C-USA's own Tod Meisner plans to provide insight and information from Tulsa to the league's official website.
Saturday, December 6
Final Thoughts
The 2008 Conference USA Football Championship Game is in the books and for the seventh straight season, C-USA has crowned a new champion. East Carolina has its first C-USA Football title and its first conference championship since winning the 1976 Southern Conference title.
"That was a long time ago," said Pirate QB Patrick Pinkney, who should be familiar with that last ECU title. His dad, Reggie was an all-conference defensive back on that 1976 squad. "He's gray now," added Pinkney about his father. Patrick Pinkney's 2008 team may have given some members of Pirate Nation gray hairs with all of the twists and turns this year's East Carolina team encountered. But, in the end these Pirates have accomplished the goal that they set out to reach at the beginning of the season, a Conference USA Championship.
Now, Skip Holtz and his buccos will move on to Memphis for the 50th Anniversary AutoZone Liberty Bowl to face an opponent from the SEC. While that foe appears to be Kentucky or Vanderbilt, it will not be announced until 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Regardless of who the opposition is, the Pirates will be ready. And with one more victory, this ECU squad that battled through injuries and adversity all year long can become just the second squad in school history to win 10 games in a season.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl Associate Executive Director Harold Graeter was all smiles following the postgame press conference as he talked about East Carolina playing in their game. He remembers the outstanding turnout of Pirate Nation in 1994 and 1995 when ECU last played in the bowl and said that he expects to see Beale Street filled with purple once again around this New Year's Holiday. And we do, too. We know how passionate Pirate fans are and we look forward to seeing them in Memphis in full force.
For Tulsa, this loss hurts. But they will get an opportunity to finish the season on a high note. Though they likely will not learn their postseason destination until Sunday, the Golden Hurricane will be ready to regroup and try and set a school record with their 11th win of the season.
The remainder of Conference USA's bowl schedule and their opponents will be announced on Sunday. So, while the C-USA championship game has concluded, there are still six very important games left to play in this season. We certainly hope that C-USA fans will be supporting their teams in person at these games and rooting for the other C-USA schools when they watch on television.
As we get wrap up the postgame and put a bow on another championship, we stop down to give a big round of applause to the University of Tulsa staff in hosting this event this week. It's a real challenge to learn that you're hosting seven days before an event like this, and the TU staff made the planning and execution virtually seamless. A big thank you to Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, Ross Parmley, Don Tomkalski and all of the other members of the Tulsa Athletic Department that worked so hard to put on a successful event.
Enjoy the bowl season and we'll blog at you from at a stadium to be determined next December.
-RDA
Saturday, December 6
FINAL East Carolina 27, Tulsa 24
Just as it looked like Tulsa was going to mount another solid drive, the story of the game came into play again, and David Johnson was picked off for the fifth time in the game. This one wasn't totally his fault as WR Brennan Marion fell down due to an apparent leg injury and his pass went right into the hands of the waiting ECU defense. The Pirates ended the day with seven turnovers gained and five picks, both championship game records.
More to come....congratulations to ECU!
-TM
ECU 27, Tulsa 24
2:35 CST
Ben Hartman just nailed his second field goal of the game, a 36-yarder, to put the Pirates on top with just 1:43 remaining in the game. The score finished off a 12 play, 53-yard drive that ate up 7:13 off the clock.
Time to see if the dynamic Tulsa offense can either tie this game up or take the lead with a good drive. Stay tuned...
-TM
ECU 24, Tulsa 24
2:20 CST
It is anybody's ball game again. Tulsa just went 80 yards in 12 plays to tie the game at 24-all on a David Johnson pass to TE Jake Collums for an 8-yard TD. TU ran a great misdirection to the right and Johnson threw back to a wide open Collums on the left sideline and he picked up two great blocks to rumble into the end zone.
ECU just can't seem to get their offense going. The note of the day right now is ECU scoring all 24 of its points off of Tulsa turnovers, while when Tulsa doesn't turn the ball over they seem to finish off drives and get into the enzone.
