Tulsa hopes Keith Burns has the flu, a bad case of it. It's been lingering for weeks and Tulsa's head football coach can't seem to shake it.
to get well on
visit to Hawaii
The coach has been as sick
Football notebook
as his winless program, but
believes a win will be the cureBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comA trip this week to play Hawaii is not what the doctor ordered. Flying while sick is no picnic; neither is playing the Warriors (4-2, 3-1 Western Athletic Conference).
As poorly as Burns is feeling, it's nothing compared to what his Golden Hurricane (0-6, 0-2) are going through: A nation-leading losing streak of 16 games, a string of 11 straight road losses and a defensive line that hasn't been the same since three players were injured in the season-opening loss to Oklahoma on Aug. 30.
"The guys aren't hanging their heads," said Burns. "You try to keep it positive and keep it sane. You have to look at the whole picture.
"We're a young team, probably the youngest in the conference (62 of his 88 players are freshmen or sophomores). Boise State has nine senior starters and we have 10 seniors total, three of them transfers and three of them walk-ons. Our guys are working hard and, at some point, it's got to pay off."
It might be tough to turn it around by Saturday's 6:05 p.m. kickoff at Aloha Stadium. The Golden Hurricane -- the WAC leader in passing defense (185.2 yards per game) -- takes on Hawaii -- the WAC leader in passing offense (382.5 ypg).
Something's got to give. Burns just hope it isn't his secondary, because Tulsa is last in rushing defense in the WAC (288 yards per game).
"We saw the film of Hawaii's game with Nevada," Burns said of UH's 59-34 win last Saturday. "That was amazing. I don't know if I ever saw 42 points scored in a quarter. It was like watching an entire game in 15 minutes. Our concern with Hawaii is their ability to make the big play.
"Blitzing (UH quarterback) Timmy Chang is not the best medicine. The approach we'll take is 'Bend but don't break.' We need to keep the ball in front of us."
Hawaii exploited Nevada's young secondary last week for 520 receiving yards out of the school-record 674 yards in total offense. Tulsa will be young, inexperienced and small -- 6-foot junior corner Darrell Wimberly played the past two seasons at wide receiver, sophomore corner Jermaine Hope is 5-9, and sophomore free safety Jeff Thibodeaux is 5-10.
Burns, who doubles as the defensive coordinator, prefers to focus on the positive. Tulsa is tied for the lead in the WAC in turnover margin (+6) and senior linebacker Michael Dulaney, a transfer from Oklahoma, and Thibodeaux share the team lead in tackles (42) and interceptions (2). Senior defensive tackle Sam Rayburn is closing in on the school record for career tackles for lost yardage, needing five more to claim the mark.
"Sam is having a great season, leading the conference in tackles for loss," said Burns. "He's lived up to the billing of being one of our best ever.
"Dulaney's been a solid player. And Thibodeaux is the leader of our secondary. I can't say enough good things about them."
Burns is also high on freshman place kicker Brad DeVault, the only WAC kicker perfect in field goal attempts (5-for-5). DeVault is 7 of 11 in PAT, but the four he missed were blocked after bad snaps.
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Gooch continues to grow with the program.
"He's got a bright future," said Burns. "Fans have to understand that he just turned 19. He's still learning to play college football at a fast pace, still learning to be 'The Guy.' "
Burns is in a tough position. Tulsa is No. 3 on the depth chart in terms of fan interest in the state of Oklahoma, behind OU and Oklahoma State. Football is also in the shadow of basketball, which some predict could be an Elite Eight team this year.
"We have the same expectations as the basketball team, to win a national title," said Burns. "The reality of the situation for now is our youth.
"I've been on both sides of streaks. Although it's a lot harder to go through what we are right now, getting to 8-0 is not easy either."
Burns, a former defensive back at Arkansas, has been part of winning programs from his alma mater to Southern Cal. This Golden Hurricane team continues to get better, even if it's not reflected on the scoreboard.
"We'll continue to play hard and stay positive," he said. "I know Saturday won't be easy. It's a nine-hour trip for us and it's hard to get your team going again once you get in. The atmosphere at the stadium is great, the crowd is great.
"Plus, I have a great deal of respect for (UH coach June Jones). He's one of the best at any level. He has that system going and understands everything from A to Z. We won't do anything Saturday that June hasn't seen. We were able to put it together in my one trip over (a 24-14 win by Tulsa in 2000). Right now, we're struggling to find something that will turn it around for us."
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