put up 19 straight points without having to rely much on the nation s worst offense. Daren Daly hit a 54-yard field goal after Michael Such s punt got held up in the wind and went only 14 yards, and it only got worse from there. Damaris Johnson fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and receiver Brian Watters recovered and then caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rob Calabrese three plays later for a UCF lead. A penalty on the kickoff pushed the Golden Hurricane back for the start of their next drive, and David Johnson had to track down a bad snap on second down and knock it out of the end zone for a safety that made it at halftime. Once Tulsa got back on top, Calabrese became the target of the Golden Hurricane s defense. Tanner Antle, James Lockett and Roy Roberts each contributed to Tulsa s total of nine sacks on the same second-half drive and the Knights wound up with only 38 yards after halftime. Game Notebook Tulsa s nine sacks tied Stanford for the NCAA single-game high this season. UCF s 187 yards was the fewest allowed by the Hurricane in its first eight games this year. James Lockett had two forced fumbles, the most for a Hurricane player since Nick Bunting had two in the 2005 C-USA Championship Game against this same UCF team. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa UCF Team Statistics TU UCF First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 26:07 33:53 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Charles Opeseyitan, TD; Courtney Tennial TD UCF Brian Harvey, Passing TU David Johnson, 17-of-27 for 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT UCF Rob Calabrese, 8-of-15 for 124 yards, 2 TD Receiving TU Trae Johnson, 3-99; Brennan Marion, 3-72 UCF Brian Watters, TD Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 6:02 Damaris Johnson 11 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 11:34 Charles Opeseyitan 29 run (Tracy kick) UCF 2 11:16 Rob Calabrese 62 pass to Brian Watters (Daly kick) UCF 2 5:07 Darren Daly 54 FG 4/ UCF 2 3:29 Rob Calabrese 7 pass to Brian Watters (Daly kick) UCF 2 2:58 Team Safety Tulsa 3 14:04 David Johnson 10 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 6:18 Courtney Tennial 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 0:30 David Johnson 2 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 9:07 David Johnson 15 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 1:45 Courtney Tennial 7 run (Tracy kick) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 103

30 game 9 ARKANSAS 30 TULSA 23 November 1, 2008 Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, Ark. Attendance 70,021 Fayetteville, Ark. Tulsa s undefeated season came to an end across the border as the Arkansas Razorbacks claimed a victory over Tulsa in front of 70,021 yards at Razorback Stadium, and the Golden Hurricane fell to 8-1. The Razorbacks held the Hurricane to a seasonlow 23 points and forced three Tulsa turnovers, while tallying a season-best of its own of 30 points and 385 passing yards. However, the Hurricane defense didn t allow a touchdown drive in the second half, and held the Hogs to 131 second-half total yards. Tulsa threw for 322 yards, while gaining 184 yards on the ground for a total of 528 yards, while Arkansas managed 435 total yards of offense. David Johnson completed 17-of-31 passes for 322 yards and one TD, while Charles Clay had a team-high 117 receiving yards and one TD on seven catches, while also rushing for 31 yards and one TD. Tulsa trailed at halftime 23-20, then knotted the score at 23 with just with just 0:36 left in the third period. But, on the subsequent kickoff Dennis Johnson took the kick 96 yards for a lead. After a Roy Roberts interception in the UA end zone with 3:04 left on the game clock, Tulsa drove to the Arkansas four-yard line but couldn t get the score, thus turning the ball over to the Razorbacks after a 73-yard, eight play drive, ended Tulsa s chances of a score. The Razorbacks scored the first 17 points before Tulsa scored its first touchdown of the game on a Jacob Bower 22-yard pass to Trae Johnson in the end zone. It was the first career TD pass for Bower and the third this year for Johnson. The Hurricane cut the Hogs lead to four points on a 28-yard run by Charles Clay, but the Jarod Tracy PAT missed. The score came at the 8:09 mark of the second quarter and cut the Arkansas lead to Arkansas responded with an 80-yard drive to go ahead at the 4:39 mark of the second quarter, as the Hogs went 75 yards in eight plays as Tejada knocked thru his second field goal, this time from 22 yards. Tulsa put together another quick scoring drive after an 81-yard return by Damaris Johnson put the Hurricane on the Arkansas 15-yard line. Four plays later, David Johnson threw the final two yards to Charles Clay for the touchdown, while Tracy s PAT knotted the score at 20. The Razorbacks took the subsequent possession 55 yards in 13 plays to take a lead into halftime as Tejada hit his third field goal of the game. Game Notebook Arkansas 17-0 lead in the first quarter was the largest defiict of the season for the Hurricane. Damaris Johnson s 81-yard kickoff return marked the third straight game that he has returned a kickoff for 70 yards or more. Charles Clay went over 1,000 yards receiving for the first time this season and the fourth time in his career. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa Arkansas Team Statistics TU UA First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:22 32:38 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, 9-45 UA Michael Smith, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 17-of-31 for 322 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT UA Casey Dick, 25-of-38 for 385 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Receiving TU Charles Clay, ; Trae Johnson, TD UA DJ Williams, 6-129; Jarius Wright, Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score UA 1 10:42 Casey Dick 13 pass to Andrew Davis (Tejada kick) UA 1 5:57 Alex Tejada 30 FG UA 1 2:22 Michael Smith 7 run (Tejada kick) Tulsa 1 0:47 Trae Johnson 22 pass from Jacob Bower (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 8:09 Charles Clay 28 run (Tracy NG) UA 2 4:39 Alex Tejada 22 FG Tulsa 2 3:08 David Johnson 2 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) UA 2 0:17 Alex Tejada 22 FG Tulsa 3 0:36 Jarod Tracy 22 FG UA 3 0:22 Dennis Johnson 96 KO return (Tejada kick)

31 game 10 HOUSTON 70 TULSA 30 November 15, 2008 Robertson Stadium Houston, Texas Attendance 20,855 Houston, Texas The 24th-ranked Tulsa Golden Hurricane didn t have an answer for Houston s offense as the Cougars captured a victory. The Cougars scored on 9-of-13 possessions and capitalized on three Tulsa turnovers, scoring touchdowns after all three takeaways. Houston scored 42 first half points while amassing 304 yards and 9.2 yards per carry to take a lead at the intermission. The Cougars added 35 more points in the second half. Cougar quarterback Case Keenum threw for 402 yards and a career-high six touchdowns, as Houston totaled 641 yards. Tulsa, who came into the game as the nation s leading offense, tallied 501 yards on the day as quarterback David Johnson completed 18-of- 29 passes for 271 yards and four TDs. The Cougars went 36 yards in five plays to take the 7-0 lead on a four-yard pass from Keenum to Tyron Carrier. With just 0:19 left on the first quarter clock, Houston capitalized on Tulsa s second turnover of the game and took a 14-0 lead as Keenum threw his second TD pass. Tulsa managed three points on a 35-yard field goal at the 10:35 mark of the second quarter, capping a 12-play, 55-yard drive. The Cougars took a 21-3 lead at the 9:07 mark before halftime on a 29-yard Keenum pass to Bryce Beall. Houston scored three more times in the second quarter, while Tulsa managed two scores before intermission. The first came on a David Johnson 30-yard strike to Charles Clay and the second came when Johnson threw the final seven yards of a 64-yard drive to tight end Jake Collums for the score. On the ensuing kickoff, Carrier went 93 yards to give the Cougars a lead with just 0:09 left before halftime. The Cougars took its first second-half possession 66 yards in 11 plays as Keenum his Hafner for his second TD reception of the game to take a lead with 11:14 left in the third quarter. Tulsa took only 1:14 to answer Houston s score as the Hurricane went 74 yards in four plays as Johnson completed his third TD of the game with a 35-yard strike to Slick Shelley. Two minutes and 30 second later, Houston s Andre Kohn ran in from 13 yards to cap a 63-yard, sixplay drive and take a lead. Then the Cougars Loyce Means took a Johnson interception 69 yards for a touchdown and a lead. Johnson connected on his fourth TD of the game when he hit Brennan Marion with a 48-yard strike in the end zone, cutting the UH lead to 33 points, After throwing for six TDs, Keenum ran for one in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars a lead with 14:04 left in the contest. Game Notebook This was the most points allowed by a Tulsa team since Houston scored 82 points in Houston s 28 second quarter points was the second time this year that Tulsa had given up 28 points in one quarter. Brennan Marion moved into ninth place on the school s all-time receiving list. Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa Houston Team Statistics TU UH First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 3 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 29:45 30:15 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, UH Bryce Beall, Passing TU David Johnson, 18-of-29 for 271 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT UH Case Keenum, 24-of-37 for 402 yards, 6 TD Receiving TU Charles Clay, TD; Slick Shelley, ; Brennan Marion TD UH Tyron Carrier, TD; Mark Hafner, TD Scoring Summary Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score UH 1 10:44 Case Keenum 4 pass to Tyron Carrier (Bell kick) UH 1 0:19 Case Keenum 4 pass to Mark Hafner (Bell kick) Tulsa 2 10:33 Jarod Tracy 35 FG UH 2 9:07 Case Keenum 29 pass to Bryce Beall (Bell kick) Tulsa 2 5:04 David Johnson 30 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) UH 2 4:31 Case Keenum 66 pass to Tyron Carrier (Bell kick) UH 2 1:21 Case Keenum 36 pass to L.J. Castile (Bell kick) Tulsa 2 0:22 David Johnson 7 pass to Jake Collums (Tracy kick) UH 2 0:09 Tyron Carrier 93 KOR (Bell kick) UH 3 11:14 Case Keenum 13 pass to Mark Hafner (Bell kick) Tulsa 3 10:00 David Johnson 35 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) UH 3 7:30 Andre Kohn 13 run (Bell kick) UH 3 4:33 Loyce Means 69 INT return (Bell kick) Tulsa 3 3:10 David Johnson 48 pass to Brennan Marion (pass failed) UH 4 14:04 Case Keenum 6 run (Mannisto kick) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 105

