Golden Hurricane Notebook

News and Notes about Tulsa's upcoming matchup with Central Arkansas on Saturday.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:57 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Sep 21, 2010 9:18 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Turn, Turn, Turn

Besides the massive yards Tulsa’s defense is allowing, the most prominent issue might be with the offense’s turnovers.

The Golden Hurricane has turned the ball over seven times in its first three games, a stat that has TU coach Todd Graham insisting on improvement.

“That has been very tough for us,” he said. “Two of the three turnovers against Oklahoma State should not have been turnovers. We only made one bad decision. We have to continue to get better fundamentally.”

Central Arkansas forced five turnovers in its upset of No. 22 Eastern Illinois in week two.

Eager Beaver

Tulsa sophomore Shavodrick Beaver saw plenty of action at quarterback against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

The Cowboys recruited Beaver and were in his top schools out of high school, but instead they had to line up against him.

Beaver was Tulsa’s leading rusher, picking up 11 carries for 54 yards in the Golden Hurricane’s loss to OSU.

Graham said Beaver’s full-time role in the offense is yet to be determined, but his carries had nothing to do with starting quarterback G.J. Kinne’s play against the Cowboys.

“I thought (Beaver) played well when he got in the game,” Graham said. “He was going to be a part of the plan anyway. He got an opportunity to get in there and go in the first nine plays. We think he's a guy that can help us in an alternative, Wildcat-type role.”

Protect and Serve

Tulsa’s offensive line has been solid in the opening three games, for quarterback G.J. Kinne has been sacked just three times.

Last year, Kinne was sacked 14 times in Tulsa’s first three games.

Kinne has had the same offensive line starters to work with in the first three games of this season.

In 2009, he operated behind eight different offensive starting lineups.