2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane

2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Season Analysis

Senior Sports Writer

1. Indiana State at Tulsa. August 30, 2001.

Indiana State has already run their luck on Oklahoma schools this year. Tulsa will roll the Sycamores. Tulsa-41 Indiana State-17. (1-0)

2. Tulsa at Oklahoma. September 15, 2001.

Tulsa embarrassed Oklahoma in Norman in 1996. This year's Sooners care nothing about that, they don't need a reason to destroy the 'Canes. OU-45 Tulsa-7. (1-1)

3. Fresno State at Tulsa. September 22, 2001.

This is the type of game that Tulsa must begin to win if they are to move to the top of the WAC. They can and will. Tulsa-34 Fresno State-24. (2-1)

4. Tulsa at UTEP. September 29, 2001.

The up and down early season for the Golden Hurricane continues. Burns' squad hangs tough early, but folds down the stretch. UTEP-28 Tulsa-17. (2-2)

5. New Mexico State at Tulsa. October 6, 2001.

Tulsa should have won at N.M. State last season, but fell apart exposing the youth of a squad under a first-year coach. No such problem this season. Tulsa-24 N.M.State-10. (3-2)

6. Tulsa at Boise State. October 13, 2001.

At first glance you would say that anyone who has to be the "state", "tech", or "A&M" of Idaho is not to be worried about. However, this is the true power of the home of the potato. Boise State-34 Tulsa-21. (3-3)

7. Hawaii at Tulsa. October 20, 2001.

Tulsa went to Honolulu last season and were able to overcome jetlag to knock off the Rainbows, 24-14. While the Rainbow QB Timmy Chang will give them problems all day, Tulsa will prevail at home again. Tulsa-35 Hawaii-31. (4-3)

8. Tulsa at San Jose State. October 27, 2001.

Tulsa was 103rd in America a year ago against the run and San Jose State has a stud back in Deonce Whitaker. If Tulsa shores up that horrid defensive line and keeps Whitaker in check they will roll. However, Nebraska couldn't stop Whitaker and neither will Tulsa. Tulsa-28 San Jose State-27. (5-3)

9. Louisiana Tech at Tulsa. November 3, 2001.

What the heck happened to La. Tech? A few years ago they were passing the ball all over Nebraska and now they are fighting to stay out of the gutter of college football. Tulsa gets a rest after back-to-back nail biters. Tulsa-44 La. Tech-10. (6-3)

10. Tulsa at Rice. November 10, 2001.

This is a game that Tulsa should win because Rice is just not a good team, but the lack of being a consistent winner will show as they give the game to the Owls. Rice-17 Tulsa-14. (6-4)

11. SMU at Tulsa. November 17, 2001.

Tulsa nearly pulled out a win in Dallas last season against the Mustangs only to fall short 24-20. This season they will close out Keith Burns' second season with a bang on the way to a first bowl game since 1991. Tulsa-38 SMU-14. (7-4)

This is the season that things finally turn the corner at Tulsa. Keith Burns was highly criticized for his statements about passing OSU by before last season. However, those statements don't look so crazy now, if OSU stumbles again this year and the Golden Hurricane goes bowling look for the Tulsa area to tilt to the Hurricane in left over recruits from OU. Tulsa fans will go bowling for the first time in a decade this season, albeit in a second trip to Boise in 2001.