2009 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Football Preview
2009 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Tulsa Golden Hurricanes football preview as well as the 2009 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Football Schedule. Get Free football predictions against the sportsbooks college football betting line.
Coach: Todd Graham (3rd year at Tulsa)
Team Name: Golden Hurricanes
2008 Overall Record: 11-3
Returning Starters: 13
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (11-3 overall, 7- 1 Conference USA) finished 2008 tied for first in the West Division and earned a berth in their second straight GMAC Bowl. As they did in the 2007 GMAC, the team won last year’s game. This time they beat #23 Ball State 45- 13.
The Tulsa offense, which was good for 47.2 PPG (2nd nationally) and 569.9 YPG (1st nationally), must replace star QB David Johnson who threw for 2,059 yards, hitting 46 touchdown passes. There are a few guys in line for the job with junior Jacob Bower (15 ATT, 11 COMP, 138 YDs, 1 INT, 1 TD) or sophomore G.J. Kinne getting a shot at the field general spot. There’s good news at wideout. Four starters return, including sophomore Damaris Johnson (53 REC, 743 YDs, 10 TDs) and senior Slick Shelley (39 REC, 627 YDs, 8 TDs). The rushing attack features a wealth of talented runners. Junior Jamad Williams (86 ATT, 523 YDs, 3 TDs) and the versatile A.J. Whitmore (51 ATT, 346 YDs, 6 TDs) are both solid. This is a deep unit. The offensive line, which returns just two starters, will have to be reworked.
The Tulsa defense needs to improve its 75th ranking nationally (27.9 PPG). Senior James Lockett, a roamer in the secondary and rusher up through the line, led the club in sacks with 8.5 and was second in tackles with 82. He also notched 8 TFL. Senior MLB Mike Bryan (119 TKLs, 4 SKs, 6.5 TFL) is a tackling machine. The linebacking unit is the central power on defense. Along with Bryan, OLB Tanner Antle (63 TKLs, 4.5 SKs, 3 TFL) and OLB George Clinkscale (53 TKLs, 3 SKs, 4 TFL) are fine forces. Senior free safety Charles Davis (76 TKLs, 2 INTs) can sniff out passes and senior corner Kenny D. Sims (41 TKLs, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT) is a solid competitor. There’s a lack of depth in the secondary.
On special teams, the placekicking spot is open. Look for either Matt Hulse or Kevin Fitzpatrick to win the job. Cory Jefferis will handle kickoffs. The punting game belongs to Michael Such (22 Punts, 947 YDs, 43.0 YPP, 3 In20), a junior with a fine leg. Kick returns will be ably run by speedy sophomore Damaris Johnson (54 Kick RET, 1,382 YDs, 25.6 YPR). Junior Trae Johnson (21 Punt RET, 143 YDs, 6.8 YPR) will runback punts.
Head coach Todd Graham (21- 7 in two years with Tulsa) saw his team stumble three times last season, losing to non-conference opponents Arkansas 23- 30 and East Carolina 24- 27 and conference rivals Houston 30- 70. This season, the September 19 game versus Big 12 power Oklahoma and the October 14 contest against the WAC’s top team Boise State will both be major tests. If Tulsa can beat both and win the conference championship, they could get an invitation to a BCS Bowl game. Expect Tulsa to be competitive in Conference USA and earn a spot at a middle tier bowl.
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/4/2009 | Tulsa | Tulane | away | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | Tulsa | New Mexico | away | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Tulsa | Oklahoma | away | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Tulsa | Sam Houston St. | home | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Tulsa | Rice | away | ||||
| 10/14/2009 | Tulsa | Boise St. | home | ||||
| 10/21/2009 | Tulsa | UTEP | away | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Tulsa | SMU | home | ||||
| 11/7/2009 | Tulsa | Houston | home | ||||
| 11/15/2009 | Tulsa | East Carolina | home | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Tulsa | Southern Miss | away | ||||
| 11/28/2009 | Tulsa | Memphis | home |
For more info on the 2009 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes football program, view the Golden Hurricanes website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.
