Hurricane Elite Winter 2015-2016 by Austin Chadwick

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for all the sports you play, we’re on your team. at eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic center, we’ve been caring for athletes just like you for many years. that means, when you’re seen by one of our sports medicine specialists, you’re seeing the same doctors who care for the elite athletes of the University of tulsa, Oral roberts University, and many other college and high school teams. from physicals to physical therapy and beyond, our team is here to help you be the best athlete you can be. call the sports medicine experts at eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic center at (800) 283-3662 today.

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10 | Eyes on the Prize The Golden Hurricane men’s basketball team has racked up two big early-season wins and is primed for a run in the AAC.

20 | On the Right Track After a rocky start Matilda Mossman and the women of TU are coming into their own and developing well.

22 | Going Bowling

Annual Subscription includes three publications: • ANNUAL FOOTBALL AND FALL SPORTS PREVIEW (AUGUST) • ANNUAL BASKETBALL PREVIEW (NOVEMBER) • ANNUAL RECRUITING ISSUE (FEBRUARY) For all the best in the highest quality publication covering The University of Tulsa Athletic Programs, get it all with Hurricane Elite. Go to HurricaneElite.com

Reign Cane!!! The cry of TU supporters and fans alike. Philip Montgomery shows a four-game improvement that ranks as one of the best in the country with one more opportunity to send the serniors out on a high note.

48 | Recruiting News

The fall brought about many Tulsa commitments and basketball signees. We break down all the football and basketball future Hurricane of 2016 thus far. Trinity Media Group, LLC 12330 E. 60th St. Ste. A. • Tulsa, OK 74146 All rights reserved. Publisher Austin Chadwick Senior Writer/Recruiting Chris Harmon Contributing Writers Kyle Kendrick, Austin Chadwick Feature Photographer Brandy Moton, Brad Heath, Dave Crenshaw Contact Information Website: www.VYPEOK.com • Phone: 918.495.1771 • Fax: 918.495.1787 Hurricane Elite is published tri-annually by Trinity Media Group, LLC. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission are prohibited. Hurricane Elite is not responsible for the return of unsolicited artwork, photography or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or similar charges.

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YOUR UNIVERSITY OF TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE 2015 MEN’S TEAM

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YOUR UNIVERSITY OF TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE 2015 WOMEN’S TEAM

THE University of Tulsa

FRANK HAITH, TULSA KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE By Sarah Dewberry Imagine that you are offered a job. You want to know more about the job, so you contact a mutual friend to get a better understanding of the job and the company. Well, what if that mutual friend is none other than Hall of Fame basketball coach Tubby Smith?

Current Tulsa head basketball coach Frank Haith has had a whirlwind of a year. His team finished second in the American Athletic Conference and was invited to the National Invitation Tournament in his first year. With almost two years under his belt and just a few games into the season, Haith and his team are already making a splash.

Tulsa started off the season with a huge win against No. 9 Wichita State, but lost to unranked South Carolina and Arkansas-Little Rock. Haith and his team were able to bounce back by beating Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. Tulsa is one of only six nonconference teams to beat OSU in Stillwater since 1987. “Beating Oklahoma State was a big win for us,” Haith said. “I thought we got in there, practiced and got after some things we thought we needed to get back to doing. Primarily we talked about the defensive end, and I thought that was the reason we were able to have success on the road at Oklahoma State, because we were not defending the way we needed 8

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to defend from the three-point line and from the floor, and we got back to our identity. We know who we are, and that’s going to be continued.” Currently sitting in fourth place in the conference, Tulsa is gearing up for a marathon race to climb from fourth to first.

“We’ve just got to continue to grow and get better because it’s such a long season,” Haith said. “Here it is December and it’s a marathon race. It’s not a sprint, and we’ve just got to grind it out and get better. We stubbed our toe against Little Rock, and I think we had a wake-up call. Little Rock is good -- nothing to take away from them, they’re a good basketball team -- but it allowed us to get back to some basic things that we need to get done with our team, and it gave us a chance to win at OSU, which I

James Woodard

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thought was a great win for the university and our program. We’ve just got to continue to get better.” Where Haith sees his team growing is on the offensive end, sharing the ball and being more fluid with offensive execution.

“Defensively we need to be consistent, because that’s something we can do night in and night out,” Haith said. “Your offense may come and go, with making shots, missing shots, making free throws and missing free throws, but your defense is what we hang our hat on, and if we’re consistently doing that night in and night out, then we give ourselves a chance. We just need to get back to understanding that. “ Haith entered his second season, with nine seniors returning. Senior guard Shaquille Harrison leads the team with

Shaq Harrison

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THE University of Tulsa 19 points per game. It seems all the pieces are in place for Tulsa to make its 16th appearance in the NCAA tournament this season.

“I’ve been fortunate and blessed with a great group of young men,” Haith said. “These nine seniors have all been great contributors to our team. It’s a blessing to have such a group that’s been together this long in terms of experience standpoint, but from a chemistry standpoint (too), because they all like each other. In any team sport when you have camaraderie, you have guys that that truly love one another. They always have a chance to be successful because they care about each other and they pull for one another.” It’s hard for any team entering its senior year and having played for a third head coach. The transition for any player can be difficult, but Haith knew he gained a great group of guys when he was named the new head coach in 2014.

“It’s always different when you make a transition, and I think the one thing that I have learned, because I’ve had three stops from Miami to Missouri to Tulsa, is that getting to know your players is extremely important from the onset and getting to know their hearts and develop that trust,” Haith said. “Trust doesn’t just happen. You don’t

just say trust and they automatically trust you. I think that’s established, and I’m a communicator, and our players know exactly where we stand, and I think it’s one of my strengths as a coach. I make my guys sign in every day. They always walk up here and see me, not just in that 94 feet -- they see me off the court, too.

“We have get-togethers with those guys so they can see me in a different light, and I think establishing that type of relationship when they see you that way and see your heart and you get to know them, it allows you the ability and chance for them to get to know you and coach them. Some of these players are have gone through three different coaches, from Doug Wojcik to Danny Manning to me, so they deserve the kind of success at the end of their time, and I’m hoping to help them along the way and (that) we have that kind of success.”

There’s nothing more on which Haith prides himself than wanting his players to graduate and leave Tulsa having learned more from him than just basketball. “We are talking about life skills, and I want to be a part of that growth,” Haith said. “It helps that we have some really great kids when we took over here. The character of our guys and our program are outstanding, and they are so coachable and they’re so willing to learn. They embraced my family and me, and it’s been a great two years. I’m praying that this group has an unbelievable and unforgettable season, because they deserve it.”

Marquel Curtis

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From 2011-14, Haith was head coach at the University of Missouri and wasn’t remotely thinking about another job when the Tulsa job opened up. After speak-

D’Andre Wright

ing to university president Dr. Steadman Upham and vice president and athletic director Dr. Derrick Gragg, Haith and his family arrived in Tulsa shortly thereafter. Following in the footsteps of Smith, Bill Self and Nolan Richardson would be anyone’s dream. For Haith, seeing how great Tulsa was sealed the deal for him to leave the Southeastern Conference. “I spoke with Tubby (Smith) about the TU job and about Tulsa, and he was frank with me. He said of all the places that he has lived, Tulsa was the best community he’s ever lived in,” Haith said. “I thought that was really exciting. He’s one of my mentors and guys I look up to, and a guy like Coach Richardson in terms of what he’s meant to the game.” Tulsa has always been known as a stepping stone-type job, but Haith wants to change the DNA of TU basketball and take it to the next level.

“In the past, those guys, when they were here, Tulsa was viewed as a stepping stone-type job,” Haith said. “All those guys won national championships, but they won them at other schools. But now that we’re in this new conference, I think that we can change our DNA in terms of taking it to the next level, and hopefully we can have a chance to no longer be viewed as a stepping-stone job. I think in my perspective, this job I can make home and a community I want to live in and call home for a long time.”

PAT BIRT

Last season, the Tulsa men’s basketball team was bounced from the National Invitation Tournament early and finished second in the American Athletic Conference.

Head coach Frank Haith went back to the drawing board and realized he needed to bring in someone who could boost the Golden Hurricane’s poor shooting percentage. His answer came from junior-college transfer Pat Birt.

Frank Haith

ONE VISION

Frank Haith has always liked the private school sector. Having attended Elon University, graduated from Wake Forest’s grad school and coached at the University of Miami, Haith has always felt at home at private schools. “I like that environment,” Haith said. “Coming to Tulsa was exciting for me because I got to go back to being at a private school.” After taking over as head coach a year and a half ago, Haith knew he would have a chance to do great things here. “There is great commitment here at Tulsa,” Haith said. “In terms of the basketball program, Tulsa is able to do things in order to play with high-level basketball programs like Memphis, Cincinnati and University of Connecticut. Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Derrick Gragg and University President Dr. Steadman Upham have done nothing but continue to give us what we need in order to be successful.” After leaving the University of Missouri and accepting the head coaching job at Tulsa, a lot has transpired for Haith and his family and he has loved every minute of it. “I’m excited about the future of Tulsa basketball and doing some great things here.”

“Birt has been a great addition,” Haith said. “One of the areas we struggled with last season was shooting. We didn’t shoot the ball great and when Birt is on the court, he helps all of our guys. His addition to our program and what he’s been able to do for us offensively has been great.” The Plano, Texas, guard arrived from South Plains College, where he made 66 3-pointers last season in 32 games, and Haith is ready to see that side of Birt. “He’s made timely shots and plays, but he hasn’t had one of those games where he goes off,” Haith said. “But he has had some big moments and some big shots to help us win games.”

Two of those big plays came in wins against No. 9 Wichita State and Oklahoma State.

“He had a great big four-point play against Wichita State and he had a big 3-pointer against Oklahoma State in the second half,” Haith said.

There are still a lot of games left in the season and Birt will continue to make a name for himself while helping Tulsa chase for its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Pat Birt

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THE University of Tulsa

MATILDA MOSSMAN AND CO. ARE GETTING ON THE RIGHT TRACK By Sarah Dewberry For University of Tulsa’s women’s basketball head coach Matilda Mossman, this season hasn’t started the way she had hoped.

Starting the season 0-3 can be difficult for any team, but if anyone can bounce back, it’s Mossman and her team.

“We’ve gotten off to a rough start, which was due to a really difficult schedule,” Mossman said. “We lost to Kansas State early in the year, who are 4-1. We lost to St. Louis, and they’re 7-0, and we lost to Drake, who is also 7-0. Presented with a lot of different personnel matchups, and I think and I hope that that will help us down the road.” After losing their leads against Drake, Kansas State and St. Louis, Tulsa could

have folded up shop. But Mossman’s team knows how to bounce back and not let what happened in the past deter it from the present and the future.

“We led K-State by 9 and St. Louis by 9,” Mossman said. “We’ve got to keep from getting down early in games and fight our way back. We get the lead and we have to learn to have the same kind of fight with the lead as we did when we were down.” Currently sitting at 2-7 and last in the American Athletic Conference, Mossman knows that her team has what it takes to go from last to first.

“It’s all about mentality and not getting relaxed, complacent and not settling,” Mossman said. “Our two top problem areas are defense urgency and our ability to block out and not give up second shots. Those are things we have been really focusing on the past two, three weeks.”

Led by seniors guard Ashley Clark, who leads the team with 13 points per game, guard Kelsee Grovey, who averages 12.3 points per game, and sophomore guard Erika Wakefield, who averages 10.3 points per game, Mossman said Tulsa knows how to lead a balanced attack. Entering her fifth season as head coach, Mossman

Ashley Clark

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Liesl Spoerl knows this year’s team has turned the corner compared to other teams that she’s coached in the past.

“We’ve created the kind of culture that we want, by turning the corner,” Mossman said. “It’s the type of mentality that we’ve wanted to have. We inherited a team that had only won five games, and we’re just trying to change that mentality of being capable to win every game.”

The Tulsa basketball program has grown since Mossman took over five seasons ago. With a 400-215 career win-loss record that includes a 209-162 mark at the collegiate level, Mossman sees her women at Tulsa striving to win and head back to the NCAA Tournament. “We are at a point where we are expected to have a winning season every year,” Mossman said. “That wasn’t the case before we took over five seasons ago. Now, it’s about getting to 20 wins. We were close last year with 18 wins. It’s about reaching that 20-win plateau year in and year out.”

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THE University of Tulsa Photos Provided by The University of Tulsa - TulsaHurricane.com

Josh Atkinson

Dane Evans

Keevan Lucas & Michael Mudoh

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Montgomeryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Win

IMAGES FROM THE SEASON

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THE University of Tulsa

Ramadi Warren

Michael Mudoh

Derrick Luetjen

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Craig Suits

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Keevan Lucas HURRICANE ELITE

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THE University of Tulsa

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo Brewer

Chandler Miller

Zik Asiegbu

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Justin Hobbs

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Zack langer HURRICANE ELITE

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THE University of Tulsa

Evan Plagg

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Matt Linscott

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The University of Tulsa

Tulsa Gets Back to Bowling:

Shreveport Bound www.TulsaHurricane.com

The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane will face the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. The game will be played at Independence Stadium (48,975) on Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 4:45 p.m. (CT).

Game tickets in the Tulsa seating sections are on sale and can be purchased online at TulsaHurricane.com, by calling 918.631.GoTU (4688) or in person at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the TU campus. Ticket prices are $50 (Sideline Chairbacks), $45(Sideline Bench), and $30 (End Zone) each. Travel packages have been announced and are available.

Fans are encouraged to follow www. TulsaHurricane.com for all information related to the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl.

Tulsa (6-6) enters the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl Game with one of the nation’s top offenses. The Hurricane ranks 12th nationally in total offense with an average of 502.8 yards per game, and has the nation’s ninthranked passing offense (329.8). The

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Tulsa offense features the nation’s leading receiver, Keyarris Garrett, who has an NCAA-leading 1,451 receiving yards and is second nationally with 120.9 receiving yards per game. Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) comes into the game with a 6-6 record as legendary Frank Beamer will be coaching the Hokies in his final game. Virginia Tech is making its 23rd straight bowl game appearance, as Tech’s 23-year bowl streak began at the Independence Bowl in 1993.

