Tulsa World: Where does TU go from here?

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Where does TU go from here?

Justin Skillens and the Golden Hurricane have an in-season losing record (4-5) for the first time since 2005. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 11/9/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/9/2009 6:45 AM

Todd Graham warned his football team, the media and fans on his first day as Tulsa's football coach.

"We will play in close football games," Graham said.

His prophesy has painfully come true this season. Tulsa's current four-game losing streak includes a last-minute loss to UTEP and Saturday night's final-second defeat to No. 13 Houston. Throw in a seven-point loss to then-No. 5 Boise State and an ugly two-touchdown setback to SMU, and it's been rough times for the Golden Hurricane.

Little things have added up to big problems.

Against Boise State, a wide-open Charles Clay was missed during TU's final drive. A dropped interception that would have sealed a win at UTEP kept the Miners' game-winning drive alive. A strange fourth-down call at midfield gave SMU the football in the fourth quarter, and the Mustangs drove for a game-clinching touchdown. And failure to recover an onside kick that hit a player in the hands doomed Tulsa against Houston.

No single play determines the winner or loser in a 60-minute game. Those plays, however, are magnified because of TU's current troubles.

Where does TU go from here? The Hurricane sits at 4-5, the first time it has had a losing in-season record since starting the 2005 season at 2-3 following a loss to — you guessed it — Houston.

Graham was asked of the importance of keeping the football team together as one. The coach wanted no part of that, saying that his team has character and will always stick together.

They'll

need each other during a treacherous stretch run. Tulsa needs two wins during the final three games to reach bowl eligibility.

TU will play defending league champion East Carolina, followed by a game at Southern Miss. It wraps up with a home game against Memphis.

The season finale is probably the only good bet for a win. East Carolina is a tough out, and Southern Miss hasn't lost a home game.

One month ago, TU was entering the UTEP game with hopes of sweeping the Miners, Mustangs and Cougars. If that would have happened, it would have had to just win one of the final three games to head back to the Conference USA title game.

Now it needs two of three games for bowl eligibility.

And one thing is probably likely — the next three will be close football games.

Eric Bailey 581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

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KYCane, Crestwood (11/9/2009 9:08:04 AM)

Beating East Carolina would be great boost.

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