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East Carolina loss still lingers for TU
The Hurricane cannot forget what happened last year against Pirates.
  
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 11/15/2009  2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/15/2009  5:44 AM

 The postgame walk to the locker room won't be forgotten.

Tulsa's players had to pass a celebrating East Carolina team last year after the Pirates defeated the Golden Hurricane in the 2008 Conference USA championship game.

The sting lingers.

"Last year was a heartbreaker," TU linebacker Mike Bryan said. "When you win Conference USA, you're a good football team. They're leading the East, so they're a good team again this year.

"We're expecting another tough game."

TU will host East Carolina in a 7:15 p.m. contest. The Sunday game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

While the Pirates are fighting for a return trip to the league title game, Tulsa is scratching to reach a fifth consecutive bowl game.

The Golden Hurricane (4-5 overall, 2-3 in league play) needs two wins to reach bowl eligibility and three to guarantee a bowl appearance.

"This is it," TU wide receiver Slick Shelley said. "Last week, our backs were against the wall, but this is a make-or-break game for us to go to a bowl game."

East Carolina (5-4, 4-1) has been a subject of discussion during the off-season because the Pirates altered TU's dream last year.

"It was definitely a very difficult loss for us," TU coach Todd Graham said about the 27-24 loss at Chapman Stadium. "But after getting to the conference championship game and turning the ball over and playing like we did, all we talked about was getting back.

"We did talk about that game a lot and it was a tough pill to swallow."

East Carolina forced a season-high seven turnovers on Tulsa last season and this year's defense is just as stout.

Graham mentioned last week that the Pirates have three or four of the top defensive players in the conference.

"Their secondary and safeties are physical guys and they are physical up front," Graham said. "We have to make sure we don't let those guys impact the game. They surely impacted it last year."

Tulsa is coming off an offensive explosion against Houston. Quarterback G.J. Kinne became the school's first quarterback to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game.

The sophomore also understands the challenge of facing an opportunistic ECU defense that forces turnovers.

"They have returned a lot of guys from last year and this will be a challenge," Kinne said. "We're going to have to go out there and execute."

Defensively, the Hurricane will prepare for an ECU offense that's much different than the Houston team that featured an all-out air attack.

The Pirates are methodical with their style, using play-action passes to counter pressure defenses.

"They are the exact opposite of Houston," Graham said. "We've been playing spread offenses that throw it everywhere. These guys are more traditional and run and play-action pass oriented."

Tulsa lost 46-45 to Houston last week in deflating fashion. The Cougars scored nine points in the final 21 seconds to steal a victory.

There's no time to sulk, Graham said.

"I can tell you that we got better as a football team (last) Saturday," Graham said. "That tells you a lot about the resolve.

"Now we have to really have resolve because we have another challenge. We have to play the team that's in first place in the East."

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

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Drumie, Palatine, IL (11/15/2009 7:28:20 PM)
Go HURRICANE! ! !
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55contra55, Tulsa (11/16/2009 10:06:07 PM)
During the pre-game, rap was played on the loud speakers at very high volume levels. It was difficult to visit with our neighbors in the stands and it appeared that no one liked it, including the students. It was also rudely played while the band was performing on the field and in the stands making it impossible to hear the band.

Moving the band to the south end zone seats would make it easier for everyone to hear the band and the rap can be thrown in the trash.
 

 
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