“We’re excited to be representing our University, the city of Tulsa and the American Athletic Conference in the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl,” said Tulsa head coach. “From day one, we talked about becoming bowl eligible, and I’m proud of how our team has kept battling each and

every game to reach this point. We’ll prepare diligently for this game as we have this whole season, and would like to send our seniors out with one more win.”

“We need for Tulsa fans, from whatever location, to make the Independence Bowl a destination this holiday season to support their football team,” added Montgomery. “Obviously, Virginia Tech is an extremely talented team with a Hall of Fame Coach,” said Montgomery. “Coach Beamer has done a tremendous job building the Virginia Tech football program into one of the powers in college football over the last 29 seasons.” The bowl appearance for Tulsa is the 20th in school history and the ninth time in the last 13 years. Tulsa’s latest bowl game appearance was in the 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where the Hurricane defeated the Iowa State Cyclones, 31-17, at Memphis’ Liberty Bowl Stadium. Tulsa is making its third trip to the Independence Bowl as the Hurricane played in the 1976 and 1989 games. The game will be televised by ESPN.

UP CLOSE

Coach: Philip Montgomery (1st season, 6-6) Conference Championships: N/A Bowl Record: N/A

OFFENSIVE STATS FBS Rankings: Total Offense: 14th (502.8 ypg) Scoring Offense: 25th (35.9 ppg) Passing Offense: 11th (329.8 ypg) Rushing Offense: 63rd (172.9 ypg)

2015 SCHEDULE

Sat, Sept 5 vs FAU Sat, Sept 12 @ New Mexico Sat, Sept 19 @ #16 Oklahoma Sat, Oct 3 vs Houston * Sat, Oct 10 vs UL Monroe Sat, Oct 17 @ East Carolina* Fri, Oct 23 vs #18 Memphis* Sat, Oct 31 @ SMU* Sat, Nov 7 vs UCF* Sat, Nov 14 @ Cincinnati* Sat, Nov 21 vs #16 Navy* Fri, Nov 27 @ Tulane* *AAC Conference Opponents

W47-44 OT W40-21 L52-38 L38-24 W34-24 L30-17 L66-42 W40-31 W45-30 L49-38 L44-21 W45-34

The University of Tulsa

MONTGOMERY APPOINTS BLOESCH TO OFFENSIVE LINE POSITION AS TULSA CONTINUES BOWL PREPARATIONS www.TulsaHurricane.com

As the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team continues preparations for the Camping World Independence Bowl, Head Coach Philip Montgomery announced today that Mike Bloesch has been promoted to offensive line coach.

Montgomery confirmed that co-offensive coordinators Sterlin Gilbert and Matt Mattox have elected to leave the Golden Hurricane coaching staff and accept coaching positions at the University of Texas. Gilbert coached Tulsa quarterbacks and Mattox the offensive line.

Bloesch has served as Tulsa’s offensive quality control/assistant offensive line coach since joining the Golden Hurricane program in January. He came to Tulsa following one season as the offensive football analyst at the University of Houston, and before that was the offensive coordinator at Temple (Texas) High School for three seasons, posting an overall 19-13 record and scoring over 40 points and gaining over 500 yards of offense. Bloesch also served as offensive line coach at Abilene Cooper

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High School for two seasons, helping that team compile a 20-6 record and set school records for points and total yards.

“Mike is a rising star when it comes to coaching the offensive line. He played for us at the University of Houston, and really understands, as a player and coach, what we need to do from a schematic and offensive line standpoint in this offense,” said Montgomery. “Mike has a really good rapport and relationship with our players and has done an outstanding job in helping us prepare our offensive plans each week. We are fortunate to have someone like Mike on staff to step in and not miss a beat.”

In a familiar role, Montgomery will coach the Tulsa quarterbacks in preparation for the Independence Bowl game. Montgomery expects to wait until after the bowl game to fill the one remaining coaching vacancy.

Before taking over the Tulsa program last December, Montgomery coached quarterbacks for the previous 12 seasons, first at Houston then Baylor, in addition to his mul-

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tiple seasons as the offensive coordinator.

“Our focus is on preparing for an extremely tough Virginia Tech team in the Camping World Independence Bowl and continuing to recruit and rebuild this program to one that will win American Athletic Conference championships,” said Montgomery. “We expect this to be a seamless transition over the next two weeks in preparing for the Independence Bowl and continuing forward.”

Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. The distinct Audi Q5. Different in every way, the Audi Q5 is in a category of one. With its unmistakable profile, its sophisticated styling and unique LED lights,* the Audi Q5 is anything but your typical CUV. But it’s not just looks that distinguish the Q5. From Be yourself. Audi drive select,* which allows you to adjust the vehicle’s handling and response, to elseall-wheel is already taken. Everyone the legendary quattro® drive system, the drive is unforgettable too. Visit your local dealer to test-drive the distinct Audi Q5. Learn more atin audiusa.com/Q5 The distinct Audi Q5. Different in every way, the Audi Q5 is a category of one. With its unmistakable profile, its sophisticated styling and unique LED lights,* the Audi Q5 is anything but your typical CUV. But it’s not just looks that distinguish the Q5. From Audi drive select,* which allows you to adjust the vehicle’s handling and response, to the legendary quattro® all-wheel drive system, the drive is unforgettable too. Visit your local dealer to test-drive the distinct Audi Q5. Learn more at audiusa.com/Q5

Audi Tulsa 4208 S. Memorial Drive 918.712.2834 www.auditulsa.com Headline is an Oscar Wilde quote. *LED drls lights standard, Audi drive select available on all Q5 models. “Audi,” “quattro,” “Truth in Engineering,” all model names, and the four rings logo are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. ©2015 Audi of America, Inc. HURRICANE ELITE | WINTER 2015-2016 25

Audi Tulsa 4208 S. Memorial Drive 918.712.2834

2015 TULSA FOOTBALL GAME NOTES

Tulsa Athletic Media Relations • 800 S. Tucker Drive • Tulsa, OK 74104 Facebook: /TulsaHurricane and /TulsaFootball • Twitter:@TulsaHurricane and @TulsaFootball Instagram: TulsaHurricanePics • Website: www.TulsaHurricane.com

Game Information

Date / Time: Sat., Dec. 26, 2015/4:45 pm (CT) Site: Shreveport, La. Stadium: Indepdence Stadioum (48,975) TV: ESPN Talent: Dave LaMont (pxp), Ray Bentley (analyst) Jane Slater (sidelines) Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM Talent: Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline) Live Stats: TulsaHurricane.com Series: Tulsa leads 3-1-0 First Meeting: Virginia Tech 17, Tulsa 14 (Oct. 17, 1970), Blacksburg, Va. Last Meeting: Tulsa 35, Virginia Tech 33 (Sept. 9, 1978), Blacksburg, Va.

TULSA 6-6, 3-5 The American Head Coach: Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State '95) 1st year at Tulsa Career Record: 6-6 (1 year) TU Record: same VIRGINIA TECH Head Coach:

Career Record: VT Record:

6-6, 4-4 ACC Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech '69) 29th year at Virginia Tech 237-121-2 (29 years) 279-144-4 (35 years)

Tulsa Coaching Staff Philip Montgomery Bill Young Brian Norwood Jermial Ashley Mike Bloesch Aaron Fletcher Joseph Gillespie Justin Hill Calvin Lowry Luke Olson

Head Coach Co-Defensive Coord./DL Co-Defensive Coord./Saf. Defensive Line Offensive Line Cornerbacks Linebackers Running Backs Receivers & Special Teams Defensive Quality Control

Tulsa Media Relations DON TOMKALSKI

Sr. Associate AD/Communications Football Contact

o 918.631.3200 • c 918.640.0683 • donald-tomkalski@utulsa.edu

STEPHANIE HALL Director of Media Relations

o 918.631.2163 • c 918.232.2393 • stephanie-hall@utulsa.edu

ERIC HOLLIER

Assistant Media Relations Dir. Secondary Football Contact

o 918.631.2492 • c 225.978.4590 • eric-hollier@utulsa.edu

DRAKE ALLEN

Media Relations Assistant o 918.631.3720 • c 205.826.7150 • drake-allen@utulsa.edu

HURRICANE ELITE

GAME

TULSA (6-6, 3-5 American) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (6-6, 4-4 ACC)

December 26, 2015 • 4:45 p.m. (CT) #13 Saturday, Independence Stadium (48,975), Shreveport, La. TV: ESPN • Radio: Big Country 99.5 FM

THE STORYLINES . . . • Tulsa football was under new direction in 2015 as Philip Montgomery was named the 29th head coach in school history on December 11, 2014. • Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of FBS schools with 3,473 students . . . Virginia Tech's enrollment is 24,247. • Tulsa is making its 20th bowl game appearance and for the third time in the Independence Bowl game . . . Tulsa has a 9-10 bowl record. • Tulsa's Philip Montgomery is in his first season as a collegiate head coach, while Frank Beamer is in his 35th year as a head coach, including 29th and final year at Virginia Tech . . . it is also Beamer's 23rd straight bowl game at VT. • Tulsa bettered its win total from the previous two years (5) with a current 6-6 record this year. • One common opponent . . . Tulsa and Virginia Tech each played East Carolina this season on the road, with Tech losing 35-28 and Tulsa losing 30-17. • Against the Top-25 . . . both teams have played three opponents ranked in the top25 at the time of the game . . . Virginia Tech lost to #1 Ohio State, #23 Duke and #12 North Carolina . . . Tulsa dropped decisions to #16 Oklahoma, #17 Memphis and #16 Navy. • Statistical comparisons . . . Tulsa ranks 11th nationally for passing offense, while Virginia Tech ranks ninth in pass defense . . . Tulsa is ranked 14th for total offense, Tech is ranked 34th for total defense . . . Tulsa is 25th for scoring offense, while Virginia Tech ranks 47th in scoring defense. • Thirty of Tulsa's 51 offensive touchdown drives in regulation have come under two minutes for a .588 percentage . . . 18 of those have been under one minute.

2015 SCHEDULE/RESULTS . . . TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES September 5 FAU W 47-44/OT 12 @ New Mexico W 40-21 19 @ #16 Oklahoma L 38-52 October 3 HOUSTON* L 24-38 10 UL-MONROE W 34-24 17 @ East Carolina* L 17-30 23 (Fri) #17 MEMPHIS* L 42-66 31 @ SMU* W 40-31 November 7 UCF* W 45-30 14 @ Cincinnati* L 38-49 21 #19 NAVY* L 21-44 27 (Fri) @ Tulane* W 45-34 December 26 vs. Virginia Tech (Independence Bowl) *American Athletic Conference Games

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September 7 #1 OHIO STATE L 24-42 12 FURMAN W 42-3 19 @ Purdue W 51-24 26 @ East Carolina L 28-35 October 3 PITTSBURGH* L 13-17 9 NC STATE* W 28-13 17 @ Miami (Fla.)* L 20-30 24 #23 DUKE* L 43-45/OT 31 @ Boston College* W 26-10 November 12 @ Georgia Tech* W 23-21 21 #12 NORTH CAROLINA* L 27-30/OT 28 @ Virginia* W 23-20 December 26 vs. Tulsa (Independence Bowl) *ACC Games

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 2 TULSA HEAD COACH PHILIP MONTGOMERY IN FIRST SEASON . . . • Philip Montgomery became the 29th head coach in school history on Dec. 11, 2014. • Montgomery claimed his first career head coaching victory in the 2015 Tulsa season opener with a 47-44 overtime win over FAU . . . he has a 6-6 record as the Tulsa head coach. • Before coming to Tulsa, he spent seven years at Baylor, where he spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator/QB coach. • Under his guidance, Baylor led the nation in total offense and scoring offense in each of the last two seasons. • Quarterbacks he tutored include 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III as well as Bryce Petty and Nick Florence at Baylor and Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum at Houston. • Before moving to Baylor, he spent five years at Houston, also under Art Briles. • Has coached nine Bowl games in 12 years as a collegiate coach. • Before moving to the college ranks, he spent one year as the offensive coordinator at Denton (Texas) HS, and before that spent six years at Stephenville HS, where he was a part of back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 1998 and 1999.

THE SERIES . . . • This is the fifth meeting between Tulsa and Virginia Tech, but the first meeting since the 1978 season. • Tulsa has a 3-1 record in the series, and has won the last three matchups. • The four games have been decided by a margin of 4.0 points . . . the largest win was a seven-point Tulsa win, 46-39. • Virginia Tech won the first game in 1970 by a score of 17-14 at home, while a year later Tulsa captured a 46-39 home win in 1971. • Tulsa won the next two games in Blacksburg, coming in 1976 by a score of 35-21 and in 1978 with a 35-33 win. TULSA IN BOWL GAMES; FIRST SCHOOL TO PLAY IN FIVE STRAIGHT NEW YEAR'S DAY BOWLS . . . • Tulsa is making its 20th bowl game appearance in school history. • The Hurricane has a 9-10 record in bowl games, and has won four of its last five bowl contests. • Tulsa is the first school to appear in five straight New Year's Day Bowl Games – 1942 Sun Bowl (1-1-42), 1943 Sugar Bowl (1-1-43), 1944 Sugar Bowl (1-1-44), 1945 Orange Bowl (1-1-45) and the 1946 Oil Bowl (1-1-46). • Despite not making a bowl game in the last two years, Tulsa is making its ninth bowl appearance in the last 13 seasons. • Tulsa's last bowl game was in the 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl as the Hurricane claimed a 31-17 win over Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference. • This is the third time Tulsa has played in the Independence Bowl . . . Tulsa has also played in five other bowl games more than once. • Tulsa's other bowl games they've played in multiple times include: Sugar Bowl (1944, '45), Bluebonnet Bowl (1964, '65), Liberty Bowl (2005, '12), Armed Forces Bowl (2006, '11) and the GMAC Bowl (2008, '09) TULSA PLAYED IN FIRST INDEPENDENCE BOWL . . . • The first Independence Bowl game was played between Tulsa and McNeese State on December 13, 1976 . . . the bowl drew its name from the ongoing celebrations of the United States Bicentennial that year. • Steve Cox gave Tulsa a 16-14 lead on a 38-yard field goal with 4:22 left. • McNeese won on an Oliver Hadnot 25-yard run with 37 seconds on the game clock, capping an 80-yard drive in the final two minutes. • The last minute TD was set-up by a pass interference and roughing penalty on 4thand-7 from midfield, giving McNeese new life. • Tulsa finished the season 7-3-1 and McNeese State finished with a 9-2-0 record.

