Tulsa Golden Hurricane football

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Tulsa Golden Hurricane football
1895 (128 years ago)
Athletic directorRick Dickson
Head coachKevin Wilson
1st season, 4–8 (.333)
StadiumSkelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium
(capacity: 30,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationTulsa, Oklahoma
ConferenceThe American (2014–present)
Past conferencesIndependent (1895–1913)
OCC (1914–1928)
Big Four (1929–1932)
MVC (1935–1985)
Independent (1986–1995)
WAC (1996–2004)
C-USA (2005–2013)
All-time record643–526–28 (.549)
Bowl record11–12 (.478)
Conference titles35
RivalriesHouston Cougars (rivalry)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans3
ColorsOld gold, royal blue, and crimson[1]
     
Fight songHurricane Spirit
MascotGus T.
Marching bandThe Sound of the Golden Hurricane
OutfitterAdidas
Websitetulsahurricane.com

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane football program represents the University of Tulsa in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Tulsa has competed in the American Athletic Conference (The American) since the 2014 season and was previously a member of Conference USA (C-USA). The team is led by head coach Kevin Wilson. Tulsa plays its home games at Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The University of Tulsa has the smallest undergraduate enrollment of all schools that participate at the FBS level.[2]

History

See also: List of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football seasons

Early history (1895–1976)

Tulsa was known as Henry Kendall College until the move from

Skelly Field, named for oil tycoon William Skelly, was completed in 1930.[8] Tulsa won the first game in the stadium, 26–6 over Arkansas.[10] Tulsa also scored on the first offensive play in the stadium, after Arkansas fumbled the opening kickoff.[12] Henderson brought the University of Tulsa into the Missouri Valley Conference for the 1935 season
.

Tulsa signed their 13th head coach,

U.S. House of Representatives from 1994–2002, and then ran as one of the two major candidates for Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. The Golden Hurricane won 25 Missouri Valley conference football titles the most of any school that competed in that league. Tulsa was the only team to play in five consecutive New Year's Day bowl games. The Golden Hurricane also was handed one of the worst defeats in college football history when they were beaten in regular season play by Houston Cougars 100–6 on November 23, 1968.[20] Dr. Phil McGraw played for TU at the time.[21] Vince Carillot succeeded Dobbs as head coach. However, he resigned after only one season, a 1–9 campaign in 1969, after an NCAA probe into possible infractions that occurred under his watch.[22]

In July 1970,

Claude Gibson was elevated to interim head coach when Golden Hurricane coach Vince Carillot resigned. When Gibson's Tulsa squad started the season 4–1, which included a stunning upset of Memphis, a team Tulsa had not beaten in six years, the interim label was removed. His first Golden Hurricane team finished 6–4.[23] However, a 4–7 record in 1971 and a 1–5 start to the 1972 season did him in, as he was fired. F. A. Dry was donned the interim tag when Gibson was fired, and a 3–2 finish to the 1972 season earned him the permanent head coaching position. Dry's Hurricane compiled records of 6–5 in 1973,[24] 8–3 in 1974,[25] 7–4 in 1975,[26] and 7–4–1 in 1976[27] for a total of 31–18–1.[28] Dry departed Tulsa after the 1976 season to accept the head football coach position at TCU.[29]

John Cooper era (1977–1984)

In 1977, John Cooper was named the head football coach at Tulsa. At Tulsa, he compiled a 56–32 record with five Missouri Valley Conference titles.[30][31] Cooper considers his tenure at Tulsa his "most enjoyable years as a coach".[32] For most of his tenure, Tulsa had trouble attracting enough fans to meet the minimum requirements to stay in Division I-A, and were forced to pad their gates. While they claimed to have attracted over 35,000 people per game, the actual average attendance was closer to 17,000.[33][34] Cooper departed Tulsa after the 1984 season to accept the position of head football coach at Arizona State.[35]

Don Morton era (1985–1986)

