Tulsa World: Graham today: Kinne remains TU's starting quarterback

TULSA WORLD HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

OU | OSU | TU | ORU | HIGH SCHOOLS | COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NFL | FANTASY | OUTDOORS | GOLF | PROS | ALL

HOMEPAGES

SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS

		Sports Editor Mike Strain
		Sports Columnist Dave Sittler
		The Picker Entertaining & Infuriating

LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

Search the World's archives

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US

BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

Buy a published photo by clicking the "Order this Picture" link on the photo. For a full-color page reprint, call 732-8198 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or order online.

TULSA WORLD

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Learn more about the site.

Bookmark

Graham today: Kinne remains TU's starting quarterback

TU's G.J. Kinne was 2-of-10 passing for 10 yards with two interceptions against SMU on Saturday. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 11/2/2009 1:22 PM
Last Modified: 11/2/2009 2:35 PM

Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne is expected to start Saturday's home game against nationally ranked Houston, Todd Graham said during his Monday press conference.

Graham also said that Kinne suffered a concussion in last Saturday's 27-13 loss to SMU, most likely occurring during Tulsa's first offensive series.

Medical staff said Kinne didn't complain of pain or show concussion symptoms during the game, TU spokesman Don Tomkalski said. On Sunday, while receiving treatment, it was determined that a concussion did occur.

Kinne was 2-of-8 passing for 10 yards with an interception when he was replaced by Jacob Bower during the second quarter in Tulsa's third consecutive loss.

"G.J. seemed dazed and out of it and was missing some reads and throws," Graham said, recognizing the problems on film. "He had a concussion in the first series and got hit in the back of the head. It's probably good that we did make a change there."

Bower ended 9-of-22 for 206 yards passing in relief of Kinne.

Kinne did return for a pair of plays, throwing an additional incompletion and an interception.

Tomkalski said Kinne wouldn't have been allowed back into the game if it was known that the quarterback had a concussion.

Graham said there is no quarterback controversy.

"If (Kinne is) ready, he's definitely our starter," Graham said. "I was proud of Jacob and how he played. He did some good things while he was in there. Even in that game, it was one of the things that I felt I had to do something

to generate a spark."

"G.J. seemed dazed. ... He didn't practice (Sunday) and we'll see how it goes (with the concussion). But I expect him to play."

Houston, which is ranked No. 13, comes to town this week. The Cougars are 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Conference USA.

"There's no question, if you ask me, that this is our rival," Graham said. "The last four years — every year we have been in this league, either Houston or we have represented the West (Division).

"We want to be the best and to do that you have to beat the best. We look at this game as THE game in the West Division for us."

Tulsa (4-4, 2-2) needs a victory to not only keep its dwindling league title hopes alive, but also make the six-win mark required for bowl eligibility.

"No one thought we would be 4-4 right now," Damaris Johnson said. "This is a must-win game for us."

By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

Bookmark

COMMENTS

Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Kinne could start despite concussion," which was published on 11/3/2009. So far, 34 comments have been made.

LATEST HEADLINES