32 game 11 tulsa 56 tulane 7 November 22, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 20,391 Tulsa, Oklahoma Tarrion Adams rushed for a school record 323 yards and a touchdown as Tulsa ended a two-game losing streak by beating Tulane 56-7 in front of a crowd of 20,391 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium on Senior Day. The Golden Hurricane, improving to 9-2 overall and 6-1 Conference USA action, piled up a season-high 489 rushing yards, and Adams, a senior playing his final regular season home game, surpassed the 312 yards Mark Brus rushed for in a 1990 game at New Mexico State. Tulsa controlled the game against Tulane from the beginning, spreading out the injury-depleted Green Wave defense, then running Adams and Jamad Williams between the tackles. A two-yard TD pass from David Johnson to Jake Collums began the scoring at the 11:35 mark of the first quarter, as the Hurricane took its first possession 76 yards in nine plays. A possession later, A.J. Whitmore ran in from three yards out, capping a 64-yard drive. Tulane scored to start the second quarter on a one-yard run by J.T. McDonald at the 13:24 mark, but it would be the last time that the Green Wave would reach the end zone. The Hurricane added two more touchdowns before halftime. David Johnson threw 12 yards to Damaris Johnson for the first, and Adams five-yard touchdown run capped an eight-play, 90-yard scoring drive for Tulsa with 2:48 left in the first half to give the Hurricane a 28-7 halftime lead. Tulsa would find the end zone four more times in the second half. The Hurricane offense compiled 291 yards, while the defense held the Green Wave to just 89 second-half yards. Adams wasn t the only Tulsa running back to have success against the Tulane defense as Jamad Williams also got into the act. Williams rushed for two third quarter touchdowns. The first came at the 11:34 mark as his seven-yard TD capped a 70-yard, seven-play drive. After David Johnson found Damaris Johnson for a 28-yard pass play on a two-play, 30-yard drive, Williams then scored again on a 39-yard scamper to put the Hurricane ahead Williams ended the game with 11 carries for 90 yards and his two touchdowns. Running back Aaron Johnson, a senior walk-on, capped the Senior Day festivities by scoring his only career touchdown with a one-yard run with 2:22 remaining in the contest. The nation s leading offense finished the day with 593 total yards, while the defense held Tulane to 232 yards and forced two fumbles. Adams record-setting day saw the senior have 10 runs of 10 yards or more, including a 20-yard run with less than seven minutes remaining in the game to give him the single-game rushing record. Adams ended first quarter action with 74 yards, had 198 yards at halftime and at the end of three quarters had amassed 278 yards on the ground. Game Notebook Damaris Johnson became the school s single-season record-holder for kickoff returns yards on his first return of the game. Tulsa s 489 rushing yards was the most for a Tulsa team since gaining 503 yards against Wichita State on Nov. 1, Tarrion Adams set a single-game rushing record with 323 yards, breaking the previous school record of 312 yards by Mark Brus on Oct. 27, 1990 against New Mexico State. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa Tulane Team Statistics TU TLN First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 30:12 29:48 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD; Jamad Williams Tulane J.T. McDonald, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 9-of-13 for 104 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Tulane Kevin Moore, 15-of-30 for 144 yards Receiving TU Damaris Johnson, TD Tulane Alan Mitchell, 4-41 Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 11:35 David Johnson 2 pass to Jake Collums (Tracy kick) Tulsa 1 4:42 A.J. Whitmore 3 run (Tracy kick) Tulane 2 13:24 J.T. McDonald 1 run (Thevenot kick) Tulsa 2 11:18 David Johnson 12 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 2:48 Tarrion Adams 5 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 11:34 Jamad Williams 7 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 9:50 David Johnson 28 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) Tulsa 3 6:09 Jamad Williams 39 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 2:22 Aaron Johnson 1 run (Tracy kick)

33 game 12 tulsa 38 MARSHALL 35 November 29, 2008 Joan C. Edwards Stadium Huntington, WV Attendance 21,571 Huntington, West Virginia Tulsa won the Conference USA West Division Championship with a victory over Marshall in front of 21,571 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The game was tied five times, but Jarod Tracy s 22-yard field goal with 3:42 remaining in the game put Tulsa ahead by three points, 38-35, and the Hurricane defense held the Thundering Herd on fourth-and-one from the 49-yard as Mike Bryan and Wilson Garrison led the Tulsa charge. Tulsa gained 516 yards for the game as David Johnson completed 21-of-33 passes for 313 yards and 2 TDs, and Tarrion Adams had 123 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Tulsa opened the second half holding the Thundering Herd on its first possession, and taking its subsequent first drive 65 yards in six plays, as Johnson connected on a third-down-and-goal twoyard TD pass to Charles Clay to take a lead. The Herd knotted the score at 28 on its next possession going 79 yards in seven plays, as Anderson threw the final 12 yards to Darius Passmore for the touchdown. Tulsa scored on its second possession of the second half on a six-yard Adams run, capping a 71-yard, six-play drive at the 5:47 mark of the third period, putting the Hurricane ahead Marshall tied the scored again at on a 53-yard run by Terrell Edwards, capping an 83-yard, two-play drive in just 0:40. After holding the Hurricane on its opening drive of the game, Marshall scored on its first possession to take a 7-0 lead over the Hurricane, going 96 yards in 14 plays as Anderson, filling in for the injured Mark Cann, threw the final 19 yards to Court Henderson for the touchdown. Tulsa answered in 3:05 as Adams scored from one-yard out, capping a 74-yard, nine-play drive. The rushing touchdown was Tulsa s 33rd of the season, breaking the modern day record of 32 established in The Hurricane went ahead 14-7 at the 10:21 mark of the third quarter, as Adams had his second oneyard run of the game for the score. The drive covered 58 yards in 12 plays. The Thundering Herd wasted little time tying the score at with a 69-yard Chubb Small run on the first play from scrimmage. Tulsa answered in 2:54 on a 63-yard, seven-play drive when David Johnson threw 15 yards to Damaris Johnson for the touchdown, putting the Hurricane ahead On fourth down-and-12 from the Tulsa 32-yard line Anderson connected with Passmore for a touchdown to tie the score at with just 1:19 left in the first half. Game Notebook Tulsa won its 10th game for the second consecutive year and seventh time in school history, and it also marks the first time in school history that the Hurricane has had back-to-back 10 win seasons. Tulsa s first ruhing touchdown of the game was the 33rd of the season, breaking the modern day school record of 32 which was established in David Johnson moved into second place on the school s single-season passing list Brennan Marion had the school s sixthbest receiving performance in school history with 244 yards. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa Marshall Team Statistics TU MAR First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 32:55 27:05 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD MU Darius Marshall, 18-94; Chubb Small, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 21-of-33 for 313 yards, 2 TD MU Brian Anderson, 14-of-19 for 177 yards, 3 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion, 4-96; Damaris Johnson, TD MU Darius Passmore, TD Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score MU 1 5:28 Brian Anderson 19 pass to Court Henderson (Ratanamorn kick) Tulsa 1 2:23 Tarrion Adams 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 2 10:21 Tarrion Adams 1 run (Tracy kick) MU 2 10:06 Chubb Small 69 run (Ratanamorn kick) Tulsa 2 7:12 David Johnson 15 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) MU 2 1:19 Brian Anderson 32 pass to Darius Passmore (Ratanamorn kick) Tulsa 3 11:21 David Johnson 2 pass to Charles Clay (Tracy kick) MU 3 7:56 Brian Anderson 12 pass to Darius Passmore (Ratanamorn kick) Tulsa 3 5:47 Tarrion Adams 6 run (Tracy kick) MU 3 1:35 Terrell Edwards 53 run (Ratanamorn kick) Tulsa 4 3:42 Jarod Tracy 22 FG intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 107