2015 The American Standings

Team EAST DIVISION Temple South Florida Cincinnati UConn East Carolina UCF

American

ALL

7-1 6-2 4-4 4-4 3-5 0-8

10-3 8-4 7-5 6-6 5-7 0-12

WEST DIVISION Houston* Navy Memphis Tulsa Tulane SMU

7-1 7-1 5-3 3-5 1-7 1-7

12-1 11-2 9-3 6-6 3-9 2-10

*Houston won The American Championship Game with 24-13 win over Temple

The American BOWL Lineup (All Times list are Central Time Zone)

DECEMBER 21 (Monday) Miami Beach Bowl USF vs. Western Kentucky, 1:30 pm DECEMBER 22 (Tuesday) Marmot Boca Raton Bowl Temple vs. Toledo, 6 pm DECEMBER 24 (Thursday) Hawaii Bowl Cincinnati vs. San Diego State, 7 pm DECEMBER 26 (Saturday) St. Petersburg Bowl UConn vs. Marshall, 10 am Camping World Independence Bowl Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech, 4:45 pm DECEMBER 28 (Monday) Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman Pittsburgh at Navy, 1:30 pm DECEMBER 30 (Wednesday) Birmingham Bowl Memphis vs. Auburn, 11 am DECEMBER 31 (Thursday) Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Houston vs. Florida State, 11 am

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2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 3 GARRETT NAMED FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE . . . • Tulsa senior receiver Keyarris Garrett was a unanimous selection to the American Athletic Conference first team, as selected by the league's coaches. • Garrett leads The American in receiving yards (1,451), receiving yards per game (120.9) and is third for receptions per game • He is second in the nation for both receiving yards and receiving yards per game. • Garrett has six 100+ receiving games this year, including two over 200 yards. • Garrett is one of only two players this year in FBS to have two 200+ yard receiving games . . . the other is Bowling Green receiver Roger Lewis. MUDOH AND MARTIN EARN HONORABLE MENTION . . . • Tulsa senior safety Michael Mudoh and junior linebacker Trent Martin were the only other Tulsa players to earn all-conference mention. • Mudoh and Martin each earned honorable mention accolades. • Mudoh ranks second in The Americna for total tackles with 126 stops for a 10.5 average per game. • Martin is tied for first-place in the league for forced fumbles with four, and ranked fifth in tackles for lost yardage (14) and ranked eighth for total tackles (96). TULSA HAS FACED HIGH OCTANE OFFENSES . . . • Tulsa has faced four of the nation’s current top-20 offenses, based on total offense, –– No. 5 Cincinnati, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 13 Memphis and No. 19 Houston. • Tulsa also has one of the top offenses, now ranked 14th nationally, with an average of 502.8 yards per game. • In Tulsa’s games against the top-20 ranked offenses, the two teams have combined for over 1,000 yards in each game –– Tulsa and Cincinnati combined for 1,240 yards . . . vs. Oklahoma, the two teams combined for 1,376 yards . . . vs. Memphis, the two teams combined for 1,238 yards . . . Tulsa and Houston combined for 1,094 yards . . . • In those four games, Tulsa and its opponents combined for 4,948 yards and 347 points, averages of 1,237 yards per game and 86.8 points per game 20 SENIORS TO PLAY IN FINAL GAME . . . • The Camping World Independence Bowl is the final game for 20 Tulsa seniors. • Tulsa has 12 seniors that play on offense, seven on defense and one specialist. • The Hurricane has 13 fifth-year seniors that have been on the Tulsa roster for two previous bowls – 2011 Armed Forces Bowl and 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl • For the fifth-year seniors this is their third bowl game, although all but two red-shirted in the 2011 season. • Tulsa's fifth-year seniors are Derrick Alexander, Zik Asiegbu, Josh Bencke, Joseph Calcagni, Conner Floyd, Keyarris Garrett, Billy Lafortune, Zac Langer, Derrick Luetjen, Michael Mudoh, Chris Showels, Garrett Stafford and Darrell Williams Jr. • Asiegbu played in 2011, but red-shirted in 2012. • Garrett is the only Tulsa player to play in both bowl games, as a true freshman in 2011 and sophomore in 2012 . . . he received a medical red-shirt season in 2013. • Rey Higuera is a 4th-year senior and played in the 2012 game as a true freshman. • This is the second bowl game for seniors Blake Abbott, Dylan Foxworth, Thomas Shamet and Brad Valentino . . . Abbott, Shamet and Valentino are walk-ons. • This is the first bowl game for Mandel Dixon Jr. . . . it's also the first for Suleiman Masumbuko at Tulsa, but before coming to Tulsa he was involved in four bowl games at Baylor. STAFFORD, LUETJEN EARN ACADEMIC HONORS . . . • Seniors Garrett Stafford and Derrick Luetjen were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 team this season. • Stafford had a 3.7 GPA in electrical engineering and graduated in 3.5 years, and has a 3.5 GPA as a graduate student in electrical engineering. • Luetjen has a 3.62 GPA in exercise & sports science. 28

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Tulsa's Bowl Game Appearances (9-10) . . . Sun Bowl (Jan. 1, 1942) Tulsa 6, Texas Tech 0 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 1943) Tennessee 14, Tulsa 7 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 1944) Georgia Tech 20, Tulsa 18 Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, 1945) Tulsa 26, Georgia Tech 12 Oil Bowl (Jan. 1, 1946) Georgia 20, Tulsa 6 Gator Bowl (Jan. 1, 1953) Florida 14, Tulsa 13 Bluebonnet Bowl (Dec. 19, 1964) Tulsa 14, Mississippi 7 Bluebonnet Bowl (Dec. 18, 1965) Tennessee 27, Tulsa 6 Independence Bowl (Dec. 13, 1976) McNeese State 20, Tulsa 16 Independence Bowl (Dec. 16, 1989) Oregon 27, Tulsa 24 Freedom Bowl (Dec. 30, 1991) Tulsa 28, San Diego State 17 Humanitarian Bowl (Jan. 3, 2004) Georgia Tech 52, Tulsa 10 Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 2005) Tulsa 31, Fresno State 24 Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 23, 2006) Utah 25, Tulsa 13 GMAC Bowl (Jan. 6, 2008) Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 7 GMAC Bowl (Jan. 6, 2009) Tulsa 45, Ball State 13 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl (Dec. 24, 2010) Tulsa 62, Hawai'i 35 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 30, 2011) BYU 24, Tulsa 21 AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 2012) Tulsa 31, Iowa State 17

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 4 RELEASE INFORMATION √ Releases are emailed to the media and also available via the official athletic website at www.tulsahurricane.com. INTERVIEW REQUESTS √ All interview requests for studentathletes, coaches or administrators should be made with the athletic media relations office. Contact Don Tomkalski, director and football contact, at 918-631-3200. INJURY INFORMATION √ Injury information will not be released. BROADCASTS ON THE WEB √ Listen to The University of Tulsa football games on the worldwide web at www.tulsahurricane.com. HURRICANE ON RADIO √ The flagship station for Tulsa football is Big Country 99.5 FM KXBL Radio. Bruce Howard (play-by-play), Rick Couri (color analyst) and Jeremie Poplin (sideline commentary) call the action. Network affiliates are: KXBL Big Country 99.5 FM (flagship,Tulsa) KRIG 104.9 FM (Bartlesville) KWON 1400 AM (Bartlesville) Radio Show only KCRC 1390 (Enid) KOKL 1240 AM (Okmulgee) KTMC 1400 AM (McAlester)

COLLEGEPRESSBOX.COM √ Collegepressbox.com is the official media website for American Athletic Conference football. Access and download game notes, statistics, media guides and more for the conference and all league members. For login information contact the American Athletic Conference office. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TEAMS √ The American Athletic Conference offers weekly video highlights and clips of selected press conferences through the XOS Digital XChange FTP tool. Content is available in full broadcast-quality resolution. Contact Chuck Sullivan at csullivan@theamerican.org to receive access information. TULSA AT CHAPMAN STADIUM . . . Tulsa has a 324-154-14 record at Skelly Field @ H.A. Chapman Stadium since the stadium was built in 1930 . . . Tulsa is 3620 since 2007 when the name changed from Skelly Stadium to H.A. Chapman Stadium.

. TULSA LOSSES HAVE COME AGAINST TOP FOES . . . • Four of Tulsa’s six losses have come against teams that have been ranked among the nation’s top-25 this year – Oklahoma, Houston, Memphis and Navy. • Oklahoma was ranked #16 when Tulsa faced the Sooners, Houston was unranked, Memphis was #17 and Navy was #16 . . . East Carolina and Cincinnati are Tulsa’s other losses, both on the road. • The combined record of those teams that have defeated Tulsa is 55-19 this season for a .732 win percentage –– Oklahoma (11-1), Houston (12-1), Navy (11-2), Memphis (9-3), Cincinnati (7-5), East Carolina (5-7).

INTERCEPTIONS LEAD TO WIN NUMBER SIX . . . • Trailing by 10 points (34-24) at the 7:40 mark of the fourth quarter at Tulane, it was crunch time for Tulsa in order to get bowl eligible. • Tulsa's offense marched 75 yards in four plays to cut the Tulane lead to three points, 34-31. • On Tulane's first play on the subsequent possession, Tulsa linebacker Craig Suits pick off a Jordy Joseph pass and went 28 yards to put the Hurricane ahead 38-34 with 6:31 remaining in the game. • Tulane went 70 yards in 10 plays to the Tulsa 16-yard line, but on their 11th play defensive tackle Kolton Shindelar dropped back in pass protection and intercepted a Joseph pass and raced 89 yards for another Tulsa score and the eventual 45-34 victory. TWO PICK SIXES IN WIN NO. 6 GIVES TULSA FOUR THIS YEAR . . . • Tulsa's defense has intercepted four passes that have gone for touchdowns this season. • Each of the four pick sixes have come from a different position group – one from a defensive lineman (Kolton Shindelar), one from a linebacker (Craig Suits), one from a cornerback (Kerwin Thomas) and one from a safety (Michael Mudoh). • The INTs for touchdowns have come from: Kerwin Thomas vs. SMU (31 yards), Michael Mudoh vs. UCF (86) and Craig Suits (28) and Kolton Shindelar (89), both coming againtt Tulane. • Shindelar's 89-yard INT is the second longest in school history, while Mudoh's 86-yarder is the third longest . . . the longest in school history, which also went for a touchdown was Jeff Jordan's 97-yarder against Memphis in 1963. KEY GETS 200 AGAIN . . . • Whether used as a decoy or catching passes, senior receiver Keyarris Garrett is a huge part of the Tulsa offense. • In the regular season finale, Garrett turned in his second 200+ receiving game with 10 receptions for 216 yards and a 30-yard touchdown catch against Tulane. • It was his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season and ninth of his career. • In game #7, Garrett had his first 200-yard receiving game with a career-high 268 yards against #17 Memphis with 3 TDs covering 36, 46 and 32 yards on 14 receptions. • In the 10th game of the season, Garrett had 168 yards and one TD on nine receptions against Cincinnati, thus surpassing 1,000 yards for the season in that game. • Garrett's 1,000+ yards this year marks the 17th time in school history that Tulsa has had a 1,000-yard receiver for a season. • He now ranks second in the NCAA with 1,451 yards on 88 receptions for 16.5 yards per catch, 7 TDs and 120.9 yards per game. • Garrett totaled 457 yards, a 228.5 average and 4 TDs on 28 receptions in games against two ranked opponents – #16 Oklahoma and #17 Memphis.

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2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 5 COULD WE HAVE ANOTHER . . . • Tulsa junior receiver Josh Atkinson has 932 yards and four touchdowns on 65 receptions this year. • With 68 more yards, Atkinson would become the second Tulsa receiver this year to surpass 1,000 yards for the season . . . Keyarris Garrett has 1,451 receiving yards. • If that happens, it would be only the second time in school history that Tulsa would have multiple receivers with over 1,000 yards in the same season. • Tulsa had three 1,000-yard receivers in the 2007 season –– Brennan Marion (1,244), Trae Johnson (1,088) and Charles Clay (1,024).

IN THE AMERICAN RANKINGS . . . Rushing 8. D'Angelo Brewer 73.2 10. Zack Langer 71.4 Passing 1. Dane Evans

329.8

Pass Efficiency 5. Dane Evans

151.3

Receiving Yards/Game 1. Keyarris Garrett 5. Josh Atkinson

120.9 77.7

Total Offense 1. Dane Evans

327.6

Scoring 3. Zack Langer 7. Redford Jones

10.2 8.4

Scoring TDs 2. Zack Langer

10.2

All-Purpose Yards 5. Keyarris Garrett

120.9

"HAIL MARY" HEROICS AT THE HALF . . . • Of Keyarris Garrett's seven touchdown receptions this year, two have come on "Hail Mary" passes at the end of the first half. • The first came at the 0:01 mark against #16 Oklahoma, when he leaped to out reach an Oklahoma defender in the corner of the end zone for a 43-yard TD catch. • The second came at 0:00 when against #17 Memphis and behind two defenders, he jumped forwarded tipped the ball and grabbed with one hand a 46-yard TD just inside the goal line.

Tackles 2. Michael Mudoh 8. Matt Linscott 8. Trent Martin

10.5 8.0 8.0

TFLs 2. Matt Linscott 5. Trent Martin

16.0 14.0

Passes Defended 4. Kerwin Thomas

1.00

FOUR TULSA RECEIVERS GET 100-YARD GAME . . . • Tulsa has had four different receivers with a 100+ yard receiving game this year. • Red-shirt freshman Justin Hobbs was the latest to accomplish the feat with 150 yards on 7 receptions at SMU . . . his 150-yard receiving game is the third-best in school history for a freshman, behind Dan Bitson (161 yards in 1987) and Trae Johnson (158 yards in 2007). • It was not only the fourth time that a different Tulsa receiver has gone over 100 yards in a game, but it was the fifth time that a receiver went over 100 yards by halftime. • Hobbs had 108 yards on 4 catches in the first half at SMU. • Previously, Keyarris Garrett had 156 yards against Oklahoma and 142 vs. Memphis in the first half, while Keevan Lucas did it with 105 first-half yards vs. FAU and Josh Atkinson had 119 yards vs. New Mexico. • With 516 yards on 29 receptions this season, Hobbs now has the seventh-best receiving performance for a Tulsa freshman.

