The 2014 season has been everything but spectacular for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. An inspiring 38-31 double-overtime win over Tulane in the season opener had ‘Hurricane fans believing a turn around from last year’s 3-9 debacle was starting to take shape.
Well, instead of a turn around, the season became more of a fall down.
Tulsa proceeded to lose seven straight games after disposing of the Green Wave; four of its seven losses were by 20 or more points. The ‘Hurricane did notch another victory in Week 11 against SMU, but, seriously, everyone beats the Mustangs and their FBS worst scoring offense and defense.
At 8:30 p.m. ET, 2-9 Tulsa welcomes East Carolina to Chapman Stadium for the final time in 2014. With a losing season already intact, the ‘Hurricane have nothing to gain, but nothing to lose either.
ECU (7-3, 4-2 AAC) was once flying high as the bell cow for both the American Athletic Conference and the Group of Five New Years Six bowl representative. After back-to-back November loses, the Pirates are left to play for a 9-3 finish and better bowl positioning.
Tulsa should come out swinging against the Pirates, with nothing to lose on the line. I expect ECU to win the game, no matter how hungry the ‘Hurricane play is. But Tulsa doesn’t have to knock off the Pirates to end this forgettable season on a positive note.
1. Tulsa needs play inspired football
“You play to win the game!” We all know who said that, and its meaning is more obvious than the gravy stain on your shirt. However, playing to win a game takes a full tank of energy the lasts from kick-off to the final whistle.
The Golden Hurricane must come out the gate filled with excitement and eagerness to win its final game, a home game, at that.
The Tulsa fans that come support its dreadful team don’t expect victory (the team only has two wins), but they do expect a valiant effort and a tight battle with the Pirates.
2. Dane Evans needs to have a solid game
Sophomore signal caller Dane Evans turned his career around in a big way this season. By the time the game Friday night ends, he will likely have over 3,000 passing yards to add to his 22 TD passes. Unfortunately, Evans also has a black eye pasted on the stat sheet in the form of 15 interceptions. Okay, so the young QB still has work to do.
Evans will be matched up with the AAC’s 10th-ranked pass defense against the Pirates. Throwing passes to the AAC’s top wide receiver, statistically speaking, in Keevan Lucas (leads conference with 11 touchdown grabs) gives Tulsa’s offense a chance to keep pace with the conference’s top offensive unit and poster-boy quarterback Shane Carden.
Evans passed for 349 yards, threw two touchdowns and zero interceptions against AAC leading Memphis back on Halloween. He needs to have a similar performance against ECU to show the Tulsa faithful that he’s the right quarterback to lead the program to a turnaround.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbbyEC5G3-U?list=UUCM89Zk2s49DxKXFQBv-tkg]3. The defense needs to show up
No, really, the defense needs actually make it to the game.
The defense, or lack there of, has played horribly for most of the season. What was seen as a strong point to start the year quickly turned into dead weight after allowing an average Tulane offense to rack up 516 yards.
Tulsa’s defense is ranked just one spot a head of 0-10 SMU in the AAC for total defense (allowing 484.6 yards/game). Giving up the big play has been the unit’s most frustrating problem.
Expect Carden, star wide receiver Justin Hardy, and the Pirate offense to make many big plays against the ‘Hurricane. Tulsa needs to make sure it doesn’t happen frequently and at inopportune times.
If Tulsa miraculous holds a lead late in the game Friday night, it must have the defense communicating effectively and playing as a complete unit to pull out a final win for 2014.
Basically, all three of these points can be summarized into: play the best game of the season, Tulsa, you have nothing else to play for after tonight.
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