34 game 13 east carolina 27 tulsa 24 Conference USA Championship Game December 6, 2008 H.A. Chapman Stadium Tulsa, Okla. Attendance 22,740 Tulsa, Oklahoma East Carolina scored on four of Tulsa s seven turnovers and came away with a victory over the Golden Hurricane in front of 22,740 fans at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The loss snapped Tulsa s 10-game home winning streak, and gave the Pirates their first Conference USA crown. It was the second straight year that the Hurricane was held back from winning another C-USA title in the championship game. ECU scored after Tulsa s first four turnovers of the game, two interceptions and two fumbles, as the first two pickoffs led to the first 14 ECU points. The Pirates defense held the nation s leading offense to its lowest offensive output of the season with 399 yards, still 121 yards more than the Pirates gained on offense. For the final score, the Pirates took 7:13 off the clock and traveled 53 yards in 12 plays and took a lead on a Ben Hartman 36-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining in the contest. Tulsa had one last chance, and moved the ball to their own 46-yard line before the Pirates intercepted its fifth pass of the game after Tulsa receiver Brennan Marion succumbed to an injury and fell down on the long pass attempt. The Hurricane tied the score at 24 with 8:56 remaining in the game on an eight-yard pass from quarterback David Johnson to Jake Collums, before ECU went on its game-winning drive. Tulsa s fourth turnover of the game led to an East Carolina touchdown early in the second half giving the Pirates a lead with 11:40 left in the third quarter. On the Pirates first play of that drive, Norman Whitley raced 69 yards for the touchdown. The game script was written early as Tulsa s first offensive play of the game resulted in an interception. East Carolina went 83 yards in nine plays to take an early 7-0 lead as Patrick Pinkney threw the final 13-yard pass to Kevin Gidrey for the touchdown. The Pirates took a 14-0 lead on a 72-yard interception return by Travis Simmons at the 6:59 mark of the first quarter. Tulsa put its first points on the board with a one-yard Tarrion Adams run that capped a 72-yard, 14-play drive. The Hurricane recovered a fumble on the subsequent kickoff and settled for a 37-yard Jarod Tracy field goal to cut the ECU lead to The Hurricane went 58 yards in 11 plays to take its first lead of the game as Adams scored on his second one-yard TD run, giving Tulsa a lead. Tulsa s third turnover of the game, a fumble after a reception from Jesse Meyer, the Pirates Simmons took the fumble 40 yards to the Tulsa 16-yard line, but the Hurricane defense stood its ground and held ECU to one-yard and a 32-yard field goal. The game remained tied at the intermission, 17-17, as the Hurricane held a 202 to 126-yard advantage in total offense. Game Notebook After compiling 108 plays this year of over 20 yards coming into the game, Tulsa managed just one 20+ yard play in this game. Tulsa ended the game with 616 points on the season, surpassing the previous Conference USA record of 597 points established in Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Tulsa East Carolina Team Statistics TU ECU First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 5 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 32:27 27:33 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD ECU Norman Whitley, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 23-of-42 for 195 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT ECU Pat Pinkney, 10-of-24 for 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving TU Brennan Marion, 4-54; Slick Shelley, 6-48 ECU Joe Womack, 2-32 Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score ECU 1 10:02 Patrick Pinkney 13 pass to Kevin Kidrey (Hartman kick) ECU 1 6:59 Travis Simmons 72 INT return (Hartman kick) 0-14 Tulsa 1 2:28 Tarrion Adams 1 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 1 0:11 Jarod Tracy 37 FG Tulsa 2 10:40 Tarrion Adams 1 run (Tracy kick) ECU 2 4:46 Ben Hartman 32 FG ECU 3 11:40 Norman Whitley 69 run (Hartman kick) Tulsa 4 8:56 David Johnson 8 pass to Jake Collums (Tracy kick) ECU 4 1:43 Ben Hartman 36 FG

35 game 14 TULSA 45 BALL STATE 13 GMAC Bowl January 6, 2009 Ladd-Peebles Stadium Mobile, Ala. Attendance: 32,816 Mobile, Alabama MVP Tarrion Adams set the school s career and single-season rushing records as he totaled 207 yards and three touchdowns in Tulsa s victory over No. 22-ranked Ball State in the 10th Annual GMAC Bowl in front of 32,816 fans at Ladd- Peebles Stadium. The victory gave the Hurricane its first-ever 11-win season, while Ball State ended its campaign at Tulsa scored the first seven points of the game and took a lead at halftime. The Hurricane went on to score 21 unanswered points in a rain-soaked second half, while the Hurricane defense held the nation s 17th-ranked offense to just 17 second-half yards, and allowing zero first downs and zero pass completions. The Hurricane set school bowl records for total yards (632) and rushing yards (439). Tulsa improved its Bowl record to 7-9 overall, and have won three of its last four Bowl games. Adams was joined on the medal stand by Offensive MVP David Johnson, Defensive MVP Roy Roberts and Special Teams MVP Jarod Tracy. Adams was not the only Hurricane player to set a career record, as Tracy established the school s career scoring mark. Adams finished his career with 3,651 yards, while Tracy ended his career with 286 career points. The victory was the second straight in the GMAC Bowl for the Hurricane. In the last two GMAC Bowls, Tulsa out-scored the two Mid-American Conference foes, Bowling Green and Ball State, by a combined score. Tulsa took its first possession, following a Ball State fumble, 40 yards in four plays as David Johnson connected with freshman Damaris Johnson on a 30-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game at the 11:36 mark. Tulsa couldn t capitalize on Ball State s second fumble of the game, and on the Cardinals next possession the Cardinals Nate Davis ran 18 yards for BSU s first score. The Davis run capped a five-play, 62-yard drive. Tracy s 31-yard field goal with 2:04 left in the first quarter put the Hurricane ahead 10-7, and with those three points gave him school record-tying 281st career point. Adams put the Tulsa ahead, 17-7 at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter, with a one-yard run, capping a 67-yard, eight-play drive. Adams added his second TD on a 57-yard run for a Tulsa lead with 4:38 remaining on the clock. In the second half, neither Ball State s defense nor the heavy rain was able to stop Tulsa s offense. Tulsa took the second-half kickoff 87 yards in eight plays to take a lead with 11:40 on the third quarter clock. Johnson threw the final 16 yards to Slick Shelley for the touchdown. Tulsa added 14 points in the fourth quarter. The first coming on an Adams 11-yard run at the 13:29 mark and the second on a Johnson 13-yard pass to Jacob Frank. Game Notebook Tulsa has now scored more than 30 points in 12 games this season, and eclipsed 40 points nine times. The Golden Hurricane scored 661 points in the 2008 season, a school record, which passes the 1919 squad s 621 points scored. Tulsa s 632 total yards set a school record for total yards in a bowl game, and the 45 points were the second most points scored in a bowl game in school history. Freshman Damaris Johnson s 135 receiving yards set a school record for receiving yards in a bowl game. Scoring Summary Score by Quarters Fnl Ball State Tulsa Team Statistics TU BSU First Downs 30 9 Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 35:40 24:20 Individual Leaders Rushing TU Tarrion Adams, TD BSU Nate Davis, TD Passing TU David Johnson, 15-of-25 for 193 yards, 3 TD BSU Nate Davis, 9-of-29 for 145 yards, 1 INT Receiving TU Damaris Johnson, TD BSU Briggs Orsbon, 3-46 Team Qtr Time Play Pl-Yrd Score Tulsa 1 11:36 David Johnson 30 pass to Damaris Johnson (Tracy kick) BSU 1 4:07 Nate Davis 18 run (McGarvey kick) Tulsa 1 2:04 Jarod Tracy 32 FG Tulsa 2 10:39 Tarrion Adams 1 run (Tracy kick) BSU 2 6:36 Ian McGarvey 40 FG Tulsa 2 4:38 Tarrion Adams 56 run (Tracy kick) BSU 2 0:29 Ian McGarvey 22 FG Tulsa 3 11:40 David Johnson 16 pass to Slick Shelley (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 13:29 Tarrion Adams 11 run (Tracy kick) Tulsa 4 10:25 David Johnson 13 pass to Jacob Frank (Tracy kick) intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 109