Forced Fumbles 2. Trent Martin

Caused Fumbles 2. Zik Asiegbu

0.18

GARRETT IN 3rd PLACE ON TULSA'S ALL-TIME RECEIVING CHART . . . • Keyarris Garrett came into the Memphis game with 2,319 receiving yards to rank 12th on the school's career receiving chart. • After a 268-yard performance against the #17 Tigers, Garrett jumped seven spots on Tulsa's all-time receiving list into 5th place with 2,587 yards. • Garrett moved into third place on the career list with his 200-yard game at Tulane. • Garrett now has 3,072 career yards for third place . . . he trails second-place Dan Bitson (3,300 yards – 1987-88, '89) by 228 yards and the all-time leader Howard Twilley (3,343 – 1963-65) by 271 yards.

CONNER'S MONTH OF NOVEMBER . . . • Not to be lost in the mix at receiver, senior Conner Floyd may not have a 100-yard game, but turned in back-to-back career-best performances. • In the first three games of November, Floyd caught 20 passes for 220 yards and 3 TDs, averaging 73.3 yards . . . he did not have a reception in Tulsa's last game. • Floyd caught three passes for a career-best 72 yards and had his first career multiple TD game with two touchdown receptions against UCF . . . his first two catches went for touchdowns, including a career-long 36-yarder and a 12-yarder. • A week later, Floyd caught seven passes for a new career-high 76 yards and had a 18-yard touchdown reception against Cincinnati. • Floyd went over 70 yards again with a career-high 10 catches for 72 yards vs. Navy.

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TULSA IS SMALLEST FBS SCHOOL . . . Rk School 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Undergrad Enrollment Tulsa 3,473 Rice 3,965 Air Force 3,993 Navy 4,526 Army 4,591 Wake Forest 4,823

Back-to-Back NCAA National Leaders in Total Offense . . .

School –– Consecutive Years Tulsa ––1951, 1952 Oklahoma –– 1955, 1956 Tulsa –– 1964, 1965 Houston –– 1966, 1967, 1968 Arizona State –– 1972, 1973 BYU –– 1979, 1980 BYU ––1983, 1984, 1985 Houston –– 1989, 1990 Nevada –– 1995, 1996 Tulsa –– 2007, 2008 Baylor –– 2013, 2014

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 6 THE RUNNERS DO IT TOO . . . • Whereas Tulsa had four different receivers go over 100 yards in a game this year, Tulsa also had three running backs go over 100 yards in a different game. • The Tulsa running backs have combined for six games rushing for more than 100 yards. • Zack Langer and D'Angelo Brewer were the first two to accomplish 100+ yards in the a game . . . Langer had 139 yards and Brewer 133 at New Mexico. • Langer also had 161 yards vs. Oklahoma and Brewer totaled 119 yards against SMU. • The latest running back to reach 100+ yards in a game was Ramadi Warren with a team season-high of 168 yards against UCF, while he did it again a week later at Cincinnati with 139 yards.

The School . . . ∆ Tulsa has an 11:1 studentfaculty ratio ∆ The average class size is 20 ∆ Tulsa is ranked 88th in U.S. News and World Report in its' Best Colleges 2015 ∆ 1 in 10 is the ratio of National Merit Scholars in the undergraduate student body, and is also the ratio of student-athletes among the student population ∆ 29 is the average ACT score of incoming freshmen ∆ 1,019,940 is the amount of square feet added to the campus in the last decade ∆ Tulsa has 271 Presdential Scholars ∆ 75 percent of Tulsa students graduated in the top-to percent of their high school class (based on 2014 freshman class)

EVANS IS ONLY SECOND QB TO SURPASS 3,000 PASSING YARDS IN TWO SEASONS . . . • Junior Dane Evans went over the 3,000-yard passing plateau for the second consecutive season. • He now has 3,958 yards and last year threw for 3,102 yards . . . Evans ranks 3rd and 6th on the school's single-season passing chart. • His 3,000-yard plateau is only the seventh time in school history that a quarterback has accomplished that feat, while only two quarterbacks have goen over 4,000 yards in a single season – Paul Smith (2007) and David Johnson (2008). • Twenty-two times a Tulsa quarterback has gone over 2,000 yards passing, while only 13 quarterbacks have accomplished that feat. • Evans is just one of five QBs in school history to surpass 2,000+ yards in consecutive seasons . . . the others are: T.J. Rubley (3), James Kilian (2), Paul Smith (3) and G.J. Kinne (3). • He is now only the second quarterback to go over 3,000 yards in two separate seasons . . . both QBs have done it consecutively . . . the other is G.J. Kinne in 2010 and 2011. EVANS TIES SCHOOL RECORD FOR 400-YARD GAMES . . . • Junior quarterback Dane Evans had his fourth career 400+ passing game vs. #17 Memphis, tying Billy Guy Anderson (1965) for the most in school history. • Evans' first 400+ game came last year in the opener with 438 yards vs. Tulane. • This year Evans has three 400+ games, coming against FAU (424), #16 Oklahoma (427) and #17 Memphis (421). • He also had four TD throws against both Oklahoma and Memphis. • Billy Guy Anderson quarterbacked Tulsa in 1965 and had 400+ passing games of 502, 477, 477 and 451 yards in just that one season. • Evans has 11 300+ career passing games, including eight this season, to rank third for the most 300-yard passing games in school history behind Paul Smith (15) and G.J. Kinne (14). EVANS NOW FOURTH ON MULTIPLE TULSA CHARTS . . . • Dane Evans has moved into the top-4 on the school's all-time charts for passing, total offense and passing TDs. • Evans has thrown for 7,958 career yards, has 8,041 total offensive yards and 49 passing TDs, all putting him in fourth place on Tulsa's career charts. • Only a junior, Evans is 1,366 yards shy of T.J. Rubley (1987-91) for 3rd place on the school's all-time passing chart . . . he is also 1,039 total yards shy of T.J. Rubley (1987-91) for 3rd place on the career total offense list.

The Program . . . ∆ Tulsa was the first school to appear in five straight New Years Day bowl games ∆ Tulsa has made 19 bowl game appearances ∆ TU has won 36 conference championships ∆ Tulsa has had 39 playes earn 1st, 2nd or 3rd-team All-America honors ∆ The Golden Hurricane has produced three NFL Hall of Famers, the most among Oklahoma schools (Jim Finks, Bob St. Clair, Steve Largent) ∆ TU has the most former football players (4) to serve as head coaches in the NFL among Oklahoma colleges ∆ Tulsa has two Heisman Trophy runners-up – Jerry Rhome (1964) and Howard Twilley (1965) ∆ Tulsa won a school record 11 games in 2008 and 2012 ∆ Paul Smith won the 2007 Wuerffel Trophy, while Wilson Holloway won the FedEx Orange BowlFWAA Courage Award in 2008

The TULSA Key: We are . . . The University of Tulsa, not Tulsa University We are . . . TU, not UT We are . . . the Golden Hurricane, not Hurricanes (No "s")

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2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 7 MUDOH MOVES INTO THIRD PLACE ON SCHOOL'S CAREER TACKLES LIST . . . • Senior safety Michael Mudoh now has 397 career tackles to rank in 3rd place on the school's all-time tackles chart. • Mudoh trails 2nd place by four stops (401 by Shawn Jackson, 2010-13) and 1st place by 16 tackles (413 by Nelson Coleman, 2003-07). • Mudoh's 126 tackles this year for an 10.5 average ranks 9th in the nation. • Mudoh has 21 double-figure tackle games in 36 career starts . . . he had his 20th career double-digit game against UCF with 13 stops, and his 21st double-digit game came against Tulane. • Mudoh had a career-high 20 tackles in the opener vs. FAU, which ties for the second-best game in the NCAA this year for tackles. • It's the third straight season opener that he had double-figure tackles . . . his previous career-best was 17 stops coming in the 2013 opener vs. Bowling Green, and last year had 10 tackles against Tulane. • He has 7 double-figure tackle games this year . . . Mudoh's other double-digit tackle games this year have come against #16 Oklahoma (16), ULM (11), East Carolina (12), #17 Memphis (10), UCF (13) and Tulane (10). MARTIN HAVING BIG YEAR . . . • Due to injuries plaguing his career, the most games junior linebacker Trent Martin had played in a season was nine as a red-shirt freshman in 2012 and last year a sophomore . . . he received a medical hardship in 2013, playing in only four games. • This year, Martin has played in all 12 games and is tied for second in tackles with 96 stops. • He also has 14 tackles for -31 yards, two sacks for -5 yards, four forced fumbles, three PBUs and one fumble recovery. • Martin ranks first in the American Athletic Conference with four forced fumbles and is fifth in the league with his 14 TFLs. • Martin had a career-high 14 tackles and added a fumble recovery against #16 Navy. LINSCOTT COMES A LONG WAY . . . • Matt Linscott came to Tulsa in 2012 as a walk-on from nearby prep powerhouse Jenks High School. • In 2013, he played in 11 games on special teams and in 2014 was a back-up safety and special teams performer. • Before the 2014 season, Linscott was put on scholarship . . . during the season, he had 13 tackles, forced one fumble and had one fumble recovery in 12 games. • In the spring of 2015 and the arrival of the new coaching staff, Linscott made the move to linebacker and earned a starting position. • Linscott has totaled 96 tackles in 12 games this year. • Linscott leads the Hurricane and is ranked 24th nationally for tackles for lost yardage with 16 TFLs for -62 yards . . . he also has five sacks, four pass break-ups, one interception and one forced fumble. • With his 16 TFLs, Linscott is six shy from tying the school record of 22 TFLs, set by Alain Karatepeyan (2007). • He has had double-digit tackles in four games this season with 10 against FAU, 11 against New Mexico, 13 at Oklahoma and 12 at Cincinnati.

CAREER PASSING TD LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. T9.

Player (Years) Paul Smith (2003-07) G.J. Kinne (2009-11) T.J. Rubley (1987-91) DANE EVANS (2013-present) David Johnson (2005-08) Jerry Rhome (1963-64) James Kilian (2001-04) Jeb Blount (1972-75) Gus Frerotte (1990-93) Ronnie Morris (1950-52)

CAREER PASSING LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Player (Years) Paul Smith (2003-07) G.J. Kinne (2009-11) T.J. Rubley (1987-91) DANE EVANS (2013-present) John Fitzgerald (1994-98) Gus Frerotte (1990-93) Josh Blankenship (1999-01) James Kilian (2001-04) Jerry Rhome (1963-64) David Johnson (2005-08)

CAREER RUSHING LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Player (Years) Tarrion Adams (2005-08) Micheal Gunter (1980-83) Trey Watts (2010-13) Eric Richardson (2000-03) Howard Waugh (1950-52) Solomon White (1993-96) Ja'Terian Douglas (2010-13) Uril Parrish (2002-05) Ken Lacy (1979-82) Gordon Brown (1984-85)

CAREER SCORING LEADERS

No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Player (Years) Kevin Fitzpatrick (2008-11) Jarod Tracy (2004-08) Jason Staurovsky (1981, '83-85) Brad DeVault (2002-05) Stu Crum (1978-82) Alex Singleton (2009-12) Howard Twilley (1963-65) David Fuess (1986-89) James Anderson (1993-97) Tarrion Adams (2005-08) Charles Clay (2007-10)

CAREER TACKLE LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Player (Years) Nelson Coleman (2003-07) Shawn Jackson (2010-13) MICHAEL MUDOH (2012-present) Michael White (1987, '89-91) Robert Tennon (1976, '78-80) Lovie Smith (1976-79) Curnelius Arnick (2008-11) Chris Chamberlain (2004-07) Don Blackmon (1976, '78-80) Ashon Farley (1997-00) Muadianvita Kazadi (1993-96) Nick Bunting (2003-06) Dennis Byrd (1985-88) Dexter McCoil (2009-12) Levi Gillen (1994-97) DeAundre Brown (2008-12)

CAREER TOUCHDOWN LEADERS No. T1. 2. T3. T8.

Player (Years) Alex Singleton (2009-12) Tarrion Adams (2005-08) Charles Clay (2007-10) Steve Largent (1973-75) Howard Twilley (1963-65) Micheal Gunter (1980-83) Steve Gage (1983-86) Damaris Johnson (2008-10) Dan Bitson (1987-89, '91)

CAREER TD RUSHING LEADERS No. 1. T2.

