University of Tulsa NCAA News

Justin Skillens was feeling the heat. He needed to make a play. Fans of the former Booker T. Washington football standout wondered when he was going to start contributing more as a University of Tulsa freshman.

Freshman nose guard Gabe McGee got a rapid introduction to college football . He was part of a goal-line stand in his first University of Tulsa game.

Tulsa basketball gets one dress rehearsal before the regular season begins later this week.

Recruiting base: One reason Kevin Sumlin left Bob Stoops' University of Oklahoma coaching staff to become Houston's head coach is the fertile recruiting region he inherited.

While Tulsa's offensive line continues to struggle as a unit, head coach Todd Graham went out of his way to say freshman center Trent Dupy has "improved dramatically" in recent weeks.

Tulsa senior defensive back John Destin said he couldn't believe that he let a sure interception slip through his fingers at UTEP last week.

Bishop Wheatley has had a front-row seat to Tulsa's basketball revitalization. Five years ago, the forward was a raw freshman who joined a hurting program that had just introduced a rookie head coach.

The question fired up a hot topic during Thursday's Conference USA men's basketball teleconference call.

Just as it happened at Texas-El Paso 10 days ago, Tulsa couldn't get SMU's offense off the field in the fourth quarter Saturday.

Shawnbrey McNeil dives into the end zone against Tulsa And then there were two. SMU moved into a tie with Houston for first place in the Conference-USA West division standings Saturday with a 27-13 victory over Tulsa.

University of Tulsa punter Michael Such has been named the National Punter of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards.

Line: Tulsa by 15 1/2. Series Record: SMU leads 10-6. Last meeting: 2008, Tulsa 37-31. SMU and Tulsa enter the game part of a four-way tie atop the Conference USA West standings.

Charles Clay is rounding into form in time for another Southern Methodist game. It was against the Mustangs two years ago that the junior running back had his signature University of Tulsa football moment.

A.J. Whitmore relishes his role as a triple-threat athlete. The University of Tulsa junior says his ideal football performance would be to score rushing and receiving touchdowns and throw for a score in the same game.

Just when it seemed as if Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was ready to make a decision about his future, the injured Oklahoma quarterback decided he needed more time to think about it.

Rocky start: Once again, pass protection wasn't the Hurricane's strong suit in the first half.

College football coaches rarely look ahead at the schedule. Tulsa coach Todd Graham did admit that he understands the importance of the Conference USA contests remaining on the schedule, starting with Wednesday's nationally televised game at UTEP .

Paging Dr. Lou Todd Graham told his football team that he admired Bob Hope and John Wayne while growing up.

Hurricane has lost its last two games at UTEP. TU coach Todd Graham, yelling during last week's loss to Boise State, says he has never experienced an easy game at the Sun Bowl, home of UTEP.

The drill at Tulsa is becoming routine. The Golden Hurricane light up scoreboards with one of the best offenses in the country, lose their quarterback, the rest of Conference USA anticipates a drop off, then Tulsa finds a new guy and does it again.