Missed Opportunities

Tulsa's loss to SMU highlighted by failure to capitalize on critical plays.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Oct 11, 2010 5:3 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – In a tight three-point loss such as Tulsa’s loss to Southern Methodist on Saturday, one play can make all the difference.

Unfortunately for the Golden Hurricane, it missed crucial opportunities on more than just one play.

In Tulsa’s 21-18 to the Mustangs, it repeatedly missed wide open receivers – several of which would have resulted in touchdowns - and failed to capitalize on turnover opportunities on defense.

“If you look at the film there was a lot of missed opportunities,” TU coach Todd Graham said. “We had an interception right in our hands that if we catch was probably going to be the difference in the game.”

G.J. Kinne, one of the nation’s leading passers coming into the game against SMU, didn’t play like his normal self.

He was averaging nearly three passing touchdowns per game with a 62 percent completion rate through his first five contests.

Against the Mustangs, Kinne completed just 48.8 percent of his passes and had no passing touchdowns. Instead, he missed his receivers – sometimes by mere inches – which wound up costing the Golden Hurricane in the end.

“We came out and took some big shots but we missed by just a little bit,” Kinne said. “The defense played well enough for us to win. We just didn’t come out and execute well enough on offense.”

The defense did its job for the most part, holding SMU to its lowest point total of the season. But it also missed several critical opportunities for turnovers and third-down stops that could have been the difference in the contest.

Graham said he was proud of his team’s effort but it was also rough failing to capitalize on several occasions.

“It’s one of those deals where you have to give (SMU) credit,” Graham said. “But boy, it was a tough one to lose.”