Tulsa Has Plenty to Prepare for in Bears

The name Central Arkansas might not carry much prestige, but the Bears have been outstanding in their first three games.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:57 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Has Plenty to Prepare for in Bears

Originally Published: Sep 21, 2010 8:49 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – It would be easy to assume the Golden Hurricane will come back from a rough loss against OSU and tune up against a weaker non-conference opponent this weekend.

The problem with that assumption is Tulsa’s next opponent might not be much weaker.

While Central Arkansas may not be at OSU’s level, it has certainly been impressive so far this season.

The Bears (3-0) went on the road in week two to No. 22 Eastern Illinois and cruised away with a 37-7 blowout victory.

Tulsa coach Todd Graham said Central Arkansas is a talented team and will have the Golden Hurricane’s full attention.

“They are a good passing team that can move the ball offensively,” he said. “They're 3-0, and as you see around the country, there are no weeks you can take off.”

Central Arkansas has a number of transfers on its roster, including a familiar face in former Arkansas quarterback Nathan Dick.

When Graham was the head coach at Rice University, he received a commitment from Dick. Graham then left for Tulsa, and Dick switched his commitment to Arkansas.

Two years ago, Nathan Dick’s brother, Casey, led the Razorbacks to an upset of then-No. 18 Tulsa, ending the Golden Hurricane’s hopes for an undefeated season.

After the season, Nathan Dick decided to transfer out of Arkansas and will now meet Graham’s team again in a Bears’ uniform.

“(Nathan) is a winner,” Graham said. “He's a guy that will have a chance to play in the NFL. Central Arkansas has done a great job of recruiting transfers and talent. They are a dangerous team.”

The Bears’ quarterback will certainly have a chance to make his mark against the Golden Hurricane unless the TU defense improves dramatically from the first three weeks.

Tulsa is 118th nationally out of 120 FBS teams in total defense, and is last in the country by a significant margin in passing defense.

The Golden Hurricane (1-2, 0-1) gives up an average of 406 passing yards per game. The next worst defense – Louisiana-Monroe – gives up 320 per game.

Graham said over the past three years, Tulsa has focused so much on developing one of the nation’s most prolific offenses, that it needs to put the same amount of focus on the other side of the football.

“We have to simplify what we are doing because of our youth,” he said. “Each week, I keep coming in saying we have to do this and do that. We have to simplify and execute the fundamentals.”