TU football notebook: Down to the wire
BY MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Friday, November 16, 2012
11/16/12 at 2:36 AM
Tulsa is 4-1 in games decided by one touchdown or less this season.
TU head coach Bill Blankenship said he wouldn't be surprised if Saturday's game against the University of Central Florida goes down to the final drive.
"You coach long enough and you experience this stuff and the unexpected can always happen but I think theses are two fairly close matched teams and think it will be interesting to see how it all plays out," Blankenship said.
TU wide receiver Jordan James said that having played and won a number of close games this season has benefited the team.
"We won big a lot last year and as we closed out the season it felt like we lacked that battle testing. This year we got battle tested really early," he said. "Being 4-1 in games that were decided by one score is good for us in that we do understand how to battle and win those games and that's going to help us out down the stretch because usually ... in November that's when a lot of teams are playing their best football and to win the close games means everything right now."
Safety Dexter McCoil credits the team's unity and desire to win a conference championship for its ability to win close games.
"We don't think (of a one-score game) as pressure because we rely on each other and trust the other guy ... to come through at different times," McCoil said. "I feel everybody has no pressure because everybody believes in each other."
Senior day: There is a chance that Senior Day could be celebrated twice if the TU takes care of business and hosts UCF again for the conference championship.
But whether there is another home game or not, McCoil said this Saturday is going to be an emotional day for the seniors.
"I'm praying that we get the conference championship to be here but if it isn't it's been a blessing and a long ride," McCoil said. "I remember the first time I stepped on the field, I was 17 years old in the first game and now I've come to be a senior and maybe playing my last game at home its pretty sweet.
"It's really a blessing. Some people don't make it that far in college and have what it takes to get that far."
