Post Game Notes and Quotes

Nov. 15, 2003

Tulsa Post-Game Notes vs. Louisiana Tech

Tulsa has a 7-4 overall record guarantees Tulsa its first winning season since a 10-2 season in 1991. Since 1991, Tulsa's seven wins is the most since those 10 wins as the previous highs were five wins twice.

The seven wins is six more than last year, and the biggest improvement for a first-year coach from the previous season since 1970 when Claude Gibson improved five games, from one win the previous year to six wins in his first year.

The 5-1 record at home is the best home mark since 6-1 in the 1991 season.

Clint Rountree had his first career interception in his 34th career game played.

Tulsa scored the first points of the game for only the second time this season. The previous time was against Arkansas State.

Tulsa's first touchdown came after an interception, marking the ninth time this year that a takeaway has led to a touchdown. Tulsa's fourth touchdown was the 10th time Tulsa has scored off a takeaway this year.

Garrett Mills had his eighth and ninth TD receptions, and Romby Bryant caught his eighth touchdown pass of the year. It's the most for a Tulsa player since Chris Penn caught 12 TDs in 1993.

Tulsa's 27 first-half points was the most this season in the first half. The previous best was 24 points against Arkansas State.

Eric Richardson's 80-yard touchdown run is a career-long. His previous-best was 65 yards last year against Baylor. His 80-yard run was the longest since Oct. 15, 1994 when Solomon White had a 93-yard run against UNLV.

With two rushing TDs, Richardson now has seven multiple touchdown rushing games in his career.

Richardson went over the 100-yard rushing plateau for the first time this season and the eighth time in his career.

Tulsa went over the 30-point barrier for the sixth time this season (all wins). It is the most since going over 30 points in seven games in 1991 (all wins).

Tulsa scored 40 points or more for the fourth time this season. It is the most 40+ point scoring games since the 1965 season when Tulsa had four that season as well. In 1944, Tulsa went over 40 points five times.

Shannon Carter's two interceptions is the most for any player this season. It's the most since Darrell Wimberly had two last year against UTEP on Oct. 26, 2002.

Tulsa has gone over 200 yards rushing for the eighth time this season. It is the most since rushing for over 200 yards in eight games in 1986.

With three passing TDs against Louisiana Tech, James Kilian now has 21 touchdown passes on the season, which ties Gus Frerotte for fourth most in school history.

The Marines estimated that between 9,500 to 10,000 toys were collected today for Tulsa's special "Toys for Tots" promotion.

Tulsa's defense held Luke McCown to 161 yards, 123 yards less than his season average.

Tulsa Post-Game Quotes

Tulsa Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe:
"I am so happy for this group of seniors, and the chance to finish up the way that they did with a convincing win as their last game at Skelly Stadium. There was a great crowd today. I really appreciate everybody that came out. I thought it really added to the day without question. It was an electric crowd and I petitioned all week for guys to come and watch this team play, and the people did it and I am really appreciative of that. I can not say enough of this senior group of players, the things that they have persevered through, the way that they have battled from the onset of this season to now, it is a tremendous accomplishment. Yet by the same token, we are happy where we are at, but we are not satisfied. We got one more game."

Did the defense complement the offense:
"I thought we really stepped up. They were very potent in passing attack. I knew it would be a very difficult challenge for our defense, but they really arose to the occasion. We created a lot of turnovers today. We sacked the quarterback a number of times. We disrupted the timing of their passing game and that's something we definitely wanted to do going into this game, we knew that would be important. If we could get to the quarterback a couple of times early and make him move and try to make throws on the run versus getting comfortable in the pocket. We created some turnovers early in the game which really helped us."

Tulsa Running Back Eric Richardson:
"This is the most wins we have had since I've been here combined. It's real nice to have a winning record right now. It's been a long road. I feel like this senior group and this team deserves it a lot."

On his 80-yard touchdown run:
"There was so much going on in my head on that run because last year I was known to get caught from behind. A lot of my teammates are always on me about that in practice. It felt good though, it felt real good. It felt even better seeing Romby (Bryant) down at the end blocking for me because I might not have made it into the end zone. It not only was a momentum changer for the team, but for me as well."