TU football notebook: Rainy practice
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Saturday, December 29, 2012
12/29/12 at 6:23 AM
Read a blog on TU football
With no athletic director, efforts to build an
indoor practice facility have somewhat stalled,
but a 10-win season and a possible bowl win
would help.
For the first time since the start of the season, the University of Tulsa football team practiced in a steady rain.
On Friday morning, at the Memphis University School's Stokes Stadium, the Golden Hurricane worked for two hours in a cold rain.
"Conditions were bad, but we had one of our best practices in a long time," quarterback Cody Green said. "It was cold and wet, but guys were flying around like it was sunny and 70 degrees."
For Monday's 2:30 p.m. Liberty Bowl contest against Iowa State, the forecast calls for an afternoon high of 43 degrees and a 30 percent chance of rain. Even if the game is played in wet conditions, Green will not play with a glove on his throwing hand.
"I've tried a glove before. I tried it in high school, but I didn't like it," he said. "If we get rain (on Monday), I'll throw with a bare hand. We practiced in the rain today and it was fine."
TU tourists: Following the Friday practice, some of the Tulsa players departed for a tour of Graceland - the mansion and 13.8-acre estate that was the home of Elvis Presley. Other players opted for a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum, located near downtown Memphis at the Lorraine Motel - the site of the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
And some players - like wide receiver Jordan James and tailback Trey Watts - preferred a return to the team hotel. James and Watts had toured the Civil Rights Museum during previous trips to Memphis, so they were in favor of an afternoon nap.
"I haven't gotten a chance to catch up on my rest since we got here," James explained. "I need a nap in a hard way."
Bowl gifts: All college football bowl games present gifts to participating players. Watts said TU players are "very pleased" with the Liberty Bowl's gifts - SOL Republic Anthem HD headphones, Nike sunglasses, Nike shoes, a Liberty Bowl hoodie and other apparel, along with a Liberty Bowl watch.
"I love the headphones," Watts said. "They're definitely my favorite gift."
Associated Images:
TU's Dexter McCoil (right) defends against Thomas Roberson during a rainy practice Friday at the Memphis University School in Memphis, Tenn. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
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