TU Talking Points
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
11/20/12 at 5:08 AM
Mutually motivated teams
Because of the NCAA death penalty, SMU endured a terrible 21-year span. In 1988-2008, there were no bowl appearances. There were 12 seasons during which the Mustangs recorded three or fewer victories. Coach June Jones' revival of the Mustang program is punctuated by three consecutive bowl appearances. There won't be a fourth unless SMU defeats TU on Saturday.
And while TU already has secured the West Division title and a berth in the Conference USA championship game, the Hurricane is motivated by the potential of an unprecedented achievement. The Hurricane is attempting to become the first C-USA team to post a perfect record in league play and follow with a championship-game victory. Last season, Houston was 8-0 in league play but lost to Southern Miss in the championship contest.
In pursuit of more milestones
The Golden Hurricane is 9-2 overall and 7-0 in Conference USA. With a victory at SMU, TU would celebrate only the sixth 10-win regular season in program history. The Hurricane had 10-win regular seasons in 1916, 1920, 1942, 1982 and 2008. The Todd Graham-coached 2008 Hurricane is the only TU team to have finished with an overall total of 11 victories.
Having clinched a berth in the C-USA championship game, the 2012 Hurricane has three remaining games and a chance to at least match that 11-win milestone. With three victories, the Bill Blankenship-coached Hurricane would become the first 12-win squad in program history.
Hurricane takes aim at Gilbert
With a total of 43 (3.9 per game), the TU defense is No. 3 nationally in sacks. The Hurricane offensive line has given up only seven sacks all season, resulting in Tulsa's astounding sack figure of plus-36. No other FBS team is even close to plus-36. Stanford is plus-29. Southern Cal is plus-27. Utah State is plus-20. SMU has surrendered 27 sacks this season.
During last week's loss to Rice, Mustang QB Garrett Gilbert was sacked four times. This week, he and the SMU offensive linemen contend with a Tulsa defense that not only leads C-USA in sacks but in tackles for loss (92).
Hurricane By The Numbers
8: TU takes to SMU an eight-game winning streak in Conference USA road games. The Hurricane hasn't lost in a C-USA road contest since Oct. 9, 2010 (21-18 at SMU).
12-2: Cody Green's record as a starting quarterback. He was 4-0 at Nebraska. As a junior this season at TU, he is 8-2.
52: After a seven-catch, 130-yard, three-touchdown performance against UCF, Hurricane sophomore Keyarris Garrett has an 11-game total of 52 receptions for 688 yards and eight TDs.
43: TU has an 11-game total of 43 sacks. No other C-USA team has more than 33. In 13 games last season, the Hurricane had 27 sacks.
2,220: Through 11 games, Tulsa tailbacks Ja'Terian Douglas, Trey Watts and Alex Singleton have rushed for a combined total of 2,220 yards. Their 13-game total last season was 2,043.
TU STATISTICS
| TU | OPP |
| Scoring |
395 |
252 |
| Per game |
35.9 |
22.9 |
| First downs |
243 |
208 |
| by rushing |
130 |
79 |
| by passing |
95 |
109 |
| by penalty |
18 |
20 |
| Rushing yards |
2655 |
1248 |
| Avg. per game |
241.4 |
113.5 |
| Passing yards |
2301 |
2718 |
| Avg. per game |
209.2 |
247.1 |
| Offensive plays |
880 |
814 |
| Total yards |
4956 |
3966 |
| Avg. per play |
5.6 |
4.9 |
| Avg. per game |
450.5 |
360.5 |
| Kick returns-Yds |
28-793 |
39-694 |
| Punt returns-Yds |
23-188 |
20-175 |
| Interceptions-Yds |
10-67 |
10-194 |
| Fumbles-Lost |
22-8 |
20-13 |
| Penalties-Yds |
48-464 |
64-555 |
| Punts-Avg. |
64-39.3 |
77-43.6 |
| 3rd downs |
69-180 |
69-184 |
| 4th downs |
14-22 |
5-18 |
| Sacks by-Yds |
43-304 |
7-50 |
Individual leaders
Y/A=Yards/attempt; Y/G=Yards/game
| RUSHING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| J. Douglas |
113 |
817 |
7.2 |
74.3 |
6 |
| T. Watts |
123 |
767 |
6.2 |
76.7 |
3 |
| A. Singleton |
150 |
636 |
4.2 |
57.8 |
18 |
| PASSING |
C-A-Int |
Yds |
Y/G |
TD |
| C. Green |
167-307-8 |
1933 |
193.3 |
13 |
| K. Henderson |
16-46-2 |
294 |
58.8 |
1 |
| RECEIVING |
No. |
Yds |
Y/A |
Y/G |
TD |
| K. Garrett |
52 |
688 |
13.2 |
62.5 |
8 |
| W. Carter |
37 |
284 |
7.7 |
25.8 |
2 |
| J. James |
29 |
404 |
13.9 |
36.7 |
2 |
| T. Watts |
24 |
271 |
11.3 |
27.1 |
0 |
| T. Roberson |
19 |
346 |
18.2 |
31.5 |
3 |
| PUNT RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
15 |
95 |
6.3 |
0 |
| C. Floyd |
4 |
40 |
10.0 |
0 |
| D. Nelson |
4 |
53 |
13.2 |
0 |
| KICK RETURNS |
No. |
Yds |
Avg. |
TD |
| T. Watts |
13 |
420 |
32.3 |
1 |
| J. Douglas |
6 |
125 |
20.8 |
0 |
| KICKING |
FG-A |
Long |
PAT |
| D. Schwarz |
11-17 |
45 |
44-49 |
| DEFENSE |
Tackles |
TFL |
Sacks |
INT |
FR |
| D. Brown |
112 |
16.5 |
9.0 |
1 |
0 |
| D. McCoil |
71 |
1.5 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
| S. Jackson |
69 |
7.5 |
3.0 |
0 |
1 |
| D. Nelson |
65 |
4.0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| L. Rose |
46 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| D. Bufford |
39 |
7.5 |
3.5 |
0 |
1 |
| C. Dorris |
38 |
8.5 |
5.0 |
1 |
1 |
| J. St. John |
38 |
9.5 |
8.5 |
0 |
1 |
UP NEXT
Tulsa (9-2, 7-0) at SMU (5-6, 4-3)
11 a.m. Saturday
TV: FX-35
Radio: KRMG am740, fm102.3
2012 SCHEDULE
Sept. 1: at Iowa State L, 38-23
Sept. 8: vs. Tulane W, 45-10
Sept. 15: vs. Nicholls St. W, 66-16
Sept. 22: vs. Fresno St. W, 27-26
Sept. 29: at UAB W, 49-42
Oct. 6: at Marshall W, 45-38
Oct. 11: vs. UTEP W, 33-11
Oct. 20: vs. Rice W, 28-24
Nov. 3: at Arkansas L, 19-15
Nov. 10: at Houston W, 41-7
Nov. 17: vs. UCF W, 23-21
Nov. 24: at SMU (FX-35) 11 a.m.
Dec. 1: C-USA championship 11 a.m.
Associated Images:
TU's Keyarris Garrett runs toward the goal line after a reception during the first half of Tulsa's win over the University of Central Florida at Chapman Stadium on Saturday. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
Tulsa QB Cody Green and head coach Bill Blankenship discuss a play during the first half of Tulsa's win over Houston at Robertson Stadium in Houston. TOM GILBERT / Tulsa World
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