-TM
ECU 24, Tulsa 17 - End of the 3rd
1:50 CST
Neither team scored the rest of the stanza and we head to the fourth quarter with ECU in the lead, 24-17. The Pirates picked off David Johnson a third time in the quarter, but were unable to capitalize as Ben Hartman's field goal was pushed wide right.
ECU's five turnovers gained are a new C-USA championship record (3 INTs, 2 FMB) and Johnson's three picks are his season high and he ties the C-USA championship record set last season by TU's Paul Smith. Also, ECU's two fumble recoveries are a new record.
Bear with me as we head down the stretch of this game. I will try to provide you with any major updates and of course scoring updates. I will also make sure to get you the final score. But, I will have do my post game duties before I can put a capper on this blog.
Thanks for reading today and enjoy the rest of the blog and the game!
-TM
ECU 24, Tulsa 17
1:20 CST
ECU looked like it had begun the second half on high note to swing momentum in its favor when Michael Bowman went 96 yards for an apparent kickoff return TD, but a flag was thrown for holding and the play was called all the way back to the ECU six yard line and the ended up going three and out and punted.
Tulsa then took over and after getting a first down, turned the ball over again. It is just a tough day for fifth-year senior David Johnson. This time his play broke down and he was looking to scramble for some yards, when the ball was stripped by ECU's Linval Joseph and the Pirates recovered.
One play later, Norman Whitley took a handoff up the middle and went untouched 69 yards for the go ahead score. With 11:40 left in the thid quarter, it is ECU 24, Tulsa 17.
-TM
Tulsa 17, ECU 17 - HALFTIME
12:48 CST
ECU was stopped on its penultimate drive of the first half and Matt Dodge had a marvelous punt that pinned TU inside its own two yard line with under a minute to play. After a series of timeouts by both teams and some short runs by Tulsa, the Hurricane punted to ECU with four seconds left and the Pirates ran one play but could not get out of bounds and we go to the half tied. Here are a few halftime notes.
-Travis Simmons' 72-yard first quarter interception return for a TD was the first ever INT returned for a score in a C-USA Football Championship game. He is the fifth player to record an INT.
-The 72-yard INT return for a TD by Simmons was the longest INT return in C-USA Championship history and he finished the game with the most INT return yards in a championship game.
-Travis Simmons' 40 yard fumble recovery in the second quarter was the sixth fumble recovery in C-USA Championship history and the longest fumble return on record.
-Travis Simmons' 112 defensive return yards (72 INT, 40 FMB) are a new C-USA Championship record. He is the first player in the game's history to have both an INT return and a fumble return.
-The 17-17 tie at halftime, was the first tie in C-USA Championship game history and the 24 combined first quarter points (ECU 14, Tulsa 10) were the most ever in the opening period of a C-USA Championship
-TM
Tulsa 17, ECU 17
12:30 CST
And we are tied! Tulsa appeared to complete a first down pass to Jesse Meyer, but he was hit hard and the ball came loose and was scooped up by Travis Simmons and taken 40 yards to set up an ECU field goal. The Pirates were just able to gain one yard in Tulsa territory and Ben Hartman banged home a 32-yard field goal to tie the game.
The story of the day comes up once again as turnovers, turnover, turnover are the key. It has been an entertaining first half and outside of the top corners of the south endzone stands, the Tulsa fans have come out in full force to cheer on their team today.
I should also give ECU fans credit as they have a small but load group of fans to compliment their band over in the northeast section of the stands.
There are 2:00 left to play in the first half and ECU has the ball once again. More to come at the half...
-TM
Tulsa 17, ECU 14
12:10 CST
After a review of TU's first apparent score by A.J. Whitmore, which showed he was down with the ball at the one before crossing the goal line, Tarrion Adams took the ball in from a yard out to give TU its first lead of the game, 17-14. That play capped an 11 play, 58-yard drive that took 3:57. Adams now has 11 carries for 28 yards and two one-yard TD plunges. Tulsa has things rolling now, 17 unanswered points and they lead most of the major statistical categories.
