Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Game Report Posted: August 16, 2009 15:11  

"We just cost ourselves a bowl," said Coach Jimmy Miles after his Hurricane made SMU become bowl eligible and they fell to 4-4, "Of that much I'm certain, this one just cost us everything." If you want to know the story of why Coach Miles would use such a strong and macabre description, just look at the stat line. The Hurricane dominated in practically every category offensively and defensively, including turnovers. Two of those turnovers were fumbles returned for touchdowns by the SMU defense, one of them was 100 yards.

Take away those 14 points and SMU only put up 7 offensively, which came on a 70 yard reception that was actually 60 yards after the catch due to broken tackles. Offensively Tulsa played all three of their active QB's, finally at the end of the game Kinne was moving the offense and the sophomore looks to be the permanent fixture at QB now. The issues came when driving in the fourth quarter the 'Cane were stopped on fourth down on three occasions. Add to that misery two missed field goals by Fitzpatrick, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane simply snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Next the 'Cane have to go through the user gauntlet of rival Houston next week followed by ECU and a juggernaut top-10 Southern Miss squad before finishing out against a CPU Memphis team.

Shock the World.

Game Report Posted: August 16, 2009 20:55  

Nobody gave Tulsa a chance, not even their coach, but last night they did what so many thought was impossible due to the tremendous talent gap of the two squads, they knocked off the #2 Southern Miss Golden Eagles...at The Rock. At the end of the day not only did it give the rest of the C-USA West hope, but it was the absolute biggest win of Coach Jimmy Miles career, and maybe the universities as well. The upset moved the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to 5-6 (3-4) and has possibly re-lit the flame of bowl hopes for the Hurricane. Meanwhile, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles fell to a still staggering 10-1 (6-1) and will still represent the East in the C-USA conference championship game.

"All year I've preached that if our defense could make some relatively consistent stops so that our offense could get some momentum we could play with anyone," said Coach Miles after the game, "We were close against Boise (#1) earlier this year but I have to be honest, after the last three I was convinced we'd given up. We executed our gameplan, protected the ball, and most important we didn't try to get too wild, we stayed simple and kept them on their toes, then we held on for dear damn life!"

Offensively the 'Cane sparkled for almost the entire day. The kicked it off with a 3:40 drive to punch in for six to start the game and never looked back, especially in the first half. On the day the option attack was as potent as we have ever seen as not only did freshman halfback Tony Peoples prance and dance for 109 yards and a TD on only 12 carries but the sophomore quarterback Kinne managed 36 yards and a score along with 176 through the air. The most impressive thing about Kinne though was how the ran the option, particularly the triple option as Southern Miss was on their heels enough because of Kinne's tenaciousness that junior fullback Charles Clay had an astounding 16 carries for an even 100 yards and 3 amazing touchdowns. On the day the offense racked up 477 yards with the rushing attack going for a stifling 53 carries for 301 yards and 5 touchdowns not to mention 6-6 on 3rd downs in the first half that helped give them a 28-0 lead at the half.

More impressive to many that witnessed the game was the typically lackluster defense. It all rooted from the defensive line play, particularly the much picked on defensive ends as they managed to cause 6 huge sacks against Southern Miss' two senior tackles. "They had a real chip on their shoulder today, I dont know where in the hell that performance came from but its what we had to have to even hope to compete with a team as good as they are," said Miles. The defense held three separate times on 3rd and 1's and even force two interceptions and a fumble caused.

Afterward in the chaos of the mobs of celebrations and shock-waves caused in C-USA Miles issued a warning to the rest of the C-USA West when it came to the Golden Eagles being human:
"What alot of guys around the conference are going to fail to realize is that Southern Miss really is as damn good as they have been billed today, we got the breaks we needed when we needed em' and by some miracle were able to hold them off. To those thinking about Southern Miss not being invincible, make sure you check that at the door when/if you play, they are not to be taken likely and I would not want to be the ones that had to play them now."

With possible bowl hopes alive if they get some help around the conference Miles and his Golden Hurricane will finish their season hosting the Memphis Tigers on senior night. The 'Cane simply cannot afford a hangover like the SMU game earlier this year.

Let's Go 'Canes!

