Tulsa picked last in AAC West media poll

[Chris Harmon]

Cincinnati has been selected as the favorite to hold the trophy following the inaugural AAC Football Championship, while Tulsa was picked to finish last in the West Division.
[details]

 

[TU Sepp]

Obviously they have little to no respect for the team that Coach Hurricane Monty inherited this season.

 

[TulsaEye]

Obviously they have little to no respect for the team that Coach Hurricane Monty inherited this season.

In the past two previous years this team had not done anything to speak of under the former coaching staff. That's what they are going by. Is it underestimating this years team, of course! They will find this out in due time.

 

[quincy101]

Coach Monty said, (the defense) "feels like they have something to prove"-well, double that attitude after the "media" places them last in our div. We arguably have the best front line in the league, including Luetjen,Uwaezoke,Brubaker(very glad he's back) , Rollins & don't forget Carden & Masumbuko. Ends include Alexander, J. Smith, plus Frankie Davis, M.Mouton, T. Gipson and Shindelar( if this kid has a mean streak & learns quickly-he could be freaky good). Not worried about LB's with Martin, P. Wilson(can't wait to see this kid in action),Sherwood, the two speedy former safeties(Linscott & Norman) who played great in the spring game,
plus Mike Thomas who might break out this year & Suits, Asiegbu & Gooden.

Then there's the back end... Mudoh & Jeremy Brady will be solid @ safety, although J.R. Reed & J. Mitchell are kind of unknown quantities to me. Well, we've got some experience at corner with D. Williams(very happy he's healthy),Cellistan needs to break out, Will Barrow & 3 true freshman, one or two which will have to be backups. Practicing against our excellent wideouts will only help these guys.

As for the offense, don't worry-be happy: as it's been said we will score a ton of points(assuming of course that Evans stays healthy &/or we develop a backup who can lead the team. I still think it will be Burgess or Hefley(maybe Calcagni). Can't wait for the "Payback Tour" to begin. TU Football: 1st,last,always!

 

[Larry Lewis_]

Getting picked behind Tulane and SMU is baffling. The only teams Tulsa beat last year.

 

[noble cane]

Given that this team got out-played athletically by FAU and Texas State, and that Montgomery was not the play caller at Baylor... I can see why the voters may not have confidence in a quick turn around..

I think a 4-5 win season that looks competitive in all games is a pretty high expectation and an outstanding result based on what I saw last year..

I always say that years 3 and 4 will tell you what a football coach is about.. It will tell us how well he can delegate responsibility, recruit, develop players, hire a staff, replace departing staff, etc.. and it well tell a little about his loyalty..

 

[soccrcubs7_rivals]

I think we looked alot less athletic based on the schemes we used and the confidence the players had in it. Especially on defense.

 

[noble cane]

I think we looked alot less athletic based on the schemes we used and the confidence the players had in it. Especially on defense.

Athletes shine no matter the scheme (hence free agents from losing teams commanding big $ salaries) .... they may be out of position due to the scheme.. but closing speed, the ability to block/fight one off, catch, etc..

 

[soccrcubs7_rivals]

Well, you may be right, but I still contend the athletic players we do have had ZERO confidence in what they were doing. You can have better schemes to fit the players you do have, which we didn't do at all.

 

[cmullinsTU]

Bulletin board material

 

[noble cane]

Well, you may be right, but I still contend the athletic players we do have had ZERO confidence in what they were doing. You can have better schemes to fit the players you do have, which we didn't do at all.

Schemes are how you make up for a lack of athleticism.. Dave Rader used to out scheme OSU all the time.. you find a weakness in the opponent and you set your scheme to exploit it.. the right scheme can make a less talented team the winner.. however; unless the knockout punch is delivered early, the athletes will rise to the top and triumph.

Think Adrian Peterson's TD run late in the game vs OU in Kragthorpe's Championship season.. we used a great scheme to get the TE open all day but we didn't have the athletes to get us TD's in Goal line situations. Had we gotten 3 TD's from the 5yd line rather than 3 FG's we would have beaten OU soundly that day.. instead.. . AD broke 2 tackles and burst 35 yds for the winning score in the 4th qtr.. all on athletic ability..

It still comes down to the Jimmy's and Joe's not the x's and o's as the saying goes..

 

[soccrcubs7_rivals]

Oh I agree with you there, but there aren't many team on our schedule who will absolutely destroy us athletically, at least I don't think so.

 

[noble cane]

Oh I agree with you there, but there aren't many team on our schedule who will absolutely destroy us athletically, at least I don't think so.

I hope not.. time will tell.. like I say.. I'm more concerned with yrs. 3 and 4.. then we will know what we have..

With BB you could see the offensive production and play calling falling off in year 1 but we still had hordes of talent.. By year 4, not so much..

I really expect a post Burns effect like Krags had in year 1 as enthusiasm and unfamiliarity helps carry the load; year 2 more likely a little sophomore swoon; and then a breakout in years 3-4...

 

[Gold*]

Recruiting is looking good for us. I think this season depends on whether some of the new players on defense ca work some magic like the first year of Kragthorpe. The offense will be fine.

 

[URedskin54]

Montgomery wasn't the play caller at Baylor? Seems like pretty much everyone says he was.

 

[Gold*]

Yeah that's what I thought, too.

 

[quincy101]

I'm also very happy with recruiting so far, but I thought there would be some grumbling over 9 out of 10 being 2 Rivals stars guys. The thang is, all these guys were offered after TU camps where our coaches saw their skills &/or potential up close & personal. Certainly a better indicator than film. Then there is Rowdy. All this kid did was earn MVP(O-line) honors at the Dallas Rivals Camp & was ranked 4th of all O-linemen at all 10 Rivals camps in the country out of at least 200-300 O-linemen invited. It kind of begs the question: why wasn't Rowdy given 4 or 5 stars by Rivals? Did it have anything to do with only one P-5 offer(T-Tech) so far? Sorry Chris, but I guess I'll never understand Rivals' system. TU Football: 1st,last,always!

 

[TulsaEye]

Yep from what I know Montgomery was the play caller at Baylor. Also some of those two star commits could breakout during the next year. Several are right on the edge of being three stars even by Rivals grading system.

 

[HuffyCane]

Montgomery has the been play caller for Briles since their high school days together.

 

[TulsaEye]

While BB was in charge Defensive and Offensive production fell like a rock each year, until they would wound up with results of the last two years. Recruiting was even worse. As far how good the Defensive and Offensive schemes really were. Well if the fans sitting in the stands could see they weren't working, then you know the players knew even more. Thus the players had little motivation to lay it all on the line.