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Player (Years) Alex Singleton (2009-12) Tarrion Adams (2005-08) Micheal Gunter (1980-83)

TDs 83 81 73 49 48 42 36 35 32 32 Yds 10,936 9,472 9,324 7,958 5,822 5,480 5,273 4,865 4,779 4,531 Yards 3,651 3,536 3,515 2,645 2,597 2,553 2,528 2,465 2,272 2,196 Pts 299 286 281 280 266 264 259 250 248 234 230

Tackles 413 401 397 389 388 367 356 352 336 331 328 327 321 316 311 308 TDs 44 39 38 32 32 32 32 29 29 TDs 43 32 32

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 8 LANGER AMONG SEASON TD LEADERS . . . • Despite missing two games this year, Zack Langer has a team-leading 17 rushing TDs. • The senior running back has had five multiple TD games rushing, while scoring three rushing touchdowns in three games. • Langer has had a rushing TD in all but one game this year that he's played . . . he did not have a rushing TD against Cincinnati, but played just one play. • He now ranks in a second-place tie on the school’s all-time list for rushing touchdowns in a single season. • Langer tied Steve Gage (17 in 1985) for second place with one rushing TD at Tulane and now only trails single-season record-holder Alex Singleton (24 in 2012). BREWER LEADS THE WAY . . . • Tulsa has three running backs to total 1,913 of Tulsa's 2,075 rushing yards this year . . . the three have totaled 92-percent of Tulsa's total rushing yards. • Sophomore D'Angelo Brewer leads the way for the Tulsa ground game with a team-high 732 yards for a 4.9 average and four TDs. • He has had two 100+ rushing games with 133 yards at New Mexico and 119 yards at SMU. • Brewer has 860 career rushing yards on 187 carries in his two seasons for a 4.6 average per carry. RAMADI REVS IT UP . . . • Slowed by injury, red-shirt freshman Ramadi Warren has played in only eight of 12 games this year. • He has 467 yards, seven TDs and a 7.0 average per carry this year on 67 carries. • 307 of those yards came in two games, while he had 160 yards in other six games, but he did not have a carry against Navy. • That two-game stretch that saw him rush for 307 yards and 5 TDs came against UCF and Cincinnati . . . his yards per carry in those two games was 9.3 yards. • Warren had a career-best and his first 100-yard rushing game with 168 yards and three TDs vs. UCF. • A week later, he had 139 yards and two TDs on 14 carries at Cincinnati. • His two TD runs vs. Cincinnati each came on 4th down when he rushed 65 yards for a score and 39 yards for his second touchdown. • Warren's 168 yards was the most for a freshman since the 2000 season, when freshman Eric Richardson had 194 and 206 yards for the top two single-season freshman marks. • When he went over 100 yards rushing for the second straight game with 139 yards at Cincinnati, it was the first time that Tulsa had a freshman rush for over 100 yards in two games in their freshman season since quarterback Tyler Gooch did it in 2001. SOPHOMORES COME UP BIG IN FIRST-HALF TURNING POINT VS. SMU . . . • In the SMU game, two Hurricane sophomores made big plays in the last 3 minutes of the first half to give Tulsa a two-point halftime lead. • With Tulsa trailing 14-10, CB Kerwin Thomas intercepted an SMU pass and went 31 yards for his first career return for a touchdown to put Tulsa ahead 16-14 with 2:26 left in the first half. • After SMU retook the lead 21-16 with 1:12 remaining until halftime, Tulsa marched 75 yards in 5 plays, taking just 0:56 off the clock, as RB D'Angelo Brewer had Tulsa's longest TD run from scrimmage since 2012, a powerful 23-yard burst that put the Hurricane ahead 23-21 at the 0:16 mark.

CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Player (Years) Paul Smith (2003-07) G.J. Kinne (2009-11) T.J. Rubley (1987-91) DANE EVANS (2013-present) John Fitzgerald (1994-98) James Kilian (2001-04) Gus Frerotte (1990-93) Steve Gage (1983-86) Josh Blankenship (1999-01) Jerry Rhome (1963-64) David Johnson (2005-08)

CAREER RECEIVING LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Player (Pos, Years) Howard Twilley, WR (1963-65) Dan Bitson, WR (1987-89, '91) KEYARRIS GARRETT (2011-pres.) Damon Savage, WR (1996-99) Damaris Johnson, WR (2008-10) Wes Caswell, WR (1993-98) Charles Clay, H-B (2007-10) Donald Shoals, WR (1999-01) Garrett Mills, TE (2002-05) Steve Largent, WR (1973-75) Trae Johnson, WR (2007-10) Chris Penn, WR (1991, '93) KEEVAN LUCAS (2013-present)

Yds 3,343 3,300 3,072 2,952 2,746 2,562 2,544 2,441 2,389 2,385 2,372 2,370 2,070

CAREER TD RECEPTION LEADERS No. T1. T1. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Player (Years) Steve Largent (1973-75) Howard Twilley (1963-65) Dan Bitson (1987-89, '91) Charles Clay (2007-10) Trae Johnson (2007-10) Garrett Mills (2002-05) KEYARRIS GARRETT (2011-present) KEEVAN LUCAS (2013-present)

CAREER INTERCEPTION LEADERS No. 1. T2. T2.

Yds 11,602 10,831 9,080 8,041 6,258 5,948 5,563 5,450 5,267 5,104 4,763

Player (Years) Dexter McCoil (2009-12) Jeff Jordan (1962-64) Nate Harris (1980-84)

TDs 32 32 29 28 27 23 21 17 INT 18 13 13

SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Player (Pos, Year) Howard Twilley, WR (1965) Chris Penn, WR (1993) KEYARRIS GARRETT, WR (2015) Dan Bitson, WR (1989) Brennan Marion (2007) Garrett Mills, TE (2005) KEEVAN LUCAS, WR (2014) Donald Shoals, WR (2000) Howard Twilley, WR (1964) Rick Eber, WR (1967) Dan Bitson, WR (1988) Damaris Johnson, WR (2009) Brennan Marion, WR (2008) Trae Johnson, WR (2007) Damon Savage, WR (1997) Charles Clay, HB (2007)

Yds 1,779 1,578 1,451 1,425 1,244 1,235 1,219 1,195 1,178 1,168 1,138 1,131 1,112 1,088 1,084 1,024

SINGLE-SEASON PASSING LEADERS No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Player (Year) Paul Smith (2007) David Johnson (2008) DANE EVANS (2015) G.J. Kinne (2010) Billy Guy Anderson (1965) DANE EVANS (2014) G.J. Kinne (2011) Gus Frerotte (1993) Jerry Rhome (1964) Paul Smith (2005) G.J. Kinne (2009) Paul Smith (2006) Josh Blankenship (2000)

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Yds 5,065 4,059 3,958 3,650 3,464 3,102 3,090 2,871 2,870 2,847 2,732 2,727 2,507

WINTER 2015-2016

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 9 IF ONLY ONE YARD MORE . . . • Junior receiver Josh Atkinson has enjoyed a productive season and with the absence of Keevan Lucas in the fourth game of the year took a more significant role in the offense. • Atkinson entered the game against #17 Memphis with a streak of five straight 100+ receiving games, one game shy of the longest consecutive streak in school history when Chris Penn had six straight in 1993. • Atkinson came one yard short of 100 against Memphis when he caught four passes for 99 yards . . . he had a career-long 80-yard TD catch and run in that game. • After not having a catch in the season opener, he turned in his consecutive 100-yard receiving games against New Mexico (119), Oklahoma (104), Houston (107), ULM (110) and East Carolina (136). • He currently ranks second on the team with 932 yards and four TDs on 65 catches for 77.7 yards per game and 14.3 yards per catch. • Atkinson has career totals of 1,457 yards and five touchdowns in 33 games.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TULSA'S FOOTBALL TRADITION . . .

HOBBS STEPS UP AFTER LUCAS GOES OUT . . . • With the absence of receiver Keevan Lucas, lost for the season after suffering an injury in the fourth game against Houston, red-shirt freshman receiver Justin Hobbs stepped up in more extensive action against ULM. • Hobbs came into the game with two receptions for 25 yards on the year. • Against ULM, Hobbs caught five passes for 82 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown. • Since Lucas went out with the injury, Hobbs has totaled 25 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns in the last eight games.

• Two former Tulsa players finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting –– quarterback Jerry Rhome in 1964 and receiver Howard Twilley in 1965.

NOTING TULSA'S DEFENSE . . . • Tulsa's defense has totaled 83 TFLs (6.9 TFLs per game) for -261 yards this year. • Tulsa totaled 77 TFLs last season. • Before meeting the run-happy Navy offense the Tulsa defense tallied 45 TFLs in the five previous games –– East Carolina, Memphis, SMU, UCF and Cincinnati. • During that stretch, Tulsa's defense had 14 TFLs for -35 yards at East Carolina, 7 for -22 yards against #17 Memphis, 9 for -36 yards vs. SMU, 9 for -29 yards vs. UCF and 6 vs. Cincinnati for -19 yards. • Tulsa had one TFL for -7 yards against Navy, which was a quarterback sack. • Tulsa went the first seven quarters this year without a takeaway, and now has 22 on the season, including seven in the last two games. • Trent Martin's four forced fumbles are the most for a Tulsa player since 2008 when James Lockett had five caused fumbles. • Kerwin Thomas' 11 pass breakups are the most for a Tulsa player since Charles Davis had 11 in 2010 . . . the most before that was Roy Roberts' 12 PBU's in 2007. BREWER, LANGER RETURN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SMU GAME . . . • D'Angelo Brewer missed two games and Zack Langer missed the previous game against #17 Memphis, but both returned to the lineup at SMU. • The running back duo came up big for Tulsa in a 40-31 win over SMU. • The duo combined to score all four of Tulsa's offensive touchdowns. • Brewer had a game-high 119 yards rushing with a 23-yard TD run, while Langer had just 35 rushing yards, but rushed for three touchdowns. • It was Brewer's second 100+ rushing game this year, while the three TDs for Langer was the third game this season had had three rushing touchdowns.

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• Tulsa was the first school to play in five straight New Years Day Bowl Games –– Sun Bowl (1-1-42), Sugar Bowl (1-143), Sugar Bowl (1-1-44), Orange Bowl (1-1-45) and Oil Bowl (1-1-46). • Ellis Jones, an All-American guard in 1945, was a one-armed player. He was the defensive standout for the College All-Star team vs. the Chicago Bears in 1945. • Three former TU football players are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. They are Bob St. Clair, Jim Finks and Steve Largent.

• Perhaps the greatest Tulsa football player of all-time is Glenn Dobbs (1940-42). He was also head coach of the Hurricane teams in the 1960's. Eighth Street which runs north of H.A. Chapman Stadium was dedicated as Glenn Dobbs Drive on Oct. 21, 2000. A statue of Dobbs was erected outside the stadium before the 2013 spring game. • Former TU players –– Glenn Dobbs, Howard Twilley and Jerry Rhome –– are enshrined in the College Football Foundation Hall of Fame. • Other former TU players went on to the NFL –– Steve Largent, Drew Pearson, Rickey Watts, Don Blackmon, David Alexander, Jerry Ostroski, Gus Frerotte, Dennis Byrd, Tom Miner, Steve August and Gus Frerotte –– to name a few. • Coaching in the NFL –– Tulsa has had four former players serve as head coaches in the NFL –– Tommy Hudspeth (Detroit Lions); Sam Rutigliano (Cleveland Browns); Ray Rhodes (Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers); and Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears and currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). • Tulsa has three former players and two former coaches who have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The players are Glenn Dobbs, who also coached the Hurricane, Howard Twilley and Jerry Rhome . . . the coaches are Francis Schmidt (1919-21) and John Cooper (1977-84).

2015 Tulsa Football Game Notes • page 10 TAKEAWAYS COMING TULSA'S WAY . . . • It took the Tulsa defense eight quarters this year to get its first takeaway, but when it did, the second one came on the very next possession. • With a 30-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter against New Mexico, the Tulsa defense became opportunistic in the final period. • Senior end Derrick Alexander recovered a fumble on UNM's first drive of the fourth quarter, giving the offense the ball on the New Mexico side of the field. • On New Mexico's next possession, sophomore cornerback Kerwin Thomas intercepted a pass and returned it 14 yards. • The two takeaways amounted to 10 points for the Hurricane. • On New Mexico's next drive, Tulsa's Trent Martin forced a fumble and a loss of two yards on a 4th-and-1 play, thus giving the Hurricane offense the ball. • In the next game, Tulsa's defense forced two fumbles against Oklahoma, both in the second quarter and both leading to 14 Tulsa points. • Tulsa had one fumble recovery vs. Houston and three takeaways against ULM. • Tulsa has had eight takeaways in the last three games – 4 vs. UCF, 3 at Cincinnati and one vs. Navy. • Tulsa's defense has now totaled 22 takeaways on the season as Tulsa has scored 103 points off of opponent turnovers. • The Tulsa offense has scored 79 points off of those opponent turnovers, while the defense has scored 24 points on four interception returns. • The Hurricane has had four defensive touchdowns, all INT returns, including a 31-yard return by Kerwin Thomas, 86-yard return by Michael Mudoh, 28 yard by Craig Suits and 89 yards by Kolton Shindelar. HERE'S SOME NUMBERS AFTER 12 GAMES . . . • Tulsa has averaged 35.9 points, while scoring over 30 points 9 out of 12 games. • The Hurricane has scored 40+ points in six games this season, the most 40+ games since seven 40+ scoring games in the 2010 campaign. • Tulsa averages 83.3 offensive plays per game after 12 games. • The Hurricane set a school record with 107 offensive plays against ULM, breaking the mark of 103 plays that was set against SMU in 2012. • In the first two games Tulsa went over 40 points in each game, marking Tulsa's first back-to-back 40-point scoring games since 2012 when Tulsa had 49 points at UAB and 45 at Marshall. • Tulsa has had a 100-yard receiver in 10 of 12 games this year, with two receivers each going over 100 yards in two of the first three games – UNM and Oklahoma. • Four different Tulsa receivers have had a 100-yard receiving game and three different running backs have had at least one 100-yard rushing game. • The first game that Tulsa did not have a 100-yard receiver came in the ninth game of the year against UCF. • Tulsa had two 100-yard rushers vs. New Mexico with Zack Langer gaining 139 yards and D'Angelo Brewer had his first career 100+ game with 133 yards. • QB Dane Evans went over 2,000 passing yards in the sixth game this year. • Before throwing an interception against Houston in the third period, Evans had gone 125 passes between interceptions. • Tulsa has 62 pass plays and 18 touchdown passes for over 20 yards this year. • Keyarris Garrett has been on the receiving end of 26 of those 20+ passing plays with a long of 50 yards against FAU . . . Josh Atkinson has 12 20+ pass receptions, including a season-long 80-yard TD reception against #17 Memphis . • The Hurricane had seven passes go for over 20 yards against #17 Memphis, including six 30+ yard receptions by Keyarris Garrett. • Tulsa has 18 KO returns and three punt returns that have gone for over 20 yards, giving Tulsa 99 plays on offense, defense and special teams of over 20 yards, and 25 that have gone for TDs.

WHY GOLDEN HURRICANE?