North Dakota State head coach Don Morton was hired to replace Cooper in 1985.[36][37] Under Morton's tutelage, the Hurricane compiled a record of 13–9.[38] The Missouri Valley dropped football after the 1985 season. Tulsa, by this time the MVC's only Division I-A member in football, became an independent. Morton left Tulsa after two seasons to accept the head football coach position at Wisconsin.[39] On November 2, 1985, Tulsa became the first NCAA football team to get two 200-yard rushing performances from two running backs in the same game. Gordon Brown rushed for 214 yards, and Steve Gage rushed for 206 in a 42–26 win over Wichita State.[40]

George Henshaw era (1987)

Alabama offensive coordinator and offensive line coach George Henshaw was selected as Morton's replacement. Henshaw would only stick around for one season, a 3–8 campaign in 1987, before departing to accept the position of offensive line coach for the NFL's Denver Broncos, leaving the Hurricane to search for their third head coach in four years.[41]

David Rader era (1988–1999)

David Rader was promoted from quarterbacks coach and associate head coach to replace Henshaw.[42] Rader led Tulsa to a school-record 10 wins and finished ranked No. 21 in the AP poll in 1991,[43] but it turned out to be the school's last hurrah for more than a decade. According to Rader, school officials dropped health/PE as a major early in the 1990s; at one point, 56 percent of the players were health/PE majors. Combined with an aging Skelly Stadium, this made it difficult to attract competitive players.[44] Rader never won more than four games in a season again, and was fired midway through the 1999 season.[45] Tulsa joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1996, becoming that 16-team league's easternmost member at the time.[46]

Keith Burns era (2000–2002)

Arkansas defensive coordinator Keith Burns was hired to replace Rader in 2000.[47] Burns' Hurricane struggled mightily, and he resigned under pressure after three seasons and a 7–28 record.[48][49]

Steve Kragthorpe era (2003–2006)

Coach Kragthorpe

Steve Kragthorpe was hired to replace Burns as Golden Hurricanes head coach in 2003.[50] In his first season at Tulsa, Kragthorpe guided a program that had won just two games during the previous two seasons to an 8–5 record and its first bowl game appearance since 1991.[51] In 2005, Tulsa won the Conference USA championship and then went on to beat Fresno State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Kragthorpe left Tulsa after four seasons to accept the head coaching position at Louisville.[52]

Todd Graham era (2007–2010)

Coach Graham

When the Tulsa head coaching position was vacant following the 2002 season,

Pittsburgh.[58]

Bill Blankenship era (2011–2014)

After a brief search, former Golden Hurricane quarterback

broke from the league and formed a new Big East Conference
.

Philip Montgomery era (2015–2022)

Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery accepted an offer from Tulsa to become their head coach on December 11, 2014.[63] Montgomery brought with him an exciting, up-tempo, pass-oriented spread offense he helped install as offensive coordinator at Houston and Baylor under head coach Art Briles.[64][65] In Montgomery's first season at the helm, the Golden Hurricane improved to 6–7, with a loss in the Independence Bowl to cap the year.[66] In Montgomery's second season, Tulsa finished 10–3,[67] but fell to 2–10 in 2017. Montgomery was fired following the 2022 season.

Kevin Wilson (2023–present)

Following the dismissal of Montgomery, Tulsa announced that they had hired Ohio State offensive coordinator and former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson as the program's next head coach.[68]

Conference affiliations

Tulsa has been a member of the following conferences.[69]: 115, 153–155 

Championships

Conference championships

Tulsa has won 35 conference championships, 29 outright and 6 shared.[70]

