Related Story: TU football made smooth transition under Bill Blankenship in 2011
Golden Hurricane at a glance
Record: 8-5League: 7-1, 2nd in C-USA West
Returning starters
Offense (7): WR Bryan Burnham, FL Jordan James, H-Back Willie Carter, TB Trey Watts, *RG Brian DeShane, C Trent Dupy, RG Stetson BurnettDefense (8): DT Daeshon Bufford, DT Derrick Jackson, DE Cory Dorris, LB Shawn Jackson, S Dexter McCoil, S Marco Nelson, CB Lowell Rose, *CB John Flanders.
Special teams (3): P Cole Way, KR Trey Watts, PR J.D. Ratliff
*DeShane and Flanders were starters in 2010.
2011 season schedule
Sept. 3: at Oklahoma L, 47-14Sept. 10: at Tulane W, 31-3
Sept. 18: Oklahoma State L, 59-33
Sept. 24: at Boise State L, 41-21
Oct. 1: North Texas W, 41-24
Oct. 15: UAB W, 37-20
Oct. 22: at Rice W, 38-20
Oct. 29: SMU W, 38-7
Nov. 3: at UCF W, 24-17
Nov. 12: Marshall W, 59-17
Nov. 19: at UTEP W, 57-28
Nov. 25: Houston L, 48-16
Dec. 30: BYU (Armed Forces Bowl) L, 24-21
Three questions
How much different will the nonconference schedule be next year?
Any schedule will be simpler than 2011. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Boise State and Houston were all top-10 opponents when the Golden Hurricane played them. But the upcoming season won't be easy. The Hurricane opens at Iowa State, plays a November game at Arkansas, and hosts Fresno State and Nicholls State.Does Tulsa have a chance to win Conference USA next season?
It may depend on the continued progression of the defense. Tulsa held six conference opponents to 20 or fewer points and, in the high-scoring league, that will win a lot of games. The tough part will be playing road games at Houston, SMU and Marshall.Who will emerge as Tulsa's biggest threat at wide receiver?
With Damaris Johnson out of the picture, Bryan Burnham and Jordan James will be instant candidates. A healthy Thomas Roberson would help the team immensely, as would a productive Ricky Johnson, who has talent.Three surprise players
WR Bryan Burnham, Jr
Burnham started his career as a defensive player and didn't have a reception until this season. The tall wide receiver came through with 54 catches for 850 yards and a team-high nine scoring receptions. Burnham accounted for 113 yards in the Armed Forces Bowl game.TE Clay Sears, Sr
When Tulsa needed to rediscover its offense and find playmakers, it put Sears on the field. The tight end responded with the most catches and receiving yards by a TU tight end (37 for 469) since Garrett Mills in 2005. Sears ended with seven touchdown catches in 2011.LB Alan Dock, Sr
Dock had only three tackles in 2010, his junior season, but ratcheted that up in 2011. The linebacker, tabbed by many of his teammates as the smartest on the team, finished the 2011 campaign with 71 stops and two interceptions.In 2012, Causes for concern
Quarterback
Tulsa will introduce a new quarterback for the first time since the 2008 football season. The Hurricane must find a replacement for three-year starter G.J. Kinne. Cody Green, a transfer from Nebraska, has 18 games of Division I experience, while Kalen Henderson saw action in five games last season as a redshirt freshman. Joseph Calcagni redshirted last season, and true freshman Dane Evans enrolled in classes on Monday.Offensive line
The Hurricane lost five seniors off the offensive line, a unit that matured into one of Conference USA's best groups in 2011. The first 11 games included the same starters - RT Matt Romine, RG Stetson Burnett, C Trent Dupy, LG Clint Anderson and LT Tyler Holmes. Junior Brian DeShane filled in for an injured Burnett in games 12 and 13. Only Burnett, Dupy and DeShane return in 2012.KickerKevin Fitzpatrick was nearly automatic during his career as TU's kicker. The Jensen Beach, Fla., native leaves as the school's all-time leading scorer with 299 points. He made 45-of-58 field-goal attempts. Replacing him will be a priority. Tulsa's coaching staff is banking on the recruitment of Lawton MacArthur's Daniel Schwarz. He gave an early commitment to TU, but has drawn plenty of interest lately.
Three things that went right
Passing the test
Bill Blankenship passed the test in his first season as Tulsa's head coach. He got the team to buy in, not only to his style but that of his coaching staff, a diverse group of veteran and young assistant coaches. Blankenship had to deal with adversity including a tough September schedule and off-the-field trials such as the Damaris Johnson situation and the deaths of three popular former players.Ramped-up defense
After seasons of giving up plenty of points, Tulsa's scoring defense average dropped to a five-year low (27.3 points per game). What's factored into that amount was playing prolific top-10 offenses like Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Boise State and Houston. The Golden Hurricane played strong as the season progressed, especially in Conference USA.Power rush
Ja'Terian Douglas and Trey Watts were potent at running back. The pair created a balanced attack, with Douglas finishing with 883 rushing yards and Watts finishing with 881 yards to anchor a strong offensive attack. Each brought a different running style to the field, with Douglas featuring speed and Watts showing a knack to find holes between the tackles. Alex Singleton continued to be a force in short-yardage situations and ended with a team-high eight rushing scores.Original Print Headline: TU: 2011 in review
Three random thoughts
Tulsa needs a healthy Willie Carter
Willie Carter could be Tulsa's featured star, but the senior-to-be needs a healthy season. His presence was sorely missed in the Armed Forces Bowl loss to BYU. Carter could help a new quarterback get settled. The H-back led the team with 61 catches for 868 yards last season.Look for a veteran secondaryto be a strength
Tulsa's secondary could be a strength for the first time since the 2005 season when it won a Conference USA championship. Seniors John Flanders and Lowell Rose will anchor at cornerback, while senior Dexter McCoil will be a four-year starter at safety. Junior Marco Nelson already is a star at the other safety position.Keep on winning
TU needs to carry over the momentum it has built over the past seven years, averaging nearly nine wins per season. The Hurricane needs to win another conference title - it hasn't won one since 2005 - and pick up marquee nonconference wins.Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20120111_29_B5_CUTLIN456547&rss_lnk=2
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