36 2008 Results Record and Attendance Record: 11-3 Overall 7-1 C-USA 6-1 Home 4-2 Away 1-0 Neutral Date Opponent Attendance Score W/L Aug. 30 at UAB* 19, W Sep. 6 at North Texas 22, W Sep. 20 NEW MEXICO 30, W Sep. 27 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 20, W Oct. 4 RICE* 24, W Oct. 11 at SMU* 15, W Oct. 18 UTEP* 21, W Oct. 26 UCF* 30, W Nov. 1 at Arkansas 70, L Nov. 15 at Houston* 20, L Nov. 22 TULANE* 20, W Nov. 29 at MARSHALL* 21, W Dec. 6 EAST CAROLINA^ 22, L Jan. 6 vs. #22 Ball State! 32, W * Conference USA game ^ Conference USA Championship game! GMAC Bowl game Scoring By Quarters 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Avg Tulsa Opponents Total Attendance Home Attendance: 170,576 (24,368), 7 games Road Attendance: 170,228 (28,371), 6 games Neutral Site Attendance: 32,816 (32,816), 1 game 2008 Team Statistics Tulsa opponent FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty RUSHING ATT-YARDS Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing PASSING COMP-ATT-INT Passing Yards Average Per Game TDs Passing TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS Average Per Play Average Per Game KICKOFF RETURNS-YARDS PUNT RETURNS-YARDS INT RETURNS-YARDS PUNTS-YARDS Average Per Punt Net punt average FUMBLES-LOST PENALTIES-YARDS Average Per Game SACKS BY-YARDS LOST RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS 110/193 70/191 3rd-Down Pct 57% 37% 4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS 9/21 9/19 4th-Down Pct 43% 47% AVERAGE POSSESSION TIME 29:39 30: Individual Statistics Rushing G-GS Att Gain Loss Net Avg YPG TD Long ADAMS, Tarrion Ball State WILLIAMS, Jamad UAB OPESEYITAN, Charles Rice WHITMORE, A.J Rice JOHNSON, Damaris Ball State TENNIAL, Courtney Houston JOHNSON, David Ball State CLAY, Charles UAB BOWER, Jacob UCF JOHNSON, Aaron Ball State MARION, Brennan Houston TEAM TULSA Ball State Opponents Marshall Passing G-GS Att Cmp Int Pct Yds YPG Rating TD Long JOHNSON, David UTEP BOWER, Jacob UTEP WHITMORE, A.J UAB SUCH, Michael Houston TEAM TULSA UTEP Opponents SMU 110

37 Receiving G-GS Rec Yds Avg ypg td Long JOHNSON, Damaris New Mexico MARION, Brennan UTEP SHELLEY, Slick New Mexico CLAY, Charles UAB WHITMORE, A.J Marshall ADAMS, Tarrion New Mexico JOHNSON, Trae UCF MEYER, Jesse North Texas COLLUMS, Jacob UAB WILLIAMS, Jamad Central Arkansas TENNIAL, Courtney UTEP SEARS, Clay SMU FRANK, Jacob Ball State OPESEYITAN, Charles Central Arkansas TULSA UTEP Opponents SMU Total Offense G-GS Plays Rush Pass yards Avg/G JOHNSON, David ADAMS, Tarrion WILLIAMS, Jamad WHITMORE, A.J OPESEYITAN, Charles JOHNSON, Damaris BOWER, Jacob TENNIAL, Courtney CLAY, Charles JOHNSON, Aaron MARION, Brennan TEAM TULSA Opponents All-Purpose Yards G-GS Rush Rec PR KOR INT Yds YPG JOHNSON, Damaris ADAMS, Tarrion MARION, Brennan SHELLEY, Slick WHITMORE, A.J JOHNSON, Trae CLAY, Charles WILLIAMS, Jamad OPESEYITAN, Charles TENNIAL, Courtney JOHNSON, David MEYER, Jesse BOWER, Jacob ROBERTS, Roy JOHNSON, Aaron DAVIS, Charles BROWN, DeAundre COLLUMS, Jacob SEARS, Clay FRANK, Jacob TEAM TULSA Opponents intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 111

38 Field Goals m-att M-Att M-Att M-Att M-Att Total Pct Long TRACY, Jarod East Carolina FITZPATRICK, Kevin UAB FG Sequence Tulsa opponents UAB 30,(41) (32) North Texas 39 (47),(22) NEW MEXICO - 47 CENTRAL ARKANSAS (29),(27) (36),(27) RICE - 38 SMU (24),(34),(22) (46) UTEP - - UCF - (54) Arkansas (22) (30),(22),(22) Houston (35) - Tulane 31 - MARSHALL 46,(22) - East Carolina (37) (32),39,(36) Ball State (31) (40), (22) Numbers in (parentheses) indicate field goal was made. Scoring PATS td kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf FG Pts TRACY, Jarod ADAMS, Tarrion JOHNSON, Damaris CLAY, Charles SHELLEY, Slick MARION, Brennan WHITMORE, A.J TENNIAL, Courtney COLLUMS, Jacob JOHNSON, David WILLIAMS, Jamad JOHNSON, Trae OPESEYITAN, Charles FITZPATRICK,, Kevin JOHNSON, Aaron BOWER, Jacob FRANK, Jacob ROBERTS, Roy TULSA Opponents Kickoff Retuns No Yds Avg TD Long JOHNSON, Damaris UTEP TENNIAL, Courtney Arkansas BROWN, DeAundre North Texas ROBERTS, Roy UAB WHITMORE, A.J Tulane DAVIS, Charles SMU ADAMS, Tarrion Central Arkansas TULSA UTEP Opponents Arkansas Punting No Yds Avg Blk I20 TB long SUCH, Michael UAB JOHNSON, David UCF TRACY, Jarod UCF TEAM TULSA UAB Opponents East Carolina Interceptions No Yds Avg TD Long ROBERTS, Roy New Mexico BROWN, DeAundre UAB/SMU DAVIS, Charles New Mexico SIMS, Kenny D Rice DESTIN, John Ball State TULSA New Mexico Opponents East Carolina Fumble Returns No Yds Avg TD Long SIMS, Kenny R Tulane ROBERTS, Roy Tulane TULSA Tulane Opponents East Carolina Punt Returns No Yds Avg TD Long JOHNSON, Trae UAB JOHNSON, Damaris Houston DAVIS, Charles New Mexico SHELLEY, Slick Rice OPESEYITAN, Charles New Mexico TULSA UAB Opponents Ball State 112

39 2008 Defensive Statistics G UT AT Tot TFL-Yds SK-Yds INT-Yds PBU QBH FR FF BRYAN, Mike LOCKETT, James DAVIS, Charles HOPKINS, Moton ROBERTS, Roy ANTLE, Tanner BROWN, DeAundre GARRISON, Wilson CLINKSCALE, George SIMS, Kenny D NEMONS, Terrel FLANDERS, John ARNICK, Curnelius SCOTT, Un tavious DESTIN, John MANGA, Ade BURRIS, Josh WALLACE, Zack SARKISSIAN, Kaipo RAY, Odrick DOCK, Alan TOLIVER, Dion MEADOWS, Marqieno ADAMS, Tarrion TENNIAL, Courtney OPESEYITAN, Charles GODFREY, Cedric WILLIAMS, Jamad MARION, Brennan CLAY, Charles JOHNSON, David ROBINSON, Rashad GOBERT, Donald SIMS, Kenny R FITZPATRICK, Kevin HORTON, Da sor MORSEY, Justin McALESTER, Jeph MEYER, Jesse BOWER, Jacob FRANK, Jacob JOHNSON, Trae HENDERSON, Nick WHALEY, Jody TRACY, Jarod JEFFERIS, Cory SHELLEY, Slick JOHNSON, Damaris TULSA Opponents intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 113

