TU football notebook: Praising the big men

BY MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Thursday, October 18, 2012
10/18/12 at 2:52 AM

Coming into the season, the offensive line was one of the biggest question marks for the University of Tulsa. Not only has the team developed a dominant running attack, TU quarter Cody Green has only been sacked three times this season with two of those sacks coming at the end of the season opener against Iowa State.

"If you tell me I'm only going to get hit one time (in six games)... I'm going to tell you 'Thank you for telling me that. I can't wait to see it,'" Green said.

Green credits the six offensive linemen - the team uses a third guard that they rotate in and out of the lineup - for their efforts to keep him off the ground.

"They've gone beyond anything I could have imagined," Green said. "That's just coach (Denver) Johnson getting those guys to be very detailed in their work and (the offensive linemen) taking it to heart and taking pride in being that anchor of the offense."

Bragging on Langer: Blankenship said redshirt freshman Zack Langer has been playing well coming off the bench.

The Jenks graduate had seven carries for 26 yards against UTEP. On the season he has 26 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

As a junior at Jenks he led Class 6A in rushing with 2,446 yards and scoring with 39 touchdowns.

Last season Langer made the C-USA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll.

"I think you'll continue to see him have a role and I'm excited about the future for him," he said.

Success against the East: In its eighth year in Conference USA, the Golden Hurricane has a 20-6 record against East Division opponents, including going 19-4 in the regular season.

Tulsa went 3-0 against last year against East Division opponents and owns an 11-2 record against the division at home.