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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (4th season, 21-17) 2005 record: 9-4 (Beat Fresno State in Liberty Bowl) C-USA finish: 6-2 (1st West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 40th (166.0 ypg) Passing: 41st (236.2 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 77th (165.0 ypg) Passing: 17th (183.3 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 31 Stephen F. Austin Sept. 9 at BYU Sept. 16 North Texas Sept. 23 at Navy Oct. 3 Southern Miss Oct. 14 at East Carolina Oct. 21 at Memphis Oct. 27 UTEP Nov. 4 at Houston Nov. 11 Rice Nov. 18 at SMU Nov. 25 Tulane Depth Chart: Offense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 80 Idris Moss Sr. 9 Donnie Johnson Sr. WR 83 Ryan Bugg Sr. 84 Jesse Meyer Fr. TE 88 Charles Ramsey Jr. 89 Aaron Roupoli Sr. LT 66 Mike Mengers Sr. 65 Jody Whaley Fr. LG 67 Jon Hameister-Ries Sr. 76 Curt Puckett Fr. C 56 Aaron Danenhauer Sr. 50 Justin Morsey So. RG 70 Rodrick Thomas So. 77 Wade Whitlow Jr. RT 59 Jeff Perrett Sr. 74 Kevin Lane Fr. TE 36 Ted Curtis Jr. 37 Devin Adair Jr. QB 12 Paul Smith Jr. 5 David Johnson So. RB 34 Brandon Diles Sr. 25 Tarrion Adams So. Depth Chart: Defense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 95 Chadd Evans Jr. 91 Robert Latu Sr. NG 99 Terrel Nemons So. 90 Brandon Jones Jr. DE 93 Moton Hopkins So. 33 Kinny Spotwood Jr. SLB 41 Nick Bunting Sr. 44 Alain Karatepeyan Jr. MLB 55 Nelson Coleman Jr. 35 Cody Madison Jr. WLB 32 Chris Chamberlain Jr. 8 George Clinkscale So. CB 22 Nick Graham Sr. 16 Marchon Tatmon Sr. CB 10 Roy Roberts So. 13 Julian McGowan Sr. BAN 2 Kedrick Alexander Sr. 6 Steve Craver Jr. SS 11 Anthony Germany Jr. 8 Ty Page So. FS 4 Bobby Blackshire Sr. 7 Randy Duncan So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 12 Jarod Tracy Jr. P 5 Chris Kindred Sr. KR 80 Idris Moss Sr. PR 80 Idris Moss Sr.

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Suddenly, there is more than hope. There is expectation. In 2005, Tulsa overcame an 0-2 start - two decisive defeats to Minnesota and at Oklahoma - to qualify for a bowl game for the second time in three years under coach Steve Kragthorpe.

Not only did the Golden Hurricane go to a bowl in '05, but they also moved from the Western Athletic Conference into Conference USA and took the league by storm, winning seven of their last eight games - including the Western Division, the C-USA Championship Game (44-27 at UCF) and the Liberty Bowl (31-24 over Fresno State). It was Tulsa's first conference title in 21 years.

Tulsa went 9-4 last season and is 21-17 in three seasons under Kragthorpe.

"We want to build off what's transpired in the past," Kragthorpe says.

"But the past is what it is. It's history. You can learn a lot from history, but yet we want to blaze a new trail, and part of that is understanding what it takes to get back to that point."

TU returns seven starters from an offense that averaged 33.1 points and 402.2 yards per game, and nine starters from a defense that created 36 turnovers, 30 sacks and had 74 tackles for a loss.

OFFENSE

Tulsa returns seven starters from an offense that averaged 33.1 points and 402.2 yards per game. Junior quarterback Paul Smith threw for 2,847 yards and 20 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He completed 62.4 percent of his passes and surpassed 200 yards 10 times. Backup David Johnson looked strong in relief last season and in the spring.

Running back is a strength, with big-play specialist Tarrion Adams, Brandon Diles (finally healthy) and transfer Courtney Tennial vying for time.

The passing game will look different, with All-America tight end Garrett Mills in the NFL and a pile of wide receivers - led by returning starter Idris Moss - hoping to fill Mills' shoes.

Four of last year's five starters return from a line that grew during the season and eventually became reliable. Jeff Perrett, Aaron Danenhauer, Mike Mengers and Jon Hameister-Ries are all back to anchor a unit that last season opened holes for a 4.4-yard per carry rushing average and gave up only 26 sacks.

"I can't think of one weak spot on the team right now," says Smith, who was MVP of the Liberty Bowl - Tulsa's first bowl win since 1991. "We just need to smooth some things out. We all have little things to work out."

DEFENSE

Nine starters are back from a defense that created 36 turnovers, 30 sacks and had 74 tackles for loss.

Three starters are back at linebacker. Nelson Coleman led TU with 117 tackles last season, including four sacks, with an interception and three fumble recoveries. Chris Chamberlain had 88 tackles, 11 for a loss, and senior Nick Bunting was fourth on the team with 85 tackles, 9.5 for a loss and five quarterback sacks.

The secondary is loaded. Senior Bobby Blackshire moves to free safety after playing last year at bandit, where he was second on the team with 99 tackles and earned first-team All-C-USA honors. Senior Kedrick Alexander, the bandit, led the team with 121 tackles in 2003 and made second-team All-Western Athletic Conference. He was suspended all of 2004 and was academically ineligible all of 2005. Tulsa's third safety, the spur, is manned by returning starter Anthony Germany, who led the Golden Hurricane last year with 13.5 tackles for a loss and eight passes defended. Senior Nick Graham has the skills to be a lockdown cornerback.

On Tulsa's three-man line, Moton Hopkins, Chadd Evans and Robert Latu are back at end, while Brandon Jones, Walter Boyd, Terrel Nemons and Tommy Daniels are competing at nose guard.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker Brad DeVault, whose 280 points were one short of the school record, is being replaced by Jarod Tracy. Chris Kindred averaged only 37.9 yards per punt in '05.

Moss, who shared time last season, was the primary punt returner in the spring. The loss of 2004 All-America kick returner Ashlan Davis (six career return TDs) will be felt.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Tulsa last season moved from the WAC into Conference USA and looked liked it owned the place, winning seven of their last eight, including the C-USA Championship Game (their first conference title in 21 years) and the Liberty Bowl.

Tulsa has been bowling twice and is 21-17 overall in three seasons under Kragthorpe.