More bad news for Tulsa football

Can Bill Blankenship catch a break? The University of Tulsa has had a horrible final week leading up to the season's opening game against the Sooners. John Flanders was ruled academically ineligible on Friday and plans to sit out this season. He's going to appeal, hoping for a waiver from the NCAA. He will have one year of eligibility remaining beginning next fall if the waiver is denied.

It's a huge blow to a secondary, and a team, that needs all the help it can get heading into Week 1. TU's best player, receiver Damaris Johnson, is out the whole year because of his involvement with a felony embezzlement case. Now, Flanders is potentially out for the year.

Milton Howell will fill in for Flanders as a starter in Norman on Saturday. With Flanders out, will Landry Jones attach Howell on the edge? I'd expect him to.

Flanders sealed Tulsa's win over Notre Dame with an interception in the endzone in the final seconds a year ago. He started all 13 games as a junior, recording 45 tackles and two INTs, including one he took back for a touchdown in the Hawaii Bowl.