A Quality Debut

July 30, 2009

Game Report Posted: July 31, 2009 05:00  

"I really don't want anyone to read to much into this," said a surprisingly serious Coach Miles after his Golden Hurricane (2-2) dismantled 1AA Midwest on Saturday, "Not to sound like a complete hard-ass there were lots of mistakes, and this was a 1AA school! No, it wasn't bad with only a week in this offense but next week it gets really and we are going to truly have to keep learning and progressing to keep this thing going." Though he may have come off a but macabre, it really was a solid performance by the Hurricane as they were but one busted play from a shutout of 1AA Midwest.

Rushing was the name of the game as the 'Cane racked up an impressive 418 rushing yards and put three running backs (Peoples, Clay, Beaver) over the century mark on the day. Outside of the running attack however things got scary as the Hurricane tried all three of the quarterbacks on their active roster and it looks as if there are still questions within about who is going to be the go to guy. Many insiders believe the RS Junior quarterback Bower should get the nod but the community is screaming for the freshman Beaver to get the nod as he has had some nice plays while he led the 'Cane to a 1-2 record while they were still in the Flexbone. On the subject Coach Miles told the press that "Its an open game still, next week all three will likely get a shot against Rice, after next week there will be a definite starter." Back on the subject of the 'Cane rushing attack the Rice game will mark the return of impact runningback Jamad Williams but we have been informed that the freshman upstart Peoples will start the game next week but we should definitely expect to see Williams at some point.

Defensively the 'Cane played well enough against an inferior offense but they still managed to surrender 187 passing yards despite holding the Dragons to negative rushing yards. "If we play pass defense like that against our conference opponents we'll get toasted and it'll get ugly in a hurry, our defense really concerns me right now" said Miles after the game. Concern would indeed be a good way to put it as the Hurricane are hurting for a pass rush and if they don't find one the rest of the conference schedule could get ugly in a hurry.

Up next will be a rivalry and Conference USA game against an up and down Rice team. This looks to be a BIG game that could set the tone for what the future of each of these teams will be. This could get interesting!

Game Report Posted: August 16, 2009 15:28  

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane 4-4 (2-3) fell to the Cougars of Houston 31-27 on Saturday when they gave up a 4th down bomb on busted coverage by the two safeties with only 0:26 left on the clock. After the game Coach Miles stated, "I'm just not sure how bad we want it right now. After the 4 plays in a row we held 'em out from our own 1 yard line all we needed was a first but we couldn't even do that. Our secondary has continued to kill us though, everyone will look at the one at the very end with almost no time left but that means they are forgetting about the one before the damn half when we let 'em downfield in 0:46! Thats the damn series that cost us the momentum and the damn game."

While it may sound harsh, Coach Miles is right. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane had Houston beat and just gave it up. The 'Cane outgained the Cougars on the day but once again lost the turnover battle 2 to 1 and also couldn't slow the Houston passing threat as Keenum went an amazing 20/27 on the day. "Until our secondary starts playing, we have to just pray our offense never stalls," said Miles. The offense is getting better and better each week though as Kinne almost passes the 200 yard passing mark and a fully healthy true freshman phenom Tony Peoplesran for 145 yards on the day. One thing that hindered the 'Cane offensively was the 1st quarter shoulder dislocation suffered by the JR FB Clay as he is a key cog in the hurricane ground game.

Up next, the Hurricane hope for a miracle in a surprisingly evenly matched user go-around with ECU, after that, top 5 Southern Miss.

Game Report Posted: August 16, 2009 16:50  

When it rains, it pours. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane fell to an abysmal 4-6 (2-4) today after a prayer was answered for the ECU offense with only 0:26 seconds left that allowed them to regain the lead and seal the deal. Coach Jimmy Miles called the game "An absolute embarrassment, how we were even in it with a chance to win I still don't really understand. Our offense did nothing all day long, our defense couldn't stop a run or a pass. At this point I'm really questioning our heart and desire to win, I just don't know where our own allegiances lie."

On the day the ECU squad out-ranked the 'Cane in practically all statistical categories and kept Tulsa on their toes while exposing all of the TU's defensive weaknesses. The safeties were attacked regularly, the interior linebackers were challenged often. All in all Tulsa just did not step it up together when their quarterback G.J. Kinne led them back into the game and even helped them capture the lead. With practically no time left, the Hurricane just couldn't do it.

These last three games have to leave Tulsa fans wondering what in the world could get worse. Well, for starters, the Hurricane 4-6 (2-4) will have to face off against the #2 ranked and 10-0 (6-0) Southern Miss Golden Eagles who have handled everyone they have played and then the week after finish it out against a tenacious Memphis squad.