By BILL HAISTEN Sports Writer on Aug 23, 2013, at 4:09 PM Updated on 8/23 at 4:09 PM
TU SPORTS
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A few highlights from Friday’s Bill Blankenship news conference, conducted at the University of Tulsa’s Case Athletic Complex:
TU recorded 11 wins and captured the Conference USA title last season. Do you see the potential for something similar this season?
Blankenship: “We definitely have that potential, but I remind (Hurricane players) all the time that potential is a French word that means ‘we ain’t done nothin’ yet.’ . . . Maybe it’s not French. I’m not sure.”
TU runs the ball well. Bowling Green defends against the run very well. Is that the key at Bowling Green – to run for at least 150 yards?
Blankenship: “I think it’s a huge match-up. It’s strength against strength. They were incredibly good against the run. We were pretty dang good running the ball.”
On freshman receiver Keevan Lucas: “He’s a unique player. He’s explosive, but he’s strong for being a smaller guy. He’s not easy to tackle. Whether it’s this week or down the road, he’s going to be a guy who breaks tackles and makes plays because of his physicality.”
What have you learned about your team during preseason camp?
Blankenship: “We’re still discussing it. You come out of spring with a pretty good idea of who you are, and then you sprinkle in some new guys. That’s been the interesting thing – to see who evolved over the summer, to see who among the freshmen might make a difference. We’ve learned some things about Keevan Lucas. We’ve talked about him a lot. He has been very consistent as a playmaker. Derek Patterson on offense is another one who has been very consistent. To add those two guys as inside receivers gives us feeling that we can do some things in the passing game, because you have the two big guys (Jordan James and Keyarris Garrett) on the outside.”
On the Cody Green passing game: “Practically speaking, the whole passing game needed to improve. What we narrowed down specifically for Cody was the intermediate passing game – the 15-yards-and-under passing game, where we can dink it and dunk it around. We’re much improved in that area. The chemistry between (Green) and the receivers – there’s no question that we’re much improved there. What we saw at the end of the year last year is the way he’ll continue on. He’ll still be a threat running the ball. He’ll do a good job of being accurate and taking care of the ball.”
-- Bill Haisten
Follow Bill Haisten on Twitter.
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