Enter the name Howard Acher as the Tulsa head coach in 1922. When he took over the position, Acher saw great potential in his team and wanted to publicize it by creating a new identity with a new nickname. Sports writers and others had called the school by any number of names from the Presbyterians to the Orange and Black, to the Kendallites. After an opening day win against a strong Texas Christian University team in 1922, Acher put his mind to work. The press had claimed that the Kendall football team blew through its opponents like a tornado. So, it figured that Tornadoes, would be the nickname with “golden” added to identify the color of the uniforms. However, it was later found that Georgia Tech had claimed that name, so from tornado it was evolved meteorologically to a hurricane. Thus the squad voted, and the name “Golden Hurricane” became the new team moniker with the gold added because of the jersey color. TU lived up to its nickname as the Golden Hurricane blew through the Texas A&M defense in the next game with pass after pass from quarterback Rex Thomas. TU won its first game as the Golden Hurricane by a score of 13-10.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Zik Asiegbu –– Ah – SEE – eh – bu Joseph Calcagni –– Cal – CAG - knee Johnell Celistan –– John-L SELL-ih-stan Keyarris Garrett –– Key - AIR – is Keevan Lucas –– KEE - ven Derrick Luetjen –– LOU – gen Suleiman Masumbuko –– SUE - luh muhn Mah - soom - BOO - koh Michael Mudoh –– MOO – dough Rob Riederer – Reader Zac Uhles – Yules (rhymes with rules) Jerry Uwaezuoke – You – wez - okay Brodrick Umblance – Um – blance

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THE University of Tulsa

2015 TEAM ROSTER NO. PLAYER POS. HT. WT. CL/EXP HOMETOWN PREVIOUS SCHOOL 1 Keyarris Garrett WR 6-4 221 Sr-3L/RS Daingerfield, Texas Daingerfield 1 Michael Mudoh S 5-10 205 Sr-3L/RS Houston, Texas Bush 2 Keevan Lucas WR 5-10 198 Jr-2L Abilene, Texas Abilene 2 Kerwin Thomas CB 5-10 171 So-1L/RS Wagoner, Okla. Wagoner 3 Mandel Dixon Jr. TE 6-2 240 Sr-1L/TR Dallas, Texas Red Oak/Pitt State 3 Khari Harding LB 6-1 245 Jr-TR Edmond, Okla. Santa Fe/Auburn 4 Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angelo Brewer RB 5-9 185 So-1L Tulsa, Okla. Central 4 Brodrick Umblance CB 6-1 184 So-1L Arlington, Texas The Oakridge School 5 Jabe Burgess QB 6-2 217 Fr-RS Greenwood, Ark. Greenwood 5 Tim Quickel LB 6-2 215 Fr-RS Little Rock, Ark. North Little Rock 6 Chris Showels WR 5-6 165 Sr-WO/RS Round RockVista Ridge 6 Darrell Williams Jr. CB 5-10 197 Sr-2L/RS Houston, Texas Westfield 7 Johnell Celistan CB 6-2 190 Jr-2L Avondale, La. Hahnville 7 Bishop Louie WR 5-10 170 So-1L Tulsa, Okla. McLain 8 Jesse Brubaker DT 6-3 285 So-1L/MR Wylie, Texas Wylie East 8 Joseph Calcagni QB 6-1 212 Sr-2L/RS Springdale, Ark. Springdale 9 Dane Evans QB 6-1 218 Jr-2L/RS Sanger, Texas Sanger 9 Reginald Robinson II CB 6-1 185 Fr-HS Cleburne, Texas Cleburne 10 Shawn Norman LB 5-11 197 Jr-2L/WO/RS Freeman, Mo. Belton 10 Chad President QB 6-3 205 Fr-HS Temple, Texas Temple 11 Nigel Carter WR 6-3 205 So-1L Tulsa, Okla. McLain 11 David Richardson II CB 5-11 170 Fr-HS Rockwall-Heath, Texas Rockwall 12 Ryan Rubley QB 6-3 220 So-SQ/RS Highlands Ranch, Colo. Mountain Vista 12 Micheal Thomas LB 6-0 232 Jr-SQ/RS Lafayette, La. Lawton, OK MacArthur 13 Jordan Mitchell S 6-2 180 So-1L Owasso, Okla. Owasso 13 Brad Valentino QB 6-0 215 Sr-WO/RS Norman, Okla. Butler CC 15 Sam Gottsch S 6-2 190 Fr-WO/RS Jenks, Okla. Sapulpa 15 Will Hefley III QB 6-5 205 Fr-HS Little Rock, Ark. Pulaski Academy 16 Jarion Anderson WR 5-9 167 Fr-HS Texarkana, Texas Texas 18 Rey Higuera DS 5-11 224 Sr-3L* Gilbert, Ariz. Perry 18 Terrance Ivery WR 5-8 180 Fr-RS Mansfield, Texas Mansfield Legacy 19 Redford Jones PK/P 5-10 174 So-1L/WO/RS Norman, Okla. Norman North 20 Zik Asiegbu LB 6-0 210 Sr-3L/RS Grand Prairie, Texas Bowie 20 James Flanders RB 5-10 203 Jr-2L/RS Midwest City, Okla. Midwest City 21 McKinley Whitfield S 6-4 194 Fr-HS Spiro, Okla. Spiro 21 Rowdy Simon RB 5-8 201 So-1L/WO/RS Vian, Okla. Vian 22 Jeremy Brady S 5-10 197 Jr-2L/RS North Little Rock, Ark. Pulaski Academy 22 Javon Thomas RB 6-2 215 Fr-HS Texarkana, Texas Texas 23 Will Barrow CB 5-9 172 Jr-2L Dallas, Texas Skyline 24 Zack Langer RB 6-0 215 Sr-3L/RS Jenks, Okla. Jenks 24 J.R. Reed S 6-1 185 Fr-HS Plano, Texas Prestonwood Chr. Ac. 25 Ramadi Warren RB 5-9 205 Fr-RS Memphis, Tenn. Whitehaven 26 Diamon Cannon LB 6-2 210 Fr-HS Killeen, Texas Shoemaker 26 Dalton Parks P 6-3 209 Jr-2L Kansas City, Mo. Staley 27 Keidrien Wadley CB 6-1 185 Fr-HS Irving, Texas Ranchview 28 Tavarreon Dickerson RB 5-9 185 Jr-1L/TR Arlington, Texas Arlington/Trinity 28 Craig Suits LB 6-0 220 So-1L/RS Sunnyvale, Texas Poteet 29 Justyn Bell CB 5-9 195 So-WO/RS Little Elm, Texas Missouri Valley College 29 Justin Hobbs WR 6-4 207 Fr-RS Overland Park, Kan. Shawnee Mission West 30 Cristian Williams S 6-0 170 Fr-HS Dallas, Texas Lincoln 32 Trevis Gipson DE 6-5 210 Fr-HS Cedar Hill, Texas Cedar Hill 33 Rob Riederer TE 6-0 225 So-1L/RS Holton, Kan. Holton 33 Ronan Rogers LB 6-3 219 So-TR Tulsa, Okla. Holland Hall/Utah 34 Chris Minter TE 6-3 230 Fr-HS Temple, Texas Temple 35 Drew Klinghagen PK 6-3 190 Fr-HS/WO Tulsa, Okla. Holland Hall 36

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THE University of Tulsa 37 Gage Murphy S 6-0 195 So-WO/RS May, Okla. Laverne 38 Matt Linscott LB 6-1 220 Jr-2L/RS* Tulsa, Okla. Jenks 38 Randall Smith WR 6-1 208 So-WO/RS Coweta, Okla. Coweta 39 Preston Soper PK 6-0 205 So-1L/WO/TR Muskogee, Okla. Muskogee/Missouri 39 James Caligone IV S 5-10 187 Fr-HS/WO Tulsa, Okla. BT Washington 40 Trent Martin LB 6-2 230 Jr-2L/RS Jenks, Okla. Jenks 40 Brandon Stage PK 5-10 197 Fr-WO/RS Brandon, Fla. Riverview 42 Kyle McLaughlin RB 5-8 185 Fr-HS/WO Skiatook, Okla. Skiatook 42 Daelen McClendon RB 5-10 229 So-WO/RS Prague, Okla. Prague 43 Conner Sherwood LB 6-3 232 Jr-2L/RS Tulsa, Okla. Cascia Hall 44 Petera Wilson Jr. LB 6-2 225 So-1L Memphis, Tenn. White Hall 46 Forrest Harrell III LB 6-2 220 Fr-HS Houston, Texas Christian 46 Spencer Shores DS 5-10 165 Fr-HS/WO Broken Arrow, Okla. Union 47 Blake Abbott LB 5-11 227 Sr-WO/RS Liberal, Kan. Liberal/Kansas 48 Rylee Simon LB 5-11 220 Fr-HS/WO Vian, Okla. Vian 49 Tristan Lacey PK 5-10 162 Fr-WO/RS Crescent, Okla. Crescent 51 Blake Browning C 6-0 290 Fr-HS Pflugerville, Texas Hendrickson 52 Billy LaFortune OG 6-0 283 Sr-2L/RS* Tulsa, Okla. Holland Hall 52 Thomas von Borstel LB 6-2 200 Fr-HS/WO Woodstock, Ga. The King’s Academy 53 Zac Uhles OT 6-3 273 So-1L/RS Norman, Okla. Norman 54 Derrick Alexander DE 6-2 284 Sr-3L/RS Tulsa, Okla. BT Washington 55 Matt Hickman LB 6-0 227 Jr-1L/WO/RS Edmond, Okla. Edmond Memorial 56 Earl Rollins DT 6-3 275 So-1L Irving, Texas MacArthur 57 Dylan Foxworth C 6-1 285 Jr-2L/RS Claremore, Okla. Claremore 58 Willie Wright OT 6-3 291 Fr-RS Houston, Texas Cypress Ridge 59 C.J. Gooden LB 6-1 227 So-1L/RS Ashdown, Ark. Ashdown 60 Ty Lott DS 5-11 220 So-WO/RS Sand Springs, Okla. Charles Page 61 Josh Bencke OG 6-0 293 Sr-WO/RS Rio Rancho, NM Cleveland 63 Chris Wallace OG 6-5 305 Jr-2L/RS Sperry, Okla. Sperry 65 Christopher Ivy Jr. OT 6-4 295 Fr-HS Wichita, Kan. Wichita Heights 66 Evan Plagg OT 6-3 279 So-1L/WO/RS Guthrie, Okla. Guthrie 67 Tristan Wyatt OG 6-5 290 Fr-HS Shawnee, Okla. Shawnee 70 Jerry Uwaezuoke DT 6-3 295 Jr-2L/RS Houston, Texas Westbury 71 Mildren Montgomery OT 6-5 275 Fr-RS Oklahoma City, Okla. Douglass 72 Tyler Bowling OG 6-6 324 Fr-RS Yukon, Okla. Yukon 74 Chandler Miller C 6-3 293 Fr-RS Bixby, Okla. Bixby 75 Alex Pagonis OG 6-5 320 Jr-JC Gulf Breeze, Fla. Gulf Breeze/Fort Scott CC 76 Garrett Stafford OG 6-5 300 Sr-3L/RS Tulsa, Okla. Memorial 77 Isaac Johnson OT 6-7 283 Fr-RS Springdale, Ark. Har-ber 78 Blake Belcher OT 6-5 300 Jr-2L/RS Guthrie, Okla. Guthrie 80 Conner Floyd WR 6-0 210 Sr-3L/RS Austin, Texas Lake Travis 82 Tyler Wilson TE 6-6 240 Jr-1L/RS Ponca City, Okla. Ponca City 84 Avery Gragg WR 6-2 200 Fr-HS/WO Tulsa, Okla. Holland Hall 85 Kolton Shindelar DE 6-6 254 So-1L/RS Liberty, Mo. Liberty 86 David Snelling WR 5-9 182 Fr-HS/WO Boerne, Texas Boerne 87 Blake Kitrell WR 6-2 200 Jr-WO/RS Ashland, Neb. Ashland-Greenwood 88 Josh Atkinson WR 6-2 208 Jr-2L/RS Carrollton, Texas The Oakridge School 89 Payton Prince TE 6-4 252 Fr-RS Norman, Okla. Norman North 89 Thomas Shamet DT 6-2 267 Jr-WO/RS Fairway. Kan. Bishop Miege 90 Frankie Davis Jr. DE 6-2 240 So-1L/RS Broken Arrow, Okla. Broken Arrow 90 Nathan Walker PK 5-9 165 Fr-WO/RS Kingwood, Texas Kingwood 91 Jake Hanks DE 6-2 240 So-1L/RS Fort Collins, Colo. Fort Collins 92 Michael Anderson DE 6-3 235 Fr-HS Owasso, Okla. Owasso 93 Suleiman Masumbuko DT 6-2 295 Sr-TR Euless, Texas Trinity/Baylor 94 Michael Rios DT 6-3 299 Fr-RS Wichita, Kan. West 95 Hayden Carman DT 6-4 275 Jr-2L/RS* Little Rock, Ark. Catholic 96 Myles Mouton DE 6-3 245 Fr-RS Beaumont, Texas Ozen 98 Jeremy Smith DE 6-5 250 So-1L Tulsa, Okla. Berryhill 99 Derrick Luetjen DT 6-3 291 Sr-3L/RS Hennessey, Okla. Hennessey L – Letters Earned • RS – Has used a red-shirt year • SQ – Squad member, no letter earned • * – Former walk-on now on scholarship WO – Current Walk-on athlete • TR – Transferred to Tulsa • MR – Received Medical Red-shirt HURRICANE ELITE

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THE University of Tulsa

TU CROSS COUNTRY

TULSA CROSS COUNTRY WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL IN 2015 The Tulsa cross country teams entered 2015 with a lot of questions, but ended the season with two more championships and two appearances in the NCAA Championships.

The Golden Hurricane claimed its second consecutive sweep of the American Athletic Conference Championships, which were the sixth straight for the men’s team and the third straight for the women’s team. Head Coach Steve Gulley and his staff were selected as American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year for both squads. The TU men and women both placed fourth at the NCAA Midwest Regional, and earned at-large bids to the NCAA Championships. The Hurricane men made their seventh appearance overall, and sixth straight, while the women’s team made its second appearance, and first since 2010. It was the first time both teams made the national champi38

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onship meet in the same season.

