TU Fans Ready To Cheer The Golden Hurricane

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The University of Tulsa is set to take center stage in the world of college football.  The Golden Hurricane takes on Ball State Tuesday night in the GMAC Bowl.

The TU Alumni Association is hosting a watch party at Tulsa's Full Moon Café.  They say the game is a perfect chance for the university to put its best foot forward.

TU gear is a popular choice at the Hurricane Haven.  Sweatshirts, golf shirts, and commemorative shirts for the GMAC Bowl can be seen.

"Oh yeah. We'll have to restock daily.  They usually fly off the closer it gets to a bowl game," said Denise Henry with Hurricane Haven.

The Golden Hurricane is making its 16th appearance in a bowl game, this time against the Ball State Cardinals in a contest that will be televised across the nation by ESPN.  The network can't predict the numbers of viewers, but Tuesday's game is the only football game of the night.

"We're counting the minutes down to when it's televised on ESPN," said TU Alum Laurie Brombaugh.

For Laurie Brombaugh and her fellow TU alums it's a special night.  She says the national broadcast rekindles Hurricane spirit in alums outside of Oklahoma and the exposure is priceless for those who may be unfamiliar with the university.  

"We hope so and we hope that there will be converts to TU and learn a little bit more about the university itself and the community of Tulsa," said Laurie Brombaugh.

The largest number of university alums live in the city of Tulsa, with 15,000 graduates calling it home. But, since the game's on national television, alumni watch parties are scheduled for across the nation.  They'll be hosted in Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City and Washington, D.C.

The bowl caps an historic year for the Golden Hurricane as Chapman Stadium's $25 million renovation was unveiled at the beginning of the season.  As for how the season will end, one 1978 grad thinks it'll be in victory. 

"I think they can do it.  I know they can do it," said Laurie Brombaugh.