40 2008 Tulsa Individual Superlatives Longest Run from Scrimmage 62 yards by Damaris Johnson vs. Ball State Longest Run from Scrimmage for TD 56 yards by Tarrion Adams vs. Ball State Longest Pass Play 97 yards by David Johnson to Brennan Marion vs. UTEP Longest Pass Play for TD 97 yards by David Johnson to Brennan Marion vs. UTEP Longest Kickoff Return 94 yards by Damaris Johnson vs. UTEP (TD) Longest Punt Return 35 yards by Trae Johnson vs. UAB Longest Interception Return 41 yards by Roy Roberts vs. New Mexico Longest Punt 69 yards by Michael Such vs. UAB Longest Field Goal 41 yards by Kevin Fitzpatrick vs. UAB Most Rushing Attempts 33 by Tarrion Adams vs. Tulane Most Rushing Yards 323 yards by Tarrion Adams vs. Tulane (School Record) Most TD s Rushing 3 by Courtney Tennial vs. UCA; Tarrion Adams vs. Marshall and Ball State Most Passing Attempts 42 by David Johnson vs. East Carolina Most Passes Completed 25 by David Johnson vs. UNT Most Passing Yards 469 yards by David Johnson vs. New Mexico Most TD Passes Thrown 6 by David Johnson vs. North Texas and New Mexico Most Yards of Total Offense 462 yards by David Johnson vs. New Mexico Most Offensive Plays 51 by David Johnson vs. ECU Most Passes Caught 8 by Damaris Johnson vs. Marshall Most Yards Receiving 233 yards by Brennan Marion vs. UTEP Most TD s Receiving 3 by Damaris Johnson vs. UNM; Brennan Marion vs. UTEP Most Points Scored (non-kicking) 18 by Damaris Johnson vs. New Mexico; Courtney Tennial vs. UCA; Brennan Marion vs. UTEP; Tarrion Adams vs. Marshall and Ball State Most Points Scored Kicking 14 by Jarod Tracy vs. UCA Most Kickoff Returns 9 by Damaris Johnson vs. UH Most Kickoff Return Yards 211 by Damaris Johnson vs. UTEP Most Punt Returns 3 by Trae Johnson vs. UNT, UTEP and Ball State; Damaris Johnson vs. Tulane Most Punt Return Yards 42 yards by Trae Johnson vs. UAB Most Interceptions 2 by Charles Davis and Roy Roberts vs. New Mexico Most Interception Return Yards 41 yards by Roy Roberts vs. New Mexico Most Field Goals Scored 3 by Jarod Tracy vs. SMU Most Punts 3 by Michael Such vs. SMU, East Carolina and Ball State Most Punt Yards 125 yards by Michael Such vs. ECU Best Punting Average (min. 2 punts) 59.0 on 2 punts vs. North Texas (2 punts) 2008 Tulsa/Opponents Season High Lows Tulsa category opponents 77 vs. UTEP...Points Scored... 70, Houston 23 vs. Arkansas...Low... 7, Tulane 36 vs. UTEP...First Downs... 32, Houston 19 vs. UAB...Low... 9, Ball State 64 vs. Ball State...Rushing Plays... 48, UCF 35 vs. North Texas...Low... 21, UTEP 489 vs. Tulane...Rushing Yards , Marshall 135 vs. North Texas...Low... 32, UTEP 42 vs. East Carolina... Passes Attempted... 46, Rice 13 vs. Tulane...Low... 16, UCF 27 vs. North Texas... Passes Completed... 30, North Texas 9 vs. Tulane...Low... 8, UCF 470 vs. UTEP...Passing Yardage , Houston 104 vs. Tulane...Low , East Carolina 97 vs. East Carolina... Total Plays... 81, Rice 63 vs. UAB...Low... 55, Marshall 791 vs. UTEP... Total Offense , Houston 399 vs. East Carolina...Low , UCF 11 vs. UTEP...Total Touchdowns... 10, Houston 3 vs. Arkansas, East Carolina...Low... 1, Tulane, Ball State 2 vs. UCF, East Carolina...Fumbles Lost... 3, Rice, UCF 0 vs. UAB, North Texas, UCA, Rice, UTEP, Tulane, Marshall, Ball State...Low... 0, New Mexico, SMU, UTEP, Arkansas, Marshall 114

41 2008 Tulsa Opponent Superlatives Longest Run from Scrimmage 69 yards by Chubb Small, Marshall; Norman Whitley, East Carolina Longest Run from Scrimmage for TD 69 yards by Chubb Small, Marshall; Norman Whitley, East Carolina Longest Pass Play 77 yards by Emmanuel Sanders, SMU Longest Pass Play for TD 77 yards by Emmanuel Sanders, SMU Longest Kickoff Return 96 yards by Dennis Johnson, Arkansas Longest Punt Return 51 yards by Jeremy Hill, Ball State (off blocked punt) Longest Interception Return 72 yards by Travis Simmons, East Carolina (TD) Longest Punt 73 yards by Matt Dodge, East Carolina Longest Field Goal 54 yards by Daren Daly, UCF Most Rushing Attempts 27 by Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico Most Rushing Yards 136 yards by Joe Webb, UAB 2008 Tulsa Starting Lineups Offense Most TD s Rushing 1 by Lance Dunbar, North Texas; Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico; Brent Grimes, Central Arkansas; James Casey, Rice; James Thomas, UTEP; Michael Smith, Arkansas; Case Keenum, Houston; Andre Kohn, Houston; J.T. McDonald, Tulane; Chubb Small and Terrell Edwards, Marshall; Norman Whitley, East Carolina; Nate Davis, Ball State Most Passing Attempts 45 by Giovanni Vizza, North Texas Most Passes Completed 30 by Giovanni Vizza, North Texas Most Passing Yards 402 yards by Case Keenum, Houston Most TD Passes Thrown 6 by Case Keenum, Houston Most Passes Caught 9 by James Casey, Rice Most Yards Receiving 142, Jarett Dillard, Rice Most Yards of Total Offense 445 yards by Case Keenum, Houston Most Offensive Plays 57 by Chase Clement, Rice Most Points Scored (non-kicking) 18 by Tyron Carrier, Houston Most Points Scored Kicking 12 by Alex Tejada, Arkansas Most Kickoff Returns 7 by James Henderson, SMU; Torieal Gibson, Ball State Most Kickoff Return Yards 190 yards by Frantell Forrest, UAB Most Punt Returns 2 by B.J. Hill, Ball State Most Punt Return Yards 25 yards by B.J. Hill, Ball State Most Interceptions 3 by Loyce Means, Houston Most Interception Return Yards 95 by Loyce Means, Houston Most Field Goals Scored 3 by Alex Tejada, Arkansas Most Punts 9 by Blake Clingan, UCF Most Punting Yards 385 yards by Chris Miller, Ball State Best Punting Average (more than 1 punt) 50.0 yards by Chase Turner, Houston Opponent QB RB FB/R/TE WR WR WR RT RG C LG LT UAB Johnson Adams Clay Whitmore Da. Johnson Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes UNT Johnson Adams Clay T. Johnson Da. Johnson Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes UNM Johnson Clay Collums Marion Da. Johnson Shelley Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes UCA Johnson Adams Clay T. Johnson Da. Johnson Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes Rice Johnson Adams Clay Marion Da. Johnson Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes SMU Johnson Tennial Clay T. Johnson Whitmore Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes UTEP Johnson Adams Whitmore T. Johnson Marion Shelley Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes UCF Johnson Adams Whitmore T. Johnson Whitmore Shelley Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes Arkansas Johnson Adams Collums Marion Whitmore Shelley Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes Houston Johnson Clay Collums T. Johnson Da. Johnson Shelley Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes Tulane Johnson Adams Collums Marion Da. Johnson Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes Marshall Johnson Clay Frank T. Johnson Whitmore Meyer Thomas Morsey Whaley Puckett Holmes East Carolina Johnson Adams Collums Marion Da. Johnson Shelley Thomas Puckett Whaley Anderson Holmes Ball State Johnson Adams Clay T. Johnson Whitmore Meyer Thomas Puckett Whaley Anderson Holmes Defense Opponent RE NG LE SLB MLB WLB BAN SPUR FS CB CB UAB Scott Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Wallace Arnick Brown Lockett Davis Roberts KD Sims UNT Ray Nemons Hopkins Wallace Bryan Arnick Roberts Lockett Burris Destin KD Sims UNM Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Destin KD Sims UCA Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Destin KD Sims Rice Scott Garrison Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Brown Davis Destin KD Sims SMU Scott Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Flanders KD Sims UTEP Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Flanders KD Sims UCF Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Brown Lockett Davis Roberts KD Sims Arkansas Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Brown Lockett Davis Roberts KD Sims Houston Scott Clinkscale Hopkins Roberts Bryan Antle Brown Lockett Davis Flanders KD Sims Tulane Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Flanders KD Sims Marshall Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Flanders KD Sims East Carolina Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Brown Lockett Davis Roberts KD Sims Ball State Garrison Nemons Hopkins Clinkscale Bryan Antle Roberts Lockett Davis Destin KD Sims intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 115