Senior Marc Scott finished 10th at the NCAA Championship, and earned All-America honors for the second consecutive year. Junior Luke Traynor, in his first year at TU after transferring from Glasgow Caledonion University in Scotland, also earned All-America recognition after a 20th-place finish at the NCAA meet.

Scott, who won four of the five meets in which he ran this season, claimed Tulsa’s highest-ever finish at the NCAA Championships. He placed first at the Chile Pepper Festival, the prestigious Wisconsin adidas Invitational, American Athletic Conference Championship (for the second year in a row), and the NCAA Midwest Regional. Scott was named the Midwest Region Male Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors after his performance at the Wisconsin Invitational.

Meanwhile, Rachel Baptista finished 69th at the NCAA Championships, recording the highest-ever finish for a Tulsa women’s runner at the national meet. She was the top Hurricane runner all year, leading TU to a 29th-place finish at the NCAA meet – the best finish for the women’s program. Scott, Traynor and sophomore Ben Preisner, along with Baptista and sophomore Nicole Lee earned All-Midwest Region Team accolades. Scott, Traynor, Preisner, sophomores Adam Roderique and Elijah Silva, and freshman Austin Del Rosso earned All-American Athletic Conference honors for the men’s team, while Baptista, Lee, and juniors Stacie Taylor and Clara Langley claimed all-conference honors for the women’s squad. Tulsa will lose only two of the 14 athletes that competed at the NCAA Championships in 2015 to graduation, and return 12 runners in 2016 with experience at the national meet.

THE University of Tulsa

Rachel Baptista

Marc Scott

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THE University of Tulsa

TU WOMEN’S SOCCER TULSA WOMEN HAVE RECORDBREAKING SEASON The Tulsa women’s soccer team had a record-breaking year as they set a new school mark in three categories. The Golden Hurricane began the year with an 8-0 record for the best start in program history; had nine clean sheets, including a six-game streak to set a new high for consecutive shutouts; and the program received its first-ever top-25 national ranking, coming in at No. 19 in the September 14 Top Drawer Soccer poll. The Hurricane women finished with a 13-6-1 overall record, including a 4-4-1 mark in the American Athletic Conference, but fell in the conference tournament quarterfinals to eventual champion Cincinnati.

Tulsa scored twice as many goals as their opponents this season (32-16) and

Rachel Thun 40

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had over 50 additional shots-on-goal compared to the competition (143-89), while having fewer fouls and cards. TU garnered the American Athletic Conference’s Fair Play Award for accumulating the fewest points based on fouls and cards in league games.

Sophomore Rachel Thun led the Tulsa attack with seven goals and eight assists for 22 points, while classmates Christina Holmes and Tana Dake added six goals and three scores, respectively. Courtney McKeon and Rebecca Defer, also sophomores, shared time in goal for a combined 73 saves, nine clean sheets and an .820 saves percentage, while allowing 16 goals for a .78 goals-against average. Thun was an all-conference first-team selection, while Dake picked up secondteam honors and freshman defender Danielle Hoover garnered all-rookie team accolades.

Danielle Hoover

Christina Holmes

TU MEN’S SOCCER ‘NEVER GIVE UP’ BECAME MEN’S SOCCER TEAM’S MOTTO ‘Never give up’ and ‘battle to the very end’ are two mantras the Tulsa men’s soccer team certainly embodied this past season. The Golden Hurricane claimed the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championship without winning a game, but tied and advanced on a penalty kick shootouts against UCF (T, 2-2), seventh-ranked SMU (T, 2-2) and UConn (T, 1-1) for the title.

TU nearly continued that trend in the NCAA Championship first round, but topped 16th-ranked FIU, 3-2, in overtime. Tulsa’s luck, however, ran out in the NCAA second round after tying eighth-ranked Notre Dame, but failing to advance in the shootout, 3-0. The Hurricane, which had the youngest team in the nation with 24 underclassmen, posted an 8-6-7 overall record, including a 3-3-2 mark in The American, but went undefeated in their last seven contests. Tulsa took on eight top-25 opponents, including three in the top-five, tying No. 2 Virginia (1-1) and falling to No. 1 Creighton (1-0) and No. 4 North Carolina (2-1).

Bradley Bourgeois

Tulsa tallied 36 goals on the season, from 13 different players, including a team-best eight scores from freshman Juan Sanchez, while sophomore Geoffrey Dee added six scores, and both freshman Miguel Velasquez and senior Bradley Bourgeois had four goals. For their efforts, Bourgeois was named as the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Sanchez earned Rookie of the Year accolades. Bourgeois, Dee, Sanchez and junior goalkeeper Jake McGuire all picked up all-conference honors, and Sanchez and Lesley Nchanji were tabbed to the all-rookie team.

TU graduates only two seniors from this year’s team, including Bourgeois and Dillon Alexander, so the future is certainly looking bright for this young Hurricane team.

Juan Sanchez

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THE University of Tulsa

TU SOFTBALL PREVIEW CONSISTENCY THE HALLMARK OF TULSA SOFTBALL TEAM The Tulsa softball program has been one of the most consistent programs, both at TU, and in its conference, over the 10-year tenure of head coach John Bargfeldt. Since 2006, the Golden Hurricane has won five regular season and four conference tournament championships, and played in seven NCAA Regionals. Entering 2016, Tulsa is focused on returning to the NCAA postseason in 2016, after missing out last year for the first time since 2010. Like any team entering a new season, Bargfeldt and the Hurricane are looking to replace graduated players that provided major production, particularly on offense.

“I really like this team. I think we have some athleticism on the team. We have returning all-conference players on the team,” Bargfeldt said. “The biggest thing that I don’t know that we were able to answer in the fall, is how will we make up for the production loss of (Julie) Kernen and (Erica) Sampson. I don’t think there is any pitching in the fall that can really tell you that.” Seven of the eight field positions feature returning players that saw significant time in those positions. The two returning pitchers had the lowest earned run averages, and combined to throw 221.2 innings last year. In all, 11 players return for this season, and the Hurricane welcomed seven freshmen to the roster. One of the most important keys to Tulsa’s success over Bargfeldt’s 10-year tenure at TU has been the improvement of players each year. 42

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That is, not only improvement across the board, but individual players that step up and provide unexpected offensive production.

“That’s something that has always helped this team be successful,” Bargfeldt said. “It’s not always about the freshmen that you bring in, but what improvements do your returning players make? I don’t know that you ever get to the point where you expect it, but I think we’ve definitely challenged our team to, who is going to have the breakout or career years? We’ve always had people every year that you can point back to that have done that. That’s going to be a key for us offensively.” Tulsa must replace the offense and defense of graduated first baseman Julie Kernen and outfielder Erica

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Sampson. Kernen hit .331 with team-highs of 12 home runs, 15 doubles and 59 RBI, and Sampson hit .326 with eight homers, eight doubles, four triples, 29 RBI and 57 runs scored. “I don’t know that you can expect two players to step up and take the slack from the two graduated players,” Bargfeldt said, “but collectively, if all those players make a little bit more improvement like they did from their previous year to last year, we might have five or six that come in with better offensive seasons. That production can be made up from a collective group of players.” Returning seniors this season include outfielder Jodi Edmiston, catcher Catherine Horner, pitcher Caitlin Sill and infielders Kaitlin

Maddie Withee

Allen and Jocelyn Sheffield. Juniors include third baseman Maggie Withee and outfielders Brittany Walker and Maddie Withee, while sophomores include shortstop Shelby Estocado and pitchers Emily Watson and Lexi Blevins. Edmiston, Horner, Sill, Walker and the Withee twins earned All-American Athletic Conference honors last season. Edmiston, Walker and Maddie Withee return to anchor the outfield positions. Edmiston hit .312 with 11 extra base hits and 23 RBI last year. Withee hit .323 with nine extra base hits and 22 RBI as a first-team all-conference performer, and Walker led the team with a .364 average, and tallied 13 extra base hits, 26 RBI and 25 runs, with a .591 slugging percentage. Freshmen Julia Hollingsworth, Lauren Lomax and Ashley Kiser provide options in the outfield.

Allen, Maggie Withee and Estocado return as infield starters, and Sheffield is poised to move in at first base this season. Withee has started at third base in each of her first two years, and hit .313 with 38 runs scored last season. Allen hit .280 in 43 starts at second base, and Estocado compiled 31 RBI, 28 runs and 15 extra base hits as a

freshman last year. Sheffield hit .356 and tallied six extra base hits, nine RBI and nine runs in 45 at bats in 2015. Freshmen middle infielder Morgan Neal may break into the lineup, after proving to be a consistent line drive hitter during the fall exhibition season. Freshman Tori Stafford has shown the ability to play several infield positions, including third base and shortstop, with the tools to play outfield as well. Horner has been Tulsa’s starting catcher for each of the last two years, growing as a leader, and assuming the role of calling pitches last year. At the plate, she totaled 36 runs, 27 RBI and 18 extra base hits, including 12 doubles. Freshman Rylie Spell brings a power bat, and will see time behind the plate as she develops in to the role as catcher. In the circle, Sill led the pitching staff with a 2.21 ERA, 11 complete games, six shutouts, and allowed 42 earned runs with 80 strikeouts and 117 hits in 133.0 innings, despite posting a 10-11 record. Watson went 8-4 with a 2.37 ERA, seven complete

games, four shutouts and 76 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. Freshman Ellie Reaves is a left-hander who is expected to step in and make an impact in the circle. Blevins made four appearances last year, but showed a lot of improvement with her pitches and mechanics. “Every year we think we have a good enough team that we can go in and compete for a conference championship, which is what we’ve done every year that we’ve been here,” Bargfeldt said. “We have that type of team, but how much better than that can we be? A key will be to stay healthy, because we have some inexperienced depth in a lot of places, and (finding out) which players are going to make that jump in improving their game.” The 2016 season begins the weekend of Feb. 12-14, and Tulsa will play host to the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship, May 12-14 at the Collins Family Softball Complex.

Catherine Horner

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THE University of Tulsa

TU VOLLEYBALL

Brooke Berryhill

VOLLEYBALL TEAM WRAPS UP ITS 40TH YEAR The Tulsa volleyball team wrapped up its 40th season with an overall record of 15-17 and 10-10 in the American Athletic Conference, as the Golden Hurricane had an influx of newcomers in 2015.

Tulsa finished the season in a three-way tie for fourth-place in the American Athletic Conference, tying with UConn and Memphis in just Tulsa’s second year in the league. In two seasons, Head Coach Ryan Wills has led the Hurricane to a 37-26 record and a 24-16 mark in league play.

Tulsa’s pair of impact hitters, senior Ashley Hooper and junior Erica Bohannon, earned first-team allconference honors, as Tulsa was one of just four conference teams with 44

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Erica Bohannon

multiple athletes on this year’s list.

Bohannon’s offensive production earned her a spot in the top-20 nationally in three major offensive categories. The stellar outside hitter finished 13th in total attacks recording 1,415, 13th in total kills with 515, and 18th in points collecting 567. Junior libero Brooke Berryhill’s defensive production this season earned her a top-50 national ranking in two different defensive categories, digs per set and total digs. The energetic libero finished the season ranked 13th in total digs with 623, and 40th in digs per set averaging 4.91. Sophomore setter Sophie Bethke, a newcomer to the roster, facilitated the offense very effectively earning rankings in the top-75 nationally in

Ashley Hooper

two different categories, assists per set and total assists. She is 16th in total assists with 1,325 and 66th in assists per set averaging 10.43. Bohannon has 1,275 career kills making her third on TU’s career kills list, and Berryhill has 1,745 career digs making her second on TU’s career digs list. They each will have an opportunity to expand on their career numbers as senior sin 2016.

The Hurricane loses five graduating players, but bring in two highlytouted freshmen in Haley Coulter and Taylor Horsfall. The Golden Hurricane returns 12 players for the 2016 season, while seven of those players will be seniors.

2016 NCAA TENNIS PREVIEW TULSA IS TOP DESTINATION FOR COLLEGIATE TENNIS EVENTS AS CITY HOSTS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MAY After hosting another successful Saint Francis Health System ITA Men’s All-American Championships, October 3-12, The University of Tulsa’s focus has shifted to hosting collegiate tennis’ major spring event. The University of Tulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission will serve as hosts of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships, May 19-30. Both events take place at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the TU campus. It will be the third NCAA Tennis Championship that has been played in Tulsa. The Case Tennis Center was host site for the 2004 NCAA Men’s Championships and the 2008 NCAA Men’s & Women’s Championships.

This past fall, Tulsa served as host of the ITA Men’s All-American Championships for its 11th year. The All-American hosted over 400 players in singles and more than 80 doubles teams over a 10-day stretch in October.

At the NCAA Championships, 16 men’s and women’s teams will compete for the first six days of the tournament to claim the title of team champion. At the conclusion of the team event, a field of 64 singles players and a 32-doubles team bracket for both the men and women will be played out in the final six days of competition. “As a university and community, we’re excited for the opportunity to host the two biggest events in

collegiate tennis this year,” said Derrick Gragg, The University of Tulsa Vice President & Director of Athletics. “The Michael D. Case Tennis Center is a cut-above when it comes to facilities for college tennis and by hosting these events hundreds of the nation’s best tennis players are exposed to the extraordinary hospitality from our campus and community.”

It is estimated that the 2016 NCAA Tournament will have a total economic impact of over $5 million. Tulsa will look to increase what was an NCAA record-high of 16,000 fans who attended the event in 2008.

“The Tulsa Sports Commission recognizes the importance of collegiate tennis and the Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa in our community. With TU hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championship for 11 years and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 Tennis Championships coming in 2016, we are excited for Tulsa to be the

spotlight city for collegiate tennis in the coming year,” said Ray Hoyt, VisitTulsa & Tulsa Sports Commission President. “Tennis tournaments bring and will continue to bring a significant economic impact to the region. We are looking forward to the NCAA tournament in 2016 and its projected total economic impact of over $5 million,” Hoyt added.

