.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Bill Blankenship's alma mater has experienced a series of breakthroughs over the past decade that have transformed one of the nation's worst football programs into a consistent winner.
Now, it's his turn to keep Tulsa on the rise.
The Golden Hurricane's new head coach inherits a program that ended last season on a seven-game winning streak and finished in the Top 25 for the first time since 1991. Included in that impressive closing stretch was a victory at Notre Dame, providing a long-sought win against one of the nation's powerhouses.
Since Steve Kragthorpe took over a team that won only one game in both 2001 and 2002, Tulsa has claimed a conference championship, won 11 games in a season for the first time and now hopes to take another step forward.
The opportunities are certainly there.
In September alone, Tulsa will play at Oklahoma and Boise State and host Oklahoma State. It's a nonconference stretch that reminds quarterback G.J. Kinne of Fresno State's proclaimed willingness to play any team, any time, anywhere.
''I think we've kind of taken on that motto, and that's fun,'' Kinne said. ''You come here as a recruit and you know you're going to play the best of the best.
''We play three top-10 teams in September, and I don't know anyone else that does that.''
Until last season, much of Tulsa's rise to prominence had been limited to the confines of Conference USA. While winning the 2005 league crown and two division titles, the Golden Hurricane had been unable to notch a victory during a series of games against the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Boise State.
Then came the 28-27 win at Notre Dame last October. Tulsa used it as a springboard to win five more games, including a 62-35 rout of Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl,
While Blankenship had to bring in a largely new coaching staff after Todd Graham left to become Pittsburgh's head coach, nearly all the key players are back from last year's squad.
''You've got guys that finished the year with confidence that are still here. So, we don't have to go through that learning curve of trying to learn how to win again,'' Blankenship said. ''These guys know what it's like, they know what it tastes like, and they know what you have to do to accomplish it.''
Greg Peterson came in from Northern Colorado to put a prostyle spin on Tulsa's no-huddle offense. He'll have 10 starters back from last year's unit that ranked fifth in the Bowl Subdivision in total offense (505.6 ypg) and sixth in scoring (41.4 ppg). The Golden Hurricane were the only team to rank in top 15 in rushing (216.9 ypg) and passing (288.7).
Perhaps the most dynamic player is receiver Damaris Johnson, a second-team All-American last season as an all-purpose player. He's the NCAA record holder in all-purpose yardage and kickoff return yards.
''They're smart, they know what they're doing. They're not going to take the magic out of the offense,'' Kinne said. ''But we're tweaking some things that we can get better at.''
Former Utah State coach Brent Guy takes over a defense that led the FBS with 24 interceptions last season, while giving up more yards through the air than any other team (319 ypg). There are eight starters back on defense, including the safety tandem of junior Dexter McCoil and sophomore Marco Nelson. Each picked off six passes last year.
''You take the 10 or 11 guys that have played a lot on offense and the eight or nine that have played a lot on defense, and those guys really know the expectations,'' Blankenship said. ''They're really highly motivated in fall camp, they have a vision to it and they're bringing along the less veteran players.''
Scoring another marquee win - or more than one - in September would only help Tulsa continue its trend of better recruiting that followed its recent success on the field and upgrades to the football complex and H.A. Chapman Stadium.
''We just keep looking from a football standpoint at the TCUs and the Boise States and the other non-(automatic qualifier) or non-BCS schools and say, `All right, what are some of the things they've done?''' Blankenship said.
''Well, you've got to win some of those BCS-type games. You've got to take your play to another level and then continue to do the things facility-wise.''