Year Coach Conference Overall Record Conference Record
1916 Sam P. McBirney Oklahoma Collegiate Conference 10–0 4–0
1919 Francis Schmidt 8–0–1 5–0–1
1920
 10–0–1 6–0–1
1922 Howard Acher 8–1 4–0
1925 Gus Henderson 6–2 4–0
1929 Big Four Conference 6–3–1 4–0–1
1930 7–2 3–0
1932 7–1–1 3–0
1935 † Missouri Valley Conference 3–6–1 3–0
1936 † Vic Hurt 5–2–2 3–0
1937 6–2–2 3–0
1938 4–5–1 3–1
1940 Chet Benefiel 7–3 4–0
1941 Henry Frnka 8–2 4–0
1942 10–1 5–0
1943 6–1–1 1–0
1946 Buddy Brothers 9–1 3–0
1947 5–5 3–0
1950 9–1–1 3–0–1
1951 9–2 4–0
1962 Glenn Dobbs 5–5 3–0
1965 8–3 4–0
1966 † 6–4 3–1
1973 † F. A. Dry 6–5 5–1
1974 8–3 6–0
1975 7–4 4–0
1976 † 7–4–1 2–1–1
1980 John Cooper 8–3 4–1
1981 † 6–5 5–1
1982 10–1 6–0
1983 8–3 5–0
1984 6–5 5–0
1985 Don Morton 6–5 3–0
2005 Steve Kragthorpe Conference USA 9–4 6–2
2012 Bill Blankenship 11–3 7–1

† Co-champions

Division championships

Tulsa has won the following division championships.[69]: 115 

Year Division Coach Opponent CG result
2005 Conference USA – West Steve Kragthorpe UCF W 44–27
2007 Todd Graham UCF L 25–44
2008 ECU L 24–27
2010 † N/A lost tiebreaker to SMU
2012 Bill Blankenship UCF W 33–27OT

† Co-champions

Head coaches

This is a list of the head coaches of Tulsa.[69]: 152 

Name Seasons Overall Pct.
Norman Leard 1895–1897 5–2 .714
Fred Taylor 1898–1899 1–1–1 .500
Sam P. McBirney 1908, 1914–1916 25–6–1 .806
Harvey L. Allen
 1912 1–3 .250
George "Red" Evans 1913 5–2 .714
Hal Mefford 1917 0–8–1 .000
Arthur F. Smith 1918 1–2 .333
Francis Schmidt 1919–1921 24–3–2 .889
Howard Acher 1922–1924 12–11–2 .522
Gus Henderson 1925–1935 70–25–5 .737
Vic Hurt 1936–1938 15–9–5 .625
Chet Benefiel 1939–1940 11–8–1 .589
Henry Frnka 1941–1945 40–9–1 .816
Buddy Brothers 1946–1952 45–25–4 .635
Bernie Witucki 1953–1954 3–18 .143
Bobby Dobbs 1955–1960 30–28–2 .517
Glenn Dobbs 1961–1968 45–37 .549
Vince Carillot 1969 1–9 .100
Claude "Hoot" Gibson 1970–1972 11–16 .407
F. A. Dry 1972–1976 31–18–1 .633
John Cooper 1977–1984 57–31–1 .648
Don Morton 1985–1986 13–9 .591
George Henshaw 1987 3–8 .273
Dave Rader
 1988–1999 49–80–1 .376
Pat Henderson 1999 1–3 .250
Keith Burns 2000–2002 7–28 .200
Steve Kragthorpe 2003–2006 29–22 .569
Todd Graham 2007–2010 35–17 .673
Bill Blankenship 2011–2014 24–27 .471
Philip Montgomery 2015–2022 43–53 .448
Kevin Wilson 2023–present 0–0 –

Bowl games

Tulsa has competed in 23 bowl games as of the conclusion of the 2021 season, garnering a record of 11–12.[69]: 102–108 

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1941 Henry Frnka Sun Texas Tech W 6–0
1942 Sugar Tennessee L 7–14
1943 Sugar Georgia Tech L 18–20
1944 Orange Georgia Tech W 26–12
1945 Oil Georgia L 6–20
1952 Buddy Brothers Gator Florida L 13–14
1964 Glenn Dobbs Bluebonnet Mississippi W 14–7
1965 Bluebonnet Tennessee L 6–27
1976 F. A. Dry Independence
McNeese State
 L 16–20
1989 David Rader Independence Oregon L 24–27
1991 Freedom San Diego St. W 28–17
2003 Steve Kragthorpe Humanitarian Georgia Tech L 10–52
2005 Liberty Fresno State W 31–24
2006 Armed Forces Utah L 13–25
2007 Todd Graham GMAC Bowling Green W 63–7
2008 GMAC Ball State W 45–13
2010 Hawaii Hawaii W 62–35
2011 Bill Blankenship Armed Forces BYU L 21–24
2012 Liberty Iowa State W 31–17
2015 Philip Montgomery Independence Virginia Tech L 52–55
2016 Miami Beach Central Michigan W 55–10
2020 Armed Forces Mississippi State L 26–28
2021 Myrtle Beach Bowl Old Dominion W 30–17

