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I'm not sure what's gotten into Bill Blankenship, but I like it
Published: 10/10/2012 7:53 PM
Last Modified: 10/10/2012 7:53 PM

Maybe it's just happenstance or perhaps a change in strategy, but Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship is taking more chances this year.

Through six games, the Golden Hurricane are 8-for-12 on fourth down conversions. Tulsa attempted only 14 all last season (and converted six of them).

It could be the emergence of senior running back Alex Singleton (11 rushing TDs already this season) or perhaps growing pains with true freshman kicker Daniel Schwarz (he's 5-for-7, but has missed one from inside 30 yards).

Whatever the reason, I loved the confidence Tulsa displayed last week against Marshall on fourth down. The Golden Hurricane went 3-for-3, and in totality, those three conversions likely decided the game in Tulsa's favor.

The first, a fourth-and-1 near midfield, resulted in a 48-yard touchdown run by Singleton.

The next time, the Golden Hurricane passed up a chip-shot field goal attempt on fourth-and-3 at the Marshall 10. Singleton went up the middle for an easy first down, then scored two carries later for a 17-3 Tulsa lead.

Finally, on Tulsa's first drive of the third quarter, Singleton got 6 yards on fourth-and-2 at the Marshall 36. Five players later -- another Hurricane touchdown.

Of Tulsa's four fourth-down misses this season, two came in the waning minutes against Iowa State and both of those were from 10-plus yards out.

The last two weeks have provided Tulsa fans with plenty of unnecessary drama. But beyond the victory, the one positive I take away from the Marshall game is the confidence Blankenship showed on those fourth downs.

If you're a Tulsa fan, you hope that -- not the thoughts of another uneven effort -- is what lingers.

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Long Live Gusty! (4 months ago)

I agree, Mr. Peters. Singleton would likely inspire confidence on 4th and short for any coach.

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The Editor's Desk

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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