TU Must Clean Up Mistakes To Reach Potential

Tulsa is off to a very strong start in 2012. The Golden Hurricane is 4-1 overall and sits atop Conference USA with a 2-0 record. The Hurricane has the talent and playmakers to not only win Conference USA, but potentially run the table.

But if TU wants any chance of that, it's time to clean up the mistakes.

As much talent as Tulsa has, and as impressive as this Hurricane squad can look, there are stretches of football when this team looks like a mid-level FCS program.

Let's do a quick recap of what's transpired so far this season.

TU took a 16-7 first-quarter lead at Iowa State to start the season, but looked dazed and confused for the entire second and third quarters, and didn't wake up in time to come back.

After thumping lowly Tulane and Nicholls State, Tulsa made a similar amount of head-scratching mistakes against Fresno State. While the Fresno win showed the kind of heart this team possesses,  it also showed the amount of improvements that need to be made.

9/25/2012 Related Story: Saturday's Win Proves What Golden Hurricane Is Truly Made Of 

Cody Green's three interceptions (two pick-sixes) were overcome by a strong defensive effort, but eventually, mistakes like those will get you blown off the field.

A trip to UAB was another opportunity to clean up the mistakes and play 60 minutes of excellent football.

While most expected the Hurricane to take the Blazers to school, Tulsa managed to barely pass the test, and majored in shooting themselves in the foot.

A blocked punt that handed the Blazers a touchdown, a missed 35-yard field goal, and three turnovers all contributed to making this game much closer than it should have been.

TU is the most talented team in Conference USA, and as I mentioned, could be in store for a huge season. But eventually, one day, these mistakes are going to catch up with them unless they get fixed, and Bill Blankenship knows it.

"We went into halftime with a chance to put UAB away. However, we did not do that. They outplayed us in a lot of areas."

Not only was Blankenship disappointed in his team's execution, he had a theory as to why.

"I think the biggest thing we have to learn is, we've got to give every opponent our best, and I think there were times (Saturday) where we didn't play with as much passion as we did a week ago."

Tulsa will have another opportunity to put together four-quarters of good football when they head to Marshall on Saturday. The Herd has one of the most powerful offenses in the country, and the Hurricane would be wise to cut down on the mistakes if they want to leave with a win.