"Tulsa was punched in the mouth..."
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:54 amhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?articleID=20081013_94_B5_AJWhit545019
Tulsa's escape is a lucky one
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
10/13/2008
Last Modified: 10/13/2008 3:22 AM
Tulsa was punched in the mouth for the first time on Saturday night.
A pesky SMU football team wasn't impressed by TU's unbeaten record, high-powered offense or BCS Bowl dreams. For much of the Conference USA game, the Mustangs had TU on the ropes.
Tulsa trailed much of the game before rallying in the fourth quarter for a 37-31 triumph. The win improved its record to 6-0.
TU's first five games were lopsided victories, and there were questions how the team would handle adversity.
A relieved Todd Graham called the SMU game a "big-time wake-up call."
"Luckily, we woke up tonight with a win and not a loss," said Graham, who is now 23-10 in three years as a college head coach.
Graham has hinted that he's guarding his team against distractions surrounding TU's best start in 64 years. He wants them to have long-range goals, but short-term focus.
Graham was adamant last week about TU's lack of defensive focus. "It's such a grueling season," he said. "They look at the paper and see (SMU) is 1-5 ... it's not easy to come on the road anywhere and win in college football."
Tulsa protected its perfect season with big plays.
Tulsa trailed 31-24 and was faced with fourth-and-21 from the SMU 33 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback David Johnson (who called it "fourth-and-forever") set up for a quick kick, but instead launched a touchdown pass to Trae Johnson with 9:53 left.
The sophomore receiver outjumped a defensive back to catch the football.
"It was an opportunity to make a play for my team, and that's what I did," Trae Johnson said. "The quarterback put the ball in the right spot, and I just took the opportunity."
TU's DeAundre Brown intercepted an SMU pass, and A.J. Whitmore's touchdown run 73 seconds later gave Tulsa the lead.
The TU defense did have to weather one final Mustangs' drive, surviving a dropped pass in the end zone, and forcing SMU QB Bo Levi Mitchell into a poor pass on fourth-and-2 from the TU 26 with 54 seconds left.
"We just came out, stuck together as a team, held the rope," David Johnson said, "and got things done."
Tulsa's escape is a lucky one
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
10/13/2008
Last Modified: 10/13/2008 3:22 AM
Tulsa was punched in the mouth for the first time on Saturday night.
A pesky SMU football team wasn't impressed by TU's unbeaten record, high-powered offense or BCS Bowl dreams. For much of the Conference USA game, the Mustangs had TU on the ropes.
Tulsa trailed much of the game before rallying in the fourth quarter for a 37-31 triumph. The win improved its record to 6-0.
TU's first five games were lopsided victories, and there were questions how the team would handle adversity.
A relieved Todd Graham called the SMU game a "big-time wake-up call."
"Luckily, we woke up tonight with a win and not a loss," said Graham, who is now 23-10 in three years as a college head coach.
Graham has hinted that he's guarding his team against distractions surrounding TU's best start in 64 years. He wants them to have long-range goals, but short-term focus.
Graham was adamant last week about TU's lack of defensive focus. "It's such a grueling season," he said. "They look at the paper and see (SMU) is 1-5 ... it's not easy to come on the road anywhere and win in college football."
Tulsa protected its perfect season with big plays.
Tulsa trailed 31-24 and was faced with fourth-and-21 from the SMU 33 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback David Johnson (who called it "fourth-and-forever") set up for a quick kick, but instead launched a touchdown pass to Trae Johnson with 9:53 left.
The sophomore receiver outjumped a defensive back to catch the football.
"It was an opportunity to make a play for my team, and that's what I did," Trae Johnson said. "The quarterback put the ball in the right spot, and I just took the opportunity."
TU's DeAundre Brown intercepted an SMU pass, and A.J. Whitmore's touchdown run 73 seconds later gave Tulsa the lead.
The TU defense did have to weather one final Mustangs' drive, surviving a dropped pass in the end zone, and forcing SMU QB Bo Levi Mitchell into a poor pass on fourth-and-2 from the TU 26 with 54 seconds left.
"We just came out, stuck together as a team, held the rope," David Johnson said, "and got things done."