-TM
ECU 14, Tulsa 10
11:55 a.m. CST
Tulsa has scored 10 unanswered points to make the score 14-10 ECU. Jarod Tracy just kicked a 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the opening stanza. The 24 combined points are the most ever scored in the first quarter of a C-USA Championship game.
-TM
ECU 14, Tulsa 7
11:45 a.m. CST
Tulsa has closed the gap. Tarrion Adams just scored on a one-yard run to make it 14-7 ECU. The Golden Hurricane was able to convert on its third drive of game, going 72 yards in 14 plays to cut the lead in half. For the game, Adams has eight carries for 23 yards and the one TD.
This just in, Tulsa has the ball back and in good position. J.R Kraemer fumled the squib kickoff and TU's Charles Davis was there to scoop it up. So far, as you can tell, this game is a story of tunrovers.
-TM
ECU 14, Tulsa 0
11:35 a.m. CST
Well, its Deja Vu all over again, as the saying goes. This time, Tulsa had a nice little drive going and was in ECU territory, before David Johnson was picked off again, this time by Travis Simmons. Johnson was trying to throw to Brennan Marion, but he threw to the outside and Marion went to the hash and Simmons was there waiting to make the grab. He then went untouched 72 yards to extend the Pirate lead to 14-0. The score was ECU's sixth non-offensive TD this season, three of them coming on INT returns.
C-USA now has 34 non-offensive TDs this year, 14 coming via the INT return. Another interesting league note, C-USA teams have scored points in every way possible this season, both offensively and defensively.
-TM
ECU 7, Tulsa 0
11:15 a.m. CST
ECU won the toss and deferred to the second half and then promptly kicked off out of bounds. Tulsa got the ball on the 40-yard line and David Johnson went deep on TU's first play from scrimmage, but was intercepted by Dekota Marshall. QB Patrick Pinkney then led the Pirates on a nine-play, 83 yard drive, capped off by a 13-yard TD pass to Kevin Gidrey, to give his team a 7-0 lead.
The catch was just Gidrey's third of the season, but most likely his best. He went to the left flat on a wheel route and Pinkney lofted the the ball just past his reach (or so it looked), but Gidrey made a nifty one-handed grab and went into the end zone untouched for the 7-0 lead.
-TM
And The Game Ball Is Here!
10:55 a.m. CST
The Tulsa band just played the national anthem and a parachuter just deliverd the game ball to the game referee at midfield. In a C-USA Championship game first, the game ball was delivered by a man who parachuted into the stadium. The HD jumbotron tracked him as he made his descent into the stadium and he made a perfect landing at the 50-yard line.
Now, C-USA Football video highlights along with Tulsa and East Carolina season highlights are playing on the video board as the teams take the field. The stands are beginning to get filled, and I've received word that there are lines at both the ticket booths and to get into the stadium. Give this crowd some time to get into their seats and we should be in for an exciting and loud championship game.
-TM
Getting Closer
9:52 a.m. CST
Some C-USA Bowl partners (representatives from the GMAC and AutoZone Liberty Bowls) just arrived in the pressbox to hand out some fliers and information on their upcoming games. As you may or may not know, the winner of today's game is not only the C-USA Champion, but will also get the league's spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Traditionally, the runner-up in the championship game has been chosen to participate in the GMAC Bowl, but this year, all of those scenarios are up in the air and the GMAC bowl is not expected to announce their representatives today.
So at the end of the day today, we will know where three of our teams will be playing as the winner goes to the Liberty and will join Southern Miss and Rice, who earlier this week accepted bowl invites. The Golden Eagles will meet the Sun Belt champion in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Rice will play in the Texas Bowl, but its opponent is undecided at the moment.
-TM
Game Day
8:50 a.m. CST
Game day has arrived in Tulsa. We are coming to you once again from the Tulsa World media level at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Not only is the championship game being played today, but the city of Tulsa has officially declared today "C-USA Football Championship Day." Commissioner Britton Banowsky was presented with a proclamation yesterday from a city representative and the Tulsa community is really embracing this event.
A member of the C-USA staff has the document at the game and we are all looking forward to a great game today.
Well, I just wanted to get the blog started for today. Stay tuned, as more is to come throughout the day...