42 2008 Team Game-By-Game Summaries TU UAB First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 25:51 31:55 TU UNT First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:11 32:49 TU UNM First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 4 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:46 32:14 TU UCA First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 24:20 35:28 TU RICE First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 30:10 29:50 TU SMU First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 29:40 30:20 TU UTEP First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 33:29 26:25 tu ucf First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 1 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 26:07 33:53 TU ARK First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 27:22 32:38 TU UH First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 3 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 29:45 30:15 tu tln First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 2 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 30:12 29:48 TU MAR First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 32:55 27:05 TU ECU First Downs Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 5 0 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 32:27 27:33 TU BSU First Downs 30 9 Total Net Yards Offensive Plays Yards Per Play Rushes/Net Yards Net Passing Yards Passes Comp/Att Had Intercepted 0 1 Punts/Average Penalties/Yards Fumbles/Lost rd Down Conv/Att th Down Conv/Att Possession Time 35:40 24:20 116

43 2008 Game-By-Game Offensive Statistics Rushing Adams Bower Clay Dav. Johnson Tennial Williams Dam. Johnson Whitmore A. Johnson Opesey Marion Opponent A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-Td A-Yds-TD A-Yds-TD A-Yds-TD A-Yds-TD UAB dnp UNT dnp /-2/ UNM /-7/ dnp UCA /-3/ dnp Rice /-1/ dnp SMU dnp dnp UTEP UCF dnp Arkansas /-12/ dnp Houston dnp /-6/0 Tulane Marshall dnp East Carolina /-4/ dnp Ball State /-9/ dnp dnp Passing Dav. Johnson Bower Whitmore Such Opponent C-A-I-Yds-Td C-A-I-Yds-Td C-A-I-Yds-Td C-A-I-Yds-Td UAB UNT UNM dnp UCA dnp Rice SMU UTEP UCF Arkansas Houston Tulane dnp Marshall East Carolina Ball State Receiving Adams Clay T. Johnson Marion Dam. Johnson Collums Meyer Frank Opponent R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td UAB UNT UNM UCA Rice SMU UTEP dnp UCF dnp Arkansas dnp Houston Tulane Marshall East Carolina Ball State /-7/ dnp Receiving Williams Whitmore Shelley Opeseyitan Sears Tennial Opponent R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-Td R-Yds-TD UAB dnp UNT dnp dnp UNM dnp UCA /-2/ dnp Rice SMU dnp UTEP UCF Arkansas Houston Tulane Marshall East Carolina Ball State /-3/ dnp intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 117

44 2008 Game-By-Game Tackle Chart Defense UAB UNT UNM UCA RICE SMU UTEP UCF ARK UH TLN MAR ECU BSU S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT S-AT Secondary Brown dnp dnp 1-5 dnp Burris dnp Davis 0-0 dnp Destin Flanders Gobert dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp Hancock dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-0 dnp 0-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp Henderson Horton 1-0 dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp Lockett Meadows dnp dnp dnp dnp Roberts KD Sims Linebackers Antle Arnick Bryan Clinkscale 0-2 dnp Dock dnp dnp Manga Sarkissian dnp dnp KR Sims dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp dnp Wallace dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp Line Floyd dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp Garrison Godfrey dnp dnp 0-0 dnp dnp dnp Hopkins McAlester dnp dnp Nemons Ray Robinson dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-0 Scott Others Adams Bower Clay Fitzpatrick 0-0 dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp dnp 0-1 dnp dnp 0-1 Frank Jefferis Dav. Johnson Dam. Johnson Trae Johnson Marion dnp Meyer dnp dnp dnp Morsey dnp dnp Opeseyitan Shelley Tennial 0-0 dnp dnp Toliver dnp dnp dnp Tracy Whaley Williams

45 golden hurricane C-USA

46 Conference USA Marking its 15-year milestone during the season, Conference USA is still going strong. From the beginning, dedication to excellence has been the league s guiding principle and remains today a common thread for a promising future. C-USA is home to 12 nationally prominent, tradition-rich members in East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances men s and women s programs that are immersed in athletic success and academic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities. All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I-A football, along with several other men s and women s athletic programs, many of which compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA sponsors competition in 19 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field) and 10 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, softball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball). The league sponsors numerous academic awards, including the Commissioner s Honor Roll and the Commissioner s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA annually awards 12 postgraduate scholarships, along with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award. Conference USA also added a Spirit of Service Award, recognizing student-athletes three times a year for a combination of significant community service efforts, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. Success on the Playing Field Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top conferences in the nation. Football 50 teams have earned bowl bids Member of the Bowl Championship Series Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, EagleBank Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sheraton Hawai i Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl and Texas Bowl Men s Basketball Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in the country 83 postseason teams (43 NCAA and 35 NIT, 5 CBI) One National Championship title game appearance Three Final Four teams Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams One NIT Champion and four NIT semifinalists Inaugural CBI Champion Women s Basketball 43 NCAA Tournament appearances 30 WNIT appearances One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 Two WNIT semifinalists Baseball 47 NCAA appearances Six College World Series appearances (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001), including the last five in a row 13 Super Regional appearances Has produced at least four NCAA teams in seven of the last eight seasons In addition, 32 volleyball teams, 46 men s and women s soccer teams and 22 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C-USA has sent three men s soccer teams to the NCAA College Cup, five softball teams to the Women s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had six national champions in NCAA track and field competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team competitors in cross country, golf, swimming, tennis and track and field. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals have made more than 500 NCAA appearances. C-USA Quick Facts Commissioner: Britton Banowsky PR/Football: Russell Anderson rdanderson@c-usa.org Phone: Fax: Website: Mailing Address: 5201 North O Connor Blvd., Suite 300, Irving, Texas

47 2008 C-USA Final Standings Team C-USA Pct. ALL Pct. Home Road Neut. EAST DIVISION *East Carolina Southern Miss Memphis UAB UCF Marshall WEST DIVISION Tulsa Rice Houston UTEP Tulane SMU *Conference USA Champion 2008 C-USA Team Stats Rush Offense G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G Tulsa Memphis Southern Miss UAB Houston Marshall Rice East Carolina UTEP Tulane UCF SMU Pass Offense G Att Comp Int Pct Yds Avg TD Yds/G Houston Rice Tulsa UTEP SMU Southern Miss Memphis Tulane East Carolina UAB Marshall UCF Total Offense G Rush Pass Plays Yds Avg/P TD Yds/G Tulsa Houston Rice Southern Miss Memphis UTEP UAB East Carolina Tulane Marshall SMU UCF Scoring Offense TD XP 2XP DXP FG SAF Pts Avg Tulsa Rice Houston UTEP Southern Miss Memphis East Carolina UAB SMU Marshall Tulane UCF Pass Efficiency G Att Cmp Pct Int Yds TD Eff Tulsa Rice Houston UTEP Southern Miss East Carolina SMU Memphis UAB Tulane Marshall UCF Rush Defense G Rush Yds Avg TD Yds/G UCF Tulsa East Carolina Southern Miss Memphis Marshall UAB Houston Rice UTEP Tulane SMU intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 121

