Tough Stretch Ahead for Tulsa

Originally Published: Sep 28, 2009 3:5 PM CDT

Andrew Topps & JB Long
Oklahoma Sports

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A tough stretch lies ahead for Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane travel to Rice Saturday, marking the fourth road contest in five games; TU then plays fifth-ranked Boise State, followed by UTEP and SMU.

Tulsa coach Todd Graham divides the season into quarters, and with the first quarter now over, the Golden Hurricane are aiming for another trip to the Conference USA Championship game.

“We’re far from talking about anything we’ve done,” Graham said. “We’ve beat three teams we should’ve beat, and we played poorly in a game we should’ve played a lot better in. these next four games will decide the what kind of season we are going to have, and I think they will be very, very challenging.”

Rice might be 0-4 but three of those losses came against teams from BCS conferences, and the Golden Hurricane know the Owls will not be pushovers.

“The competition in Conference USA is getting better and better every year,” defensive back Kenny Sims said. “There really isn’t any margin for error, you slip up one week and that could cost you (the) conference championship.”

Coach Todd Graham is optimistic backs Charles Clay and Jamad Williams will be back in the lineup for Saturday’s contest against Rice. Left guard Clint Anderson is listed on the two-deep for the contest against the Owls. The sophomore missed the previous two games due to injury but Graham stated that if Anderson is full strength then he will play.