Retired numbers

See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers
Glenn Dobbs (left) and Steve Largent have their numbers 45 and 83 retired by Tulsa
No. Player Pos Career No. retir. Ref.
14 Billy Guy Anderson QB 1963–1964 [n1 1] 1995 [72]
17 Jerry Rhome QB 1963–1964 [72]
31 Ellis Jones G, LB 1942–1944 [72]
36 Felto Prewitt C 1943–1945 [72]
45 Glenn Dobbs TB 1940–1942 [72][73]
55 Jerry Ostroski G 1988–1991 2018 [72][74]
64 Marv Matuszak LB 1952 [72]
81 Howard Twilley WR 1963–1965 [72]
83 Steve Largent WR 1972–1975 2008 [72]
Notes
  1. ^ He had previously played for SMU Mustangs (1960-61).[71]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 23, 2021.[75]

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033
Northwestern State at Oklahoma State Oklahoma State Arkansas at Louisiana at Arkansas at Oklahoma at Oklahoma State Missouri State at Oklahoma
at Arkansas State Louisiana Tech Army Texas Southern Oklahoma State Toledo Missouri State
Oklahoma State at Army at Arkansas at Oklahoma State Army at Oklahoma State Oklahoma State
at Louisiana Tech at Army

Bibliography

  • OCLC 61264858.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  • Bonham, Chad (2004). Golden Hurricane Football at the University of Tulsa, Ok: At the University of Tulsa. Charleston, South Carolina.
    OCLC 56948322.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )

