Hurricane Warning
Another game,
and it's another switch up at
quarterback for the opposing
team as Tulsa
redshirt freshman
Dane Evans is
expected to
start under center
when the Golden
Hurricane blows onto
the field in East
Carolina's
homecoming game today. For the season,
Evans has completed
47 percent of his
passes for 399
yards, with four
touchdown passes
against four
interceptions. The
Golden Hurricane
will commit to the
run with senior
tailback/return
specialist Trey
Watts leading the
way. Watts has
had two 200-plus-yards
all-purpose games
this year, including
247 vs. Colorado
State and 231 yards
at Oklahoma. Tulsa
has four 200-plus-yards
rushing games this
year, including 215
against Colorado
State, 222 against
Rice, 204 against
Texas-El Paso and 205
at Tulane. But the Hurricane will
have to connect on
some pass plays to
prevail.
While East Carolina
leads Conference USA
in total defense and
rushing defense, the
Pirates are only
11th in pass
defense.
The Pirates attempt
to move their record
to 7-2 for first
time since 1999 and
post their
eighth-straight
Homecoming victory.
On the other side,
Tulsa is one loss
away from
eliminating a chance
at bowl eligibility,
something that's not
lost on coach Bill
Blankenship.
"We can count. It's
something we get
reminded of pretty
regularly," he said
Thursday.
The Pirates can't
afford to relax
against the
defending Conference USA
champions. Two
of Tulsa's
league
losses came against
West Division
leaders Rice and
Tulane. The
games were decided
by an average of 5
points a
three-point overtime
loss against Rice
and a seven-point
loss at Tulane. This year, despite a
disappointing
season, Tulsa's
players still say
they have too much
drive to give up on
their 2-6 season.
"It's not over until
it's over. We're
going to keep
battling," said Blankenship.
And that's
what I expect from
the Pirates also if
they want to win a
championship. |