48 Pass Eff. Defense Att Cmp Int Pct Yds TD Eff UCF East Carolina Southern Miss Marshall Memphis Rice Houston Tulane Tulsa UAB UTEP SMU Total Defense Rush Pass Plays Yds Avg/P TD Yds/G East Carolina UCF Memphis Southern Miss Tulsa Tulane Houston Marshall UAB Rice UTEP SMU Scoring Defense TD XP 2XP DXP FG Saf Pts Avg/G East Carolina Southern Miss UCF Memphis Marshall Tulsa Houston UAB Rice Tulane UTEP SMU (Gained) ( Lost) TO Margin Fum Int Tot Fum Int Tot Mar Rice UTEP Southern Miss East Carolina UCF Memphis UAB Marshall Tulsa Tulane Houston SMU Kickoff Returns G Ret Yds TD Avg UCF Tulsa Marshall East Carolina Tulane Houston Rice UTEP SMU Southern Miss UAB Memphis First Downs G Rush Pass Pen Total Tulsa Houston Rice Memphis Southern Miss UTEP East Carolina UAB Tulane SMU Marshall UCF rd-Dn Conv. G Made Att Pct. Tulsa Rice Houston Memphis Southern Miss UTEP Tulane UAB East Carolina Marshall SMU UCF Punt Returns G Ret Yds TD Avg UCF East Carolina Marshall Houston Memphis Southern Miss UTEP Tulane Tulsa Rice SMU UAB

49 2008 C-USA Individual Stats Rushing G Att Yds Avg TD Yds/G FLETCHER, D., USM ADAMS, Tarrion, TLS BEALL, Bryce, HOU STEELE, Curtis, MEM MARSHALL, D., MAR Pass Efficiency G Att Cmp Int Pct Yds TD Eff JOHNSON, David, TLS CLEMENT, C., RICE KEENUM, Case, HOU VITTATOE, T., UTEP PINKNEY, Pat, ECU Total Offense G Rush Pass Plys Tot Yds/G KEENUM, Case, HOU CLEMENT, C., RICE JOHNSON, David, TLS WEBB, Joe, UAB DAVIS, Austin, USM Receptions/Game G Rec Yds TD Avg/C Yds/G CASEY, James, RICE SANDERS,E., SMU DILLARD, Jarett, RICE HAFNER, Mark, HOU CARRIER, Tyron, HOU Rec. Yds/Game G Rec Yds TD Avg/C Yds/G ROBINSON, A., SMU CASEY, James, RICE DILLARD, Jarett RICE SANDERS, E., SMU BROWN,DeAndre, USM MARION, Brennan, TLS All-Purpose G Rush Rcv PR KR Yds Avg/G JOHNSON,D., TLS MARSHALL, D., MAR CARRIER, Tyron, HOU BEALL, Bryce, HOU FORREST, F. UAB Interceptions G Int Yds TD Int/G SANDERS, Kevin, UAB RASHAD, S., UCF BURNETT, Joe, UCF NEAL, Johnell, UCF Punt Returns G Ret Yds TD Avg BURNETT, Joe, UCF GRIFFIN, D.A., MEM WATSON, Andre, USM JOHNSON, Trae, TLS Kickoff Returns G Ret Yds TD Avg BURNETT, Joe, UCF MARSHALL, D., MAR JOHNSON, D., TLS FERGUSON, J., UTEP CARRIER, Tyron, HOU Punting G Punt Yds Avg THEVENOT, Ross, TLN TURNER, Chase, HOU DODGE, Matt, ECU WATERS, Swayze, UAB PETERSEN, K., UTEP Field Goals G FG FGA Pct FG/G HARTMAN, Ben, ECU MARTINEZ, J., UTEP WATERS, Swayze, UAB MORSTEAD,T., SMU BELL, Ben., HOU TRACY, Jarod, TLS Tackles G UA A TOT TPG McRATH, Gerald, USM VINCENT, Adam, UTEP HARVEY, Mario, MAR FLEPS, Pete, SMU SENDEJO, Andrew, RICE BRYAN, Mike, TLS Sacks G UA A Total HUNT, Phillip, HOU WILSON, C.J., ECU LOCKETT, James, TLS MCDONALD, C., MEM KELLEY, Logan, TLN Tackles for Loss G TOT Avg. HUNT, Phillip, HOU WILSON, C.J., ECU MILLER, Bruce, UCF LOCKETT, James, TLS HENDERSON, Joe, UAB Fumbles Forced G Total LOCKETT, James, TLS 14 5 KELLEY, Logan, TLN 12 3 YENGA, Youri, SMU 12 3 SONNIER, Corey, TLN 12 3 SLATE, Zack, ECU 13 3 intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 123

50 2009 C-USA Composite Schedule * Indicates C-USA Games All games and dates are subject to change SEPTEMBER 4 (FRIDAY) Tulsa at Tulane* SEPTEMBER 5 (SATURDAY) Appalachian State at East Carolina Northwestern State at Houston Southern Illinois at Marshall Rice at UAB* Stephen F. Austin at SMU Alcorn State at Southern Miss Samford at UCF Buffalo at UTEP SEPTEMBER 6 (MONDAY) Mississippi at Memphis SEPTEMBER 12 (SATURDAY) East Carolina at West Virginia Houston at Oklahoma State Marshall at Virginia Tech Memphis at Middle Tennessee Rice at Texas Tech SMU at UAB* UCF at Southern Miss* BYU at Tulane Tulsa at New Mexico Kansas at UTEP SEPTEMBER 19 (SATURDAY) East Carolina at North Carolina Bowling Green at Marshall UT-Martin at Memphis Rice at Oklahoma State SMU at Washington State Virginia at Southern Miss Tulsa at Oklahoma UAB at Troy Buffalo at UCF UTEP at New Mexico State SEPTEMBER 26 (SATURDAY) UCF at East Carolina* Texas Tech at Houston Marshall at Memphis* Vanderbilt at Rice Southern Miss at Kansas McNeese State at Tulane Sam Houston State at Tulsa UAB at Texas A&M UTEP at Texas OCTOBER 1 (THURSDAY) Southern Miss at UAB* OCTOBER 3 (SATURDAY) East Carolina at Marshall* Houston at UTEP* Memphis at UCF* Tulsa at Rice* SMU at TCU Tulane at Army OCTOBER 10 (SATURDAY) East Carolina at SMU* Houston at Mississippi State Marshall at Tulane* UTEP at Memphis* Navy at Rice Southern Miss at Louisville OCTOBER 14 (WEDNESDAY) Boise State at Tulsa OCTOBER 17 (SATURDAY) Rice at East Carolina* Houston at Tulane* Marshall at West Virginia Memphis at Southern Miss* Navy at SMU UAB at Mississippi Miami (Fla.) at UCF OCTOBER 21 (WEDNESDAY) Tulsa at UTEP* OCTOBER 24 (SATURDAY) SMU at Houston* UAB at Marshall* UCF at Rice* Tulane at Southern Miss* OCTOBER 27 (TUESDAY) East Carolina at Memphis* OCTOBER 31 (SATURDAY) Southern Miss at Houston* SMU at Tulsa* Tulane at LSU UAB at UTEP* NOVEMBER 1 (SUNDAY) Marshall at UCF* NOVEMBER 5 (THURSDAY) Virginia Tech at East Carolina NOVEMBER 7 (SATURDAY) Houston at Tulsa* Memphis at Tennessee Rice at SMU* UTEP at Tulane* Florida Atlantic at UAB UCF at Texas NOVEMBER 14 (SATURDAY) Houston at UCF* Southern Miss at Marshall* UAB at Memphis* Tulane at Rice* UTEP at SMU* NOVEMBER 15 (SUNDAY) East Carolina at Tulsa* SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 UAB at East Carolina* Memphis at Houston* SMU at Marshall* UTEP at Rice* Tulsa at Southern Miss* Tulane at UCF* NOVEMBER 27 (FRIDAY) Memphis at Tulsa* NOVEMBER 28 (SATURDAY) Southern Miss at East Carolina* Rice at Houston* Marshall at UTEP* Tulane at SMU* UCF at UAB* DECEMBER 5 (SATURDAY) C-USA Championship Game 124

