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Practice Report - Day 10
8/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 16, 2010
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa football team continues its preparation for the 2010 campaign as the Golden Hurricane participated in Day 10 of preseason training camp Monday morning at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
TU has been working hard specifically on special teams over the last few days in an attempt to better an already stellar unit from last season.
"It's been a big focus for us the last several days," Head Coach Todd Graham said. "Our special teams were statistically the best in Conference USA last year, and we've worked hard on getting better. I think we have two of the best kickers in the country in (senior) punter Michael Such and (junior Kevin) Fitzpatrick as our place-kicker."
Such was third in C-USA and seventh in the nation last season with a 44.5 yard-per-punt average. He also recorded an 83-yard punt in TU's overtime season-finale victory over Memphis, which was the third longest in school history.
"The best asset that we have this year is a lot of guys care about special teams," Such said. "They know that these plays can make a difference in terms of field position or causing a big turnover deep in the opponents territory on a punt or kickoff. We definitely want to be on top in the nation this year. We have the talent to do it, but now we just have to show what we can do."
Fitzpatrick was 13-for-14 in field-goal attempts last season, and his 92.9 field-goal percentage was second best in Conference USA. He also ranked fourth in the league with 1.08 made field goals per game and was second amongst kickers in scoring with 6.8 points per game.
"We were pretty good on both kickoffs and field goals last season, and we're just trying to keep it up and improve," Fitzpatrick said. "I'm satisfied with how I'm practicing this preseason. I'm just focusing on my form and trying not to make any mental errors. Such and I have been working hard to be the best."
The Golden Hurricane also bring back one of the most successful return games in the NCAA from last year. Tulsa led Conference USA and were eighth in the nation with a 14.1 punt-return average and were just one of four teams in C-USA to score a punt-return touchdown.
Damaris Johnson ranked No. 1 in the league and was also eighth in the NCAA with his 14.2 punt-return average. He was fourth in the conference with a 24.6 average for kick returns.
"I feel like we have a pool of athletes that are more suited to being able to do what we ask them to do," said Bill Blankenship, who serves as TU's senior associate head coach, running backs coach and special teams coordinator. "We're seeing some good leadership with our kickoff return and kickoff coverage units. The guys seem to be bouncing around and are hungry to make a difference, and that's something we're really excited about."
Tulsa opens the 2010 season at defending Conference USA Champion East Carolina on Sunday, September 5th on ESPN 2. Tulsa will open the home season against Bowling Green on Sept. 11th. Season tickets are available at www.TulsaHurricane.com or by calling 918.631.GoTU (4688).
WEATHER REPORT (Monday, August 16)
Temperature - 84.5˚, Humidity - 50.4%
Starting:
Ending: Temperature - 94.3˚, Humidity - 35%
