Keeping Kragthorpe crucial to Tulsa's future

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe still feels the allure of the NFL. <br/><br/>Kragthorpe enjoyed being Drew Bledsoe's quarterbacks coach and the rush of energy he'd get when he ran

Friday, August 18th 2006, 5:10 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe still feels the allure of the NFL.

Kragthorpe enjoyed being Drew Bledsoe's quarterbacks coach and the rush of energy he'd get when he ran onto the field to the cheers of thousands upon thousands of people.

But for now, one of college football's rising stars is content to lead Tulsa to a peak it hasn't been to in decades.

On the eve of his 4th season at Tulsa, Kragthorpe, former quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills signed an extension that could keep him with the Golden Hurricane until 2011.

Already, he's taken a team with 11 straight losing seasons and led it to 2 bowls in 3 years.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham believes Tulsa is putting down "roots'' and establishing itself as a program under Kragthorpe.

Cunningham thinks the TU is poised to join Boise State and TCU as perennial Top 25 teams from non-BCS conferences.