“Obviously, these two events, the Saint Francis ITA All-American and the NCAA Championships, are not only huge for our tennis program, but it speaks to the strong interest that the city of Tulsa has in the sport. These national events allow us the opportunity to showcase the top facility for collegiate tennis and our outstanding community,” said TU’s Director of Tennis and Head Men’s Tennis Coach Vince Westbrook.

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THE University of Tulsa

TU ROWING PREVIEW ROWING LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER PROSPEROUS SPRING OF TULSA SOFTBALL TEAM Tulsa’s 2015 spring rowing season had some outstanding performances, starting in the early spring as TU dominated Creighton, sweeping all five races in the duel, before the Golden Hurricane took gold in both the Varsity 4+ and 2nd Varsity 4+ races, and silver in the Varsity 8+ event at the Knecht Cup. Tulsa then captured the Lawless Cup by winning all five races against SMU. TU’s greatest achievement on the season was finishing second in the American Athletic Conference Championship as all six boats earned medals, including a goldmedal finish by the Varsity 4+. For their efforts, Sarah Ringler and Emalia Seto were named to allconference first team, while Hannah Emnett and Jamie Roloff were tabbed to the second team.

Following their runner-up conference finish, the team capped their season in June with a donor-funded trip to England to compete in the

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prestigious Henley Women’s Regatta.

This past fall, the Golden Hurricane medaled six boats at the Head of the Oklahoma, captured top marks in the Four and Eight at the Jayhawk Jamboree, and recorded first-place finishes in four races at the Tulsa Fall Invitational. The 2016 spring season gets un-

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derway on March 5 with a duel against Kansas, followed by Kansas State (March 19) and races against MIT and Creighton (March 26), all being hosted at Tulsa’s home venue in Catoosa. Since 2002, TU has recorded 256 first-place finishes and medaled 579 boats in 122 regattas. The Hurricane has had 91 studentathletes receive Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar Athlete honors and won TU’s Outstanding Team Community Service Award nine times for their community and campus involvement.

WHERE TULSA FANS GO FOR DAILY COVERAGE OF GOLDEN HURRICANE FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND RECRUITING • Daily exclusive information on Tulsa athletics and recruits, including feature articles, team and player notes, recruiting updates and video you won’t find anywhere else. • Access to the most in-depth Tulsa recruiting coverage available for football and basketball. • Hurricane Alley access, where you’ll find breaking news, team and player notes, the latest recruiting tidbits and more. Plus, a Tulsa-fans-only spot to discuss hot topics.

DON’T MISS OUT! GET A 30-DAY FREE TRIAL! Use the promo code HURRICANE30 for a 30-day free trial of all the premium information. Just go to: InsideTulsaSports.com/subscribe.asp Code expires October 31, 2015. Part of

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The following prospects have recently reported strong interest from Tulsa football coaches, so keep an eye on these names in the future as the Hurricane continues its success on the recruiting trail. By Chris Harmon

CLASS OF 2016 • Isaiah Bean, DE, Houston (TX) Summer Creek • Donnell Dunn, WR, Cypress Springs (TX) • Josh Fink, WR, Coppell (TX) • Zach Hall, WR/CB, Tyler (TX) Lee • Randon Haynes, DL, Waxahachie (TX) • Kobe McCrary, RB, El Dorado (KS) Butler Community College • Corey Rau, TE, Katy (TX) Cinco Ranch • Shemarr Robinson, DT, Tulsa (OK) Central • Josh Stewart, WR, Cedar Hill (TX)

CLASS OF 2017 • Chase Brown, LB, Kerrville (TX) Tivy (Committed to Tulsa) • Seth Boomer, QB, Collinsville (OK) • Justin Broiles, DB, Oklahoma City (OK) John Marshall • Shamari Brooks, DB, Tulsa (OK) Union • Tre Brown, DB, Tulsa (OK) Union • Tre Curry, ATH, Lawton (OK) • Jordon Curtis, RB, Jenks (OK) • Brendon Evers, DT, Bixby (OK) • Evan Fields, DB, Midwest City (OK) • Demontre Gatewood, DB, Midwest City (OK) • Rubell Goe, WR, Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness • Andre Harris, OL, Putnam City (OK) North • Creed Humphrey, OL, Shawnee (OK) • Reese Leitao, TE, Jenks (OK) • Quindon Lewis, ATH, Moore (OK) Southmoore • Marcus Mays, DB, Tulsa (OK) Edison • Baron Odom, TE, Wynnewood (OK) • Gervarrius Owens, ATH, Moore (OK) Southmoore • Roshauud Paul, WR, Bremond (TX) • Caleb Powell, ATH, Oklahoma Christian Academy • Grayson Reed, OL, Houston (TX) Cy-Creek • Nathan Schaffner, OL, Collinsville (OK) • Adrian Wolford, OL, Meeker (OK) CLASS OF 2018 • Casey Thompson, QB, Moore (OK) Southmoore 48

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Josh Stewart

BASKETBALL SIGNEES Atson played three yearsof high school at Christ the King in Brooklyn before moving to Notre Dame Prep. He led the team to two state championships, and was named Most Valuable Player of the playoffs last year. In his first two games this season, Atson is averaging 21.5 points and 9 rebounds per game. He has connected on 11 three-pointers as well.

Corey Henderson By Chris Harmon All four of Tulsa’s early basketball commitments signed letters of intent during the early signing period in November, including Corey Henderson Jr., Lawson Korita, Travis Atson and Martins Igbanu.

Henderson is a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas; Korita is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Little Rock (Ark.) Pulaski Academy; Atson is a 6-foot-6 wing from Fitchburg (Mass.) Notre Dame Prep; and Igbanu is a 6-foot-9 forward from Marietta (Ga.) Covenant Christian.

“Having nine seniors and eight scholarships to fill is a real challenge, and I want to commend my staff for their tireless work identifying these four outstanding young men to come represent our University and our city,” Haith explained. “First and foremost, they are terrific student-athletes that fit what we are all about at Tulsa. They have high character, great skill on the basketball court, and bring a level of toughness we want as the hallmark of this program. “This group also creates good balance in our classes. Corey is a junior college player that began his career at the Division I level, and we have three great high school standouts to help create a foundation for the future, so this class is significant for us on a number of fronts.”

Tulsa’s three high school signees are rated as 3-star prospects by Rivals.com, while Henderson was a 3-star recruit in the 2014 class when he originally signed with Wichita State out of Dallas Episcopal. Henderson played one season at Wichita State, before transferring to Blinn and will have two years of eligibility remaining at TU. In his one season with the Shockers, he played in 28 games, averaging 1.9 points per contest. His best game was 8 points in 14 minutes against Loyola Marymount.

Atson committed to TU back in September over offers from Memphis, DePaul, Southern Illinois, Winthrop, Vermont and a slew of others.

Lawson Korita

Igbanu is from Lagos, Nigeria, and is a fouryear letterman at Covenant Christian Ministries Academy. Early this season, he was averaging 21.0 points and 10.7 rebounds. He averaged 14.1 points per game as a junior and 10.9 points as a sophomore.

earned 2014 and 2015 Arkansas All-State honors from the Arkansas High School Activities Association.

Igbanu chose Tulsa over offers from Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Rhode Island, South Florida and several others.

Korita picked TU over offers from Creighton, Mississippi State, Wichita State, Drake, Wofford and others.

“Martins is a 6-9 guy that plays the wing, so he has guard skills,” said Covenant Christian head coach Frederick Anderso. “He’s a good outside shooter, and good finisher inside. He can handle the ball with both hands up and down the court, and is an excellent all-around student and player. He’s a team leader, he’s been captain for the last two years, and he works hard. He’s been a joy to coach for the last four years.”

“Big, physical players with skill are highly coveted in our game and Martins fits that mold,” said Haith. “He has gotten better every year at the high school level and yet his best basketball is ahead of him. As a player, Martins can really run the court. His size and strength allow him to work well in the post, but he has the ability to finish in transition and spot up and shoot out to the three-point line. We needed a post player with versatility, and Martins gives us that.” Korita averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior last season at Pulaski Academy. His single-game high was 36 points, and he hit 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line, and 88 percent from the charity stripe. Korita

“This is my eighth year here, and Lawson will be the only guy that’s been a four-year starter,” said Pulaski Academy coach Roger Franks. “He has very deep range on his shot. He can create his shot. He’s also an excellent passer. He’s an excellent teammate as well, that is going to fit in really well with what Coach Haith has and what he’s building there. He’s even a better person than he is a player. The university and the fans at Tulsa are going to really enjoy watching him, and getting to know him.” “Just like with Corey, Travis and Martins, Lawson is another dynamic young man from a great family and a great program,” Haith said. “He is obviously a tremendous shooter of the basketball, as his stats bare out, but his game is very well-rounded. He is a big, physical guard that can develop into another ballhandler for us with time and he is already a good passer because of his feel for the game.

“Like each of our guys, Lawson is a relentless competitorthat wants to win first and foremost. We are very excited to have Lawson joining our family.”

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COREY HENDERSON JR. By Chris Harmon

6-foot-3 guard Corey Henderson Jr. signed with Tulsa in November, and since then, he’s led Blinn College in scoring and has helped the Buccaneers to a 10-1 start.

Henderson, a 3-star recruit, originally signed with Wichita State out of Dallas Episcopal High School in 2014. After his freshman season with the Shockers, he transferred to Blinn and later committed to the Golden Hurricane. In his one season with WSU, Henderson played in 28 games, averaging 1.9 points per contest. His best game was 8 points in 14 minutes against Loyola Marymount.

At Blinn, Henderson has blossomed, averaging a team-leading 21.6 points per game on 54.4 percent shooting from the field. He has connected on an outstanding 45 percent of his three-pointers (32-of-71) and he’s shooting 77.2 percent from the free-throw line. “Corey is an extremely skilled offensive player. He can really shoot it,” Blinn College head coach Scott Schumacher said. “He has very good vision, and therefore gets a lot

of teammates involved in the offense. He is very quick and can get to the rack. He is a very gifted offensive player and tremendous young man.”

Henderson is averaging 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest with an assist-to-turnover margin of almost two to one. He also has 13 steals.

Tulsa was quick to jump on board with Henderson soon after he transferred from Wichita State due to a connection from the past. Henderson’s father -- Corey Henderson Sr. -- played at Texas A&M in the early 1990s while Tulsa head coach Frank Haith was an assistant coach for the Aggies. His uncle -Charles Henderson -- also played under Haith at A&M. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to coach Corey after coaching his father at Texas A&M,” Haith said. “Corey is a skilled combo guard that can score on the perimeter and play some point for us, because of his great feel for the game. Corey also brings a level of maturity after starting his career at Wichita State and playing in a great junior college

TRAVIS ATSON By Chris Harmon

6-foot-6 wing Travis Atson, who signed with Tulsa in November, is a Brooklyn native who will bring his New York toughness to the TU squad, and he plans to make an immediate impact.

“I hope to bring in intensity, talent, leadership and keep the winning alive,” Atson told Inside Tulsa Sports. “My goals as a (college) freshman are to win as many games as possible and, of course, win a championship and get deep into the NCAA tournament. I want to get a good feel for the college level game so I can come in and be a really strong asset.

“Being in prep school helps me a lot. It’s somewhat like being in the college level playing with all this top talent.”

Atson is spending a prep year at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. As a high school senior last season at South Kent, he averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists per game. He spent his first three years of high school at Christ the King in Brooklyn, leading the Royals to two state championships and earning MVP of the playoffs as a junior. “My strongest (attribute) is my ability to score,” Atson described. “I can get to the basket and dunk it on somebody, or I can step 50

HURRICANE ELITE

back and knock down the three constantly. Also, I get a lot of rebounds on both sides of the floor.”

That tenacious attitude is what impressed Tulsa head coach Frank Haith, who beat out Memphis, DePaul, Southern Illinois, St. Bonaventure, UC Santa Barbara, TexasArlington, Winthrop, Richmond, Towson, Iona, Duquesne, Fairfield and several others to get Atson’s signature.

“Travis is one of the most relentless players I have seen in the high school game,” Haith said. “He has a great knack for scoring the basketball, as his stats will show, but he is all about winning. Travis is a throwback. He can shoot, he can drive and he will find a way to beat you on both ends of the court. I’m very excited to have Travis at TU. He continues our growing trend of becoming a national program and is a guy that others across the country will want to compete with.” In Notre Dame Prep’s first two games this season, Atson put up big numbers. He posted 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in the opening 103-58 win and followed that up with 19 points and 7 rebounds in game two, an 8551 victory. Also included in those two contests were 11 three-pointers by Atson.

WINTER 2015-2016

program at Blinn. He certainly fits a need for us with James (Woodard), Marquel (Curtis) and Shaquille (Harrison) graduating, so this was a significant signing for us.”

In high school, Henderson averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals per game while playing for his father at Episcopal. He was named all-conference and TABC All-State as a senior, earning a spot in the Texas Hoops Top 25 for the class of 2014.

“I believe I will be able to bring experience and leadership to the team next year and the ability to shoot, handle the ball and my playmaking ability,” said Henderson. “Those are some of things I do well and can bring to the table next year. “I just want to come in and set an example and be a leader for the guys coming in and who will be there, and I want to win our conference of course and make the NCAA tournament.”

When Henderson joins Tulsa for the 2016-17 season, he will be a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.

“I think probably what Travis does that separates him most from the other kids his age is his ability to shoot the basketball,” said Notre Dame Prep head coach Ryan Hurd. “If he gets his feet underneath him, there is a really good chance he’s taking a 20-foot layup. He’s got that New York City hard-nosed, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win attitude, combined with the fact that he’s a gentle person. He’s just a young man that can conduct himself appropriately on campus, and when he gets between the lines, he can flip that switch and be an animal.” Atson took his official visit to Tulsa back in September and was immediately impressed.

“I loved it,” he explained. “The campus was beautiful, and the gym was outstanding. I can’t wait to be able to step on that court. It was where I belong. I felt so comfortable and a part of the family as soon as I got there. They accepted me right into their family, and I feel like their style of play fits me perfectly. It’s exactly how I want to play. Also, Coach Haith and his staff have an amazing resume.” With the Hurricane losing seven main contributors after this season, Atson will have a great opportunity to make an impact as a true freshman.

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