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Tulsa Begins Spring Football Practice on Wednesday
3/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 25, 2003
Tulsa, Oklahoma - First-year Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe conducts his first practice with the Tulsa football squad bright and early Wednesday morning, March 26, as the Golden Hurricane's initial spring workout begins at 5:55 am
"Our biggest goal for spring practice is that we become proficient from a schematic standpoint in all phases of the game -- offense, defense and special teams," said Kragthorpe. "We've had a chance to get to know each other off the field, but now we have to get to know each other --players and coaches, players and players -- on the field. We need to develop a chemistry between the white lines."
Kragthorpe and his coaching staff enter spring drills with no pre-conceived ideas as to a a depth chart. "As I've said before, all positions are open. We want to have great competition for all positions. I'm not as concerned about a depth chart right now, as I am about the chemistry of this team and how our players absorb what we're teaching.
"We have 15 practices in the spring, and another 29 practice opportunities in the fall. Spring is only one-third of our preparation for Minnesota on August 30," added Kragthorpe.
Kragthrope doesn't necessarily believe the depth chart will be fully shaped by the end of spring drills. " I don't think 15 practice sessions is enough time to make the observation as to a starting lineup and depth chart. Secondly, we'll have a lot of new players coming into the program in August who we expect to compete," said Kragthorpe.
The Hurricane returns 44 letterwinners to the 2003 squad, including 21 on offense, 20 defensive lettermen and three on special teams. Among the letterwinners, nine starters return to the offensive side of the ball, while six starters and nine players who started at least one game return on defense.
On offense, the Hurricane returns it top five rushers, 12 receivers who caught at least one pass last year and its top two passers. Senior Eric Richardson was Tulsa's leading ball carrier last year with 957 yards and six touchdowns. On the receiving end, senior Romby Bryant and junior Montiese Culton combined to catch 84 passes for 1,008 yards and 11 TDs. Junior quarterback Tyler Gooch completed 55-percent of his passes for 2,100 yards and 17 TDs in his sophomore season, while fellow junior James Kilian completed 22 passes for 208 yards and one TD and rushed for another 86 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Jorma Bailey is back as Tulsa's leading tackler with 71 stops a year ago. Junior defensive backs Jeff Thibodeaux and Jermaine Hope tallied 66 and 45 tackles, respectively, and senior Darrell Wimberly, in his first year on defense after playing the first two seasons at receiver, had 48 tackles and shared the team-lead with Thibodeaux with three interceptions.
Tulsa will continue spring practice with another morning workout on Thursday, and an afternoon practice on Friday and a morning workout on Saturday. Tulsa ends spring drills on Thursday, April 17 with the Annual Spring Game.
Tulsa Football Spring Practice Schedule Wed., March 26 5:55-7:30 am Thurs., March 27 5:55-7:30 am Fri., March 28 4:30-6:30 pm Sat. March 29 10-12 noonTues., April 1 5:55-7:30 am Wed., April 2 5:55-7:30 am Fri., April 4 4:30-6:30 pm Sat., April 5 10-12 noon (@ Cascia Hall High School)
Tues., April 8 5:55-7:30 am Wed., April 9 5:55 -7:30 am Fri., April 11 4:30-6:30 pm Sat., April 12 10-12 noon
Tues., April 15 5:55-7:30 am Wed., April 16 5:55-7:30 am Thurs., April 17 5 pm (SPRING GAME)
*All practice sessions are at Skelly Stadium, unless otherwise indicated. Practices may end earlier or later than indicated.