51 2009 C-USA Football Television Schedule CBS COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK NATIONAL Saturday, September 5 Buffalo at UTEP 9:00 p.m. EDT/8:00 p.m. CDT Saturday, September 12 Kansas at UTEP 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, September 19 Virginia at Southern Miss 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Thursday, October 1 Southern Miss at UAB 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 3 East Carolina at Marshall Noon EDT/11:00 a.m. CDT Saturday, October 3 tulsa at Rice 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 10 Navy at Rice 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 17 Houston at Tulane 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 17 Miami (Fla.) at UCF 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 24 SMU at Houston 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, November 7 Houston at Tulsa 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST Saturday, November 14 TBA (12 day advance) Noon EST/11:00 a.m. CST Saturday, November 21 TBA (12 day advance) 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST Friday, November 27 memphis at Tulsa 1:00 p.m. EST/Noon CST Saturday, November 28 TBA (12 day advance) 1:30 p.m. EST/12:30 p.m. CST ESPN SCHEDULE Friday, September 4 tulsa at Tulane 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Sunday, September 6 Mississippi at Memphis 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Wednesday, October 14 Boise State at Tulsa 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Wednesday, October 21 tulsa at UTEP 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Sunday, November 1 Marshall at UCF 8:15 p.m. EDT/7:15 p.m. CDT Thursday, November 5 Virginia Tech at East Carolina 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT Sunday, November 15 East Carolina at Tulsa 8:15 p.m. EDT/7:15 p.m. CDT Saturday, December 19 St. Petersburg Bowl 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST Sunday, December 20 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 8:15 p.m. EST/7:15 p.m. CST Thursday, December 24 Sheraton Hawai i Bowl 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST Thursday, December 31 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Noon EST/11:00 a.m. CST Friday, January 2 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 5:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. CST ESPN 2 SCHEDULE Saturday, September 12 BYU at Tulane 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, September 26 Texas Tech at Houston 9:15 p.m. EDT/8:15 p.m. CDT Tuesday, October 27 East Carolina at Memphis 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT ESPN OR ESPN 2 SCHEDULE Saturday, September 19 East Carolina at North Carolina Noon EDT/11:00 a.m. CDT Saturday, December 5 C-USA Championship Game TBA ESPN CLASSIC OR ESPN U SCHEDULE Saturday, October 3 Tulane at Army TBA ESPN 360 SCHEDULE Saturday, September 12 Marshall at Virginia Tech 1:30 p.m. EDT/12:30 p.m. CDT FOX SPORTS NET SCHEDULE Saturday, September 12 Houston at Oklahoma State 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, September 19 tulsa at Oklahoma 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, September 26 Southern Miss at Kansas Noon EDT/11:00 a.m. CDT Saturday, September 26 UTEP at Texas 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT THE MTN. Saturday, September 12 tulsa at New Mexico 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 3 SMU at TCU 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT BIG EAST NETWORK REGIONAL SCHEDULE Saturday, October 17 Marshall at West Virginia 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT MASN REGIONAL SCHEDULE Saturday, September 5 Appalachian State at East Carolina Noon EDT/11:00 a.m. CDT Saturday, October 10 East Carolina at SMU 8:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 17 Rice at East Carolina 3:30 p.m. EDT/2:30 p.m. CDT intro players staff review c-usa opponents history records media 125

52 2009 C-USA Bowl Synopsis Conference USA has agreements in place with seven different bowl games for the 2009 season. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis will select the winner of Conference USA s football championship game to face an opponent from the Southeastern Conference in its game. Conference USA will return to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl this year and will send a team mutually agreed upon by C-USA and ESPN Regional Television, to participate in Hawai i. The league will also continue to provide teams for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the St. Petersburg Bowl as it did last season. Conference USA also has conditional agreements in place with the Texas Bowl in Houston and the Eagle- Bank Bowl in Washington, D.C. If the Big 12 or Navy is unable to fill its spots in the Texas Bowl, then C-USA could return to that bowl for the third straight season. If Army is unable to become bowl-eligible, Conference USA could take part in the second annual EagleBank Bowl. C-USA and the BCS The Conference USA champion (along with the champions of the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference) will have an automatic berth in one of the five bowls if, and only if: *It is a Conference Champion; and Either: *It is ranked in the top 12 of the BCS Standings on Bowl Selection Sunday; *It is ranked in the top 16 of the BCS Standings on Bowl Selection Sunday, and its ranking in the BCS Standings is better than that of a champion of a Conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowl games Bowl Schedule Date Bowl Conference location time network Dec. 19 New Mexico Bowl Mountain West vs. WAC Albuquerque, N.M. 2:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 19 St. Petersburg Bowl C-USA vs. Big East St. Petersburg, Fla. 8:00 p.m. ESPN Dec. 20 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl C-USA vs. Sun Belt new Orleans, La. 8 p.m. espn Dec. 22 MAACO Las Vegas Bowl Mountain West vs. Pac-10 Las Vegas, Nev. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 23 San Diego Co. Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl Mountain West vs. Pac-10 San Diego, Calif. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl C-USA vs. WAC Honolulu, Hawaii 8 p.m. espn Dec. 26 Motor City Bowl MAC vs. Big Ten Detroit, Mich. 1 p.m. ESPN Dec. 26 Meineke Car Care Bowl ACC vs. Big East Charlotte, N.C. 4:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 26 Emerald Bowl Pac-10 vs. ACC San Francisco, Calif. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 27 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl SEC vs. ACC Nashville, Tenn. 8:15 p.m. ESPN Dec. 28 Independence Bowl SEC vs. Big 12 Shreveport, La. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 29 EagleBank Bowl Army/C-USA vs. ACC Washington, D.C. 4:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 29 Champs Sports Bowl ACC vs. Big Ten Orlando, Fla. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 30 Roady s Humanitarian Bowl WAC vs. Mountain West Boise, Idaho 4:30 p.m. ESPN Dec. 30 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl Pac-10 vs. Big 12 San Diego, Calif. 8 p.m. ESPN Dec. 30 Texas Bowl navy/c-usa vs. Big 12 Houston, Texas 8 p.m. nfl Network Dec. 31 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Mountain West vs. C-USA Fort Worth, Texas 12:00 noon ESPN Dec. 31 Brut Sun Bowl Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame El Paso, Texas 2 p.m. CBS Dec. 31 Insight Bowl Big Ten vs. Big 12 Tempe, Ariz. 6:00 p.m. NFL Network Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl ACC vs. SEC Atlanta, Ga. 7:30 p.m. ESPN Jan. 1 Outback Bowl Big Ten vs. SEC Tampa, Fla. 11 a.m. ESPN Jan. 1 Toyota Gator Bowl ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame Jacksonville, Fla. 1 p.m. CBS Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl SEC vs. Big Ten Orlando, Fla. 1 p.m. ABC Jan. 1 Rose Bowl BCS vs. BCS Pasadena, Calif. 5 p.m. ABC Jan. 1 Allstate Sugar Bowl BCS vs. BCS New Orleans, La. 8:30 p.m. FOX Jan. 2 International Bowl Big East vs. MAC Toronto, Canada 12 noon ESPN2 Jan. 2 AT&T Cotton Bowl Big 12 vs. SEC Arlington, Texas 11:30 a.m. FOX Jan. 2 Papajohns.com Bowl SEC vs. Big East Birmingham, Ala. 2 p.m. ESPN Jan. 2 AutoZone Liberty Bowl C-USA vs. SEC memphis, Tenn. 5:30 p.m. ESPN Jan. 2 Valero Alamo Bowl Big Ten vs. Big 12 San Antonio, Texas 9 p.m. ESPN Jan. 4 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl BCS vs. BCS Tempe, Ariz. 8 p.m. FOX Jan. 5 FedEx Orange Bowl BCS vs. BCS Miami, Fla. 8 p.m. FOX Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl ACC vs. MAC Mobile, Ala. 7 p.m. ESPN Jan. 7 Allstate BCS National Championship BCS #1 vs. BCS #2 Pasadena, Calif. 8 p.m. FOX All Times Eastern and Subject to Change Bold - C-USA Tie-in Games 126