Tulsa Post-Game Notes/Quotes

Tulsa Post-Game Notes vs. Hawaii

... Freshman Bobby Blackshire blocked Hawaii's first PAT of the game. The blocked PAT was Tulsa's first blocked kick of the season.

... Cort Moffit had his first punt of the season. The 55-yard punt netted a season high for the Golden Hurricane breaking the previous season-high of 54 yards by Chris Kindred.

... Oliver Fletcher intercepted a pass in the past three games, recording an interception against Hawaii, Arkansas State and Texas State.

... Richard McQuillar, playing in his 17th career game, caught his first touchdown pass against Hawaii.

... The touchdown that resulted from Fletcher's interception, marks the sixth time that TU has scored off a turnover this season.

... Starting in the second quarter of the Texas State game, TU has scored in the last 11 consecutive quarters.

... At halftime, quarterback James Kilian led the Golden Hurricane in passing with seven pass completions in 17 attempts for 62 yards and one touchdown. He also led the team in rushing with nine carries for 67 yards and in receiving with two catches for 35 yards.

... Eric Richardson surpassed Chris Hughley (1990-91) on the school's career rushing chart, moving into the eighth spot. He now has 2,059 career yards.

... Brad DeVault kicked a career-long 49-yard field goal, breaking his previous long set this year of 48 yards.

... Jermaine Landrum scored his first rushing touchdown of his career. Now Landrum boasts a rushing touchdown, a touchdown reception and a punt return for a touchdown in his career.

... Quarterback James Kilian rushed for 115 yards, the first 100+ rushing game for a quarterback since Tyler Gooch ran for 140 yards against Rice on November 10, 2001.

... Uril Parrish's 94 yards rushing was a career-best.

... For the seventh straight game dating back to last year, tight ends Caleb Blankenship and Garrett Mills have each caught a pass.

... In the WAC's preseason media poll, Hawaii was picked to finish in first-place, while Tulsa was picked to finish in last (10th) place.

... Tulsa has won three straight games in one season for the first time since the 2000 season, when Tulsa defeated Rice, Louisiana Tech and Hawaii. However, Tulsa won three straight home games with the final two home wins in 2000 and the first home game in 2001.

... Tulsa has won three straight home games for the first time since the 1995 season when Tulsa defeated Oklahoma State (24-23), East Tennessee State (45-20) and Wyoming (35-6).

... Tulsa trailed 16-3 in the second quarter. Tonight's come-from-behind victory is the biggest since trailing by 14 points against UTEP on Oct. 14, 1995 in El Paso. Tulsa won that game 38-28.

Tulsa Post-Game Quotes

Tulsa Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe:
"First of all we beat a very good football team. Hawaii has a heck of a football team. I was impressed with the way the came out and started the game. But our football team really played hard tonight. They did a great job. I'm really proud of our guys in that room, the way that the responded. We came out in the second half and played the kind of football we're capable of playing. We need to continue to do that. I'm happy for the guys in that room, and how they responded to a little bit of adversity when we got down and the way they battled back and they took the game. That's really what it's all about. Life is full of adversity. You'll have some peeks and some valleys. And you have to keep fighting for those peaks. We've got a peak right now. It's a great victory and it means a lot beating a team like Hawaii."

"In the second half we really came alive. We did some good things on special teams. We pinned them down there on a couple punts. We made them play on a long field, which we needed to do. We started getting more pressure on the passer in the second half, and tried to disrupt their rhythm. All three parts started to click at the same time - offense, defense and special teams. For the sake of my heart we probably need to do it a little earlier in the game."

"We were still a little tentative on both sides of the football in the first half. Again, this is a process for all of us. Trying to learn how to win, and trying to learn how to win a big game, a conference game against the team picked to win our league. I thought we were a little hesitant in the first half and played not to make mistakes. In the second half we came out and let it rip and that's what I told them at halftime, I said 'if we make a mistake I'll take the blame, that's my job that's why it says head coach on my door, you go play and we'll except the results. Just go let it rip'"

"I thought our defensive coaches made some great adjustments at halftime. They did a super job of putting our guys in positions to make plays. And then our guys went out and made them. Again I think they did a great job of letting it rip and cutting it loose in the second half."

"I told our team today, and I don't have the stat sheet yet, that Timmy Chang would complete 30 passes. I know that's going to happen. Because of the nature of their offense, because he's such a great player. But, as long as they aren't 50 yards down the field, we're going to be fine. "

Tulsa Quarterback James Kilian:
On playing his best in a big game:
"Our defense played stellar and our offensive line worked up front and we were able to run the ball late in the game, which is huge, and kept the clock running. With all aspects of the game against a very quality opponent, this is probably the best game I've been involved in."

How the Hawaii win compares to Texas State and Arkansas State:
"Each win gets bigger and better. Of course this is our conference opener, so every game we play is a big game. This was a really big game for us, and to come out victorious over a team like Hawaii, which is a great football team, is huge for us."

Tulsa Defensive End Jeremy Davis:
"We have been preparing for them for the last 10 days. We've watched a lot of film to learn their tendencies, and knowing exactly what each formation means. As a defensive lineman, I was reading the formation and calling coverages out. We were really prepared for this game. They had about 100 yards on the little flair they ran out of the back, but once we got that taken care of there really wasn't much they could do because our secondary was playing so well in one-on-one coverage."