References

  1. ^ Tulsa Brand Guide (PDF). February 1, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Tulsa Football to Host Oklahoma in 2023 as Part of New 3-Game Series".
  3. ^ "History of the University of Tulsa." Site. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bonham: 9
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i ESPN: 900
  6. ^ "Francis A. Schmidt." Hall of Fame Profile. College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.
  7. ^ "Francis Schmidt Coaching Profile." Profile. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c d e ESPN: 898
  9. ^ ESPN: 897
  10. ^ a b c d Bonham: 10
  11. ^ a b Rutland, Robert. "The Golden Hurricane: Fifty Years of Football at the University of Tulsa, 1895–1945." Tulsa Quarterback Club. (1953) OCLC: 3337415
  12. ^ "Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium" Stadium Page. The University of Tulsa Official Athletic Site. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.
  13. ^ "Henry Frnka." Article. Retrieved on March 7, 2009.
  14. ^ "Sun Bowl History." Website. Retrieved on March 7, 2009.
  15. ^ ESPN: 1466
  16. ^ Bonham: 25
  17. ^ "Robert Dobbs Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  18. ^ Richard Goldstein, "Glenn Dobbs, 82, Star Player And Coach of Tulsa Football," New York Times, November 15, 2002.
  19. ^ James Hart, "Passing of a Hurricane Legend" Archived May 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, University of Tulsa Collegian, November 19, 2002.
  20. Grantland.com
    , October 25, 2013.
  21. ^ The Making of Dr. Phil: The Straight-Talking True Story of Everyone's Favorite Therapist; Sophia Dembling, Lisa Gutierrez; John Wiley and Sons, 2003. p. 247
  22. ^ "Carillot Resigns as Tulsa Coach". Beckley Post-Herald. July 23, 1970. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "1970 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  24. ^ "1973 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  25. ^ "1974 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  26. ^ "1975 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  27. ^ "1976 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  28. ^ "F. Dry Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  29. ^ "Ex-tcu Coach Blamed For Slush Fund". 24 September 1985.
  30. ^ "John Cooper Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  31. ^ "John Cooper". Ohio State Buckeyes. Archived from the original on March 5, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  32. ^ Klein, John (July 14, 2009). "Cooper gave TU football a huge boost". Tulsa World.
  33. ISBN 978-0544454385
    .
  34. ISBN 978-1476667447
    .
  35. ^ "All About D. B. Cooper".
  36. ^ "Don Morton Says Good-Bye". www.bisonillustrated.com. 3 July 2015.
  37. ^ "Tulsa Picks Morton to Succeed Cooper". March 26, 1985.
  38. ^ "Don Morton Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  39. ^ "Morton Fired As Wisconsin Football Coach". 29 November 1989.
  40. ^ National Sports Review – The Best and Worst of the '80s: Stories & Anecdotes, Quotes & Lists & Hypes, Passions & Amusements, published 1989, Preview Publishing and InfoSports, p.88
  41. ^ "Henshaw Might Coach Bronco QBs". 10 March 1988.
  42. ^ MILLER, SCOTT (18 December 1991). "No Bad-Mouth Football for Tulsa's Coach : College football: Former Charger draft pick David Rader won't curse. But he's blessed with a winning team" – via LA Times.
  43. ^ "1991 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  44. ^ Faith Keeps David Rader in Game of Life, GTR Newspapers, October 27, 2010 (retrieved October 8, 2011).
  45. ^ "GTR Newspapers – Find Local Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Union, and Owasso News, Sports, and Entertainment:Faith Keeps David Rader in Game of Life". www.gtrnews.com.
  46. ^ "TU Gears Up for Big Move Joining WAC Will Be a Big Boost, Rader Says". August 27, 1995.
  47. ^ "Former Tulsa head coach Keith Burns joins football staff as new defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach".
  48. ^ "Keith Burns Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  49. ^ "Burns Resigns as Tulsa Football Coach". University of Tulsa.
  50. ^ "Tulsa's Kragthorpe Names Football Coaching Staff".
  51. ^ "Steve Kragthorpe Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  52. ^ "Louisville hires Tulsa's Kragthorpe". ESPN.com. 9 January 2007.
  53. ^ "Todd Graham Resigns as TU Head Football Coach". University of Tulsa.
  54. ^ "Todd Graham". Tulsa University Athletics. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  55. ^ "Gus Malzahn Leaves Arkansas".
  56. ^ "Hand Leaves West Virginia For Tulsa".
  57. ^ "Todd Graham". University of Pittsburgh Athletics. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011.
  58. ^ "Third time's a charm? Pitt hires Tulsa's Graham". ESPN.com. 10 January 2011.
  59. ^ Eric Bailey, "Bill Blankenship named new Tulsa football coach", Tulsa World, January 14, 2011.
  60. ^ "Bill Blankenship Coaching Tenure at Tulsa Concludes". University of Tulsa. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  61. ^ "University of Tulsa Joins Current BIG EAST in 2014–15" (Press release). Big East Conference. April 2, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  62. ^ "New Name in College Sports – Current BIG EAST Enters New Era as 'American Athletic Conference'". April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  63. ^ "Tulsa hires Baylor OC Montgomery as coach". 11 December 2014.
  64. ^ "Meet the playcaller behind Baylor's rise". 10 October 2013.
  65. ^ "Philip Montgomery - Football Coach".
  66. ^ "2015 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  67. ^ "2016 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  68. ^ more, Cameron Teague Robinson and. "Tulsa hires Kevin Wilson as head coach". The Athletic. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  69. ^ a b c d http://www.tulsahurricane.com/documents/2017/8/1//TU_FB17_MG_web_.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  70. ^ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/tulsahurricane.com/documents/2019/7/29/TU_FB19_MG_WebOpt.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  71. ^ Jerry Rhome bio on The Oklahoman, 1998
  72. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tulsa Football to Honor Former First-Team All-American Jerry Ostroski with Jersey Retirement at Tulsahurricane.com, 18 Sep 2018
  73. ^ Family and Friends of Glenn Dobbs at The University of Tulsa
  74. ^ Jerry Ostroski, an all-time Tulsa great, gets his number retired at Tulsa.rivals.com, 18 Sep 2018
  75. ^ "Tulsa Golden Hurricane Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 23 Feb 2021.

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