-TM
Friday, December 5
We're Talking About Practice
4:30 p.m. CST
Both teams have had their practices at H.A. Chapman Stadium as they work on the final preparations for the big game. East Carolina arrived at 2:30 for the first practice, holding a light workout featuring some running and throwing. "Enough just to break a sweat," said ECU head coach Skip Holtz at his press conference following practice.
After the Pirates had about 45 minutes on the field, it was Tulsa's turn. And the Golden Hurricane took the field to their familiar practice of carrying the rock.
The Golden Hurricane unveiled a new tradition in 2007 as the "ROCK" took center stage at the team's practice the day prior to the season opener. Tulsa began practice as the entire travel team gathered in the end zone, and stretched out from sideline-to-sideline, hand-in-hand and began the walk.
Steve Craver, a senior safety and the player in charge of the "ROCK" for that road trip, was flanked by honorary coach Steve August, a 1976 All-American as an offensive lineman at Tulsa. The team walked the entire field with Craver carrying the 60-pound, 1.5x2-foot "ROCK". At the
end of the walk, Craver, then August, talked to the team.
The tradition took place at the beginning of today's practice, as well. This time the honorary captain was Jerry Ostroski , an All-American lineman in 1991 and member of TU's Freedom Bowl team, spent several minutes talking as the team huddled in the south end zone.
The "Rock" is inscripted with the following words: "The rock represents years of hard work and sacrifice that young men have put forth in their journey to victory. Each grain of this rock represents a Hurricane Football Player that has come before you and also those who will follow. The rock signifies our commitment to approach competition with a hard edge mentality every day. Our championship dedication enables us to belong to something larger than ourselves. Similar to this rock our championship program will last forever. This rock belongs to the HARDEST WORKING, MOST DISCIPLINED, BEST CONDITIONED FOOTBALL TEAM IN AMERICA. The rock is our program and all that we stand for. The rock is GOLDEN HURRICANE FOOTBALL."
The "Rock" travels with the Hurricane and accompanies the team at meetings, meals and to the stadium.
The "Rock" was a tradition that Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham originated at Allen High School as that school's head coach in the 1990s.
-RDA
Tulsa Football Student-Athletes Visit Sequoyah Elementary School
2:30 p.m. CST
Tulsa football players spent part of Friday morning at Sequoyah Elementary School as part of C-USA's continued efforts to become the best Division I-A collegiate conference in athletics, academics and in the community. Student-athletes David Johnson, Moton Hopkins, Courtney Tennial and Brennan Marion participated in the event that included reading to the children, handing out t-shirts and just talking to the kids.
The players made a visit to the shcool, just one day before the kickoff of the 2008 C-USA Football Championship game and put smiles on the children's faces, while flashing a few smiles of their own in return.
The event took place in one of the main recreation areas at the school. The t-shirts that were distributed were signed by the TU players and a few group photos were also taken at the conclusion of the afternoon.
-TM
Greetings
11:40 a.m. CST
Greetings everyone from Tulsa, Okla. and H.A. Chapman Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa, site of this year's Conference USA Football Championship Game. Russ Anderson and myself made the drive up from Dallas yesterday and are getting settled up in the press box right now taking care of the press box setup.
Here is an update of what our trip has included so far, just to give you all some insight on to what we have been up to the last few days. As I said, Russ and I made the drive yesterday and after a stop in Norman at Sooner Legends BBQ (which I highly recommend I might add) we arrived in Tulsa around 3 p.m. and went right into some meetings. First we had a general game operations meetings with members of our staff along with some TU higher-ups.
Following that, our staff had a short meeting with the Tulsa Media Relations staff just to get things squared away for this morning. Before I forget, I need to mention the Tulsa MR staff. First off, a big thanks for his prep work goes out to Assistant AD for Media Relations Don Tomkalski. He leads a hardworking and helpful staff that includes Stephanie Hall, Eric Hollier, Nathan Brooks and Andrew Sherwood.
Last night after getting checked in at the Double Tree hotel downtown, a handful of our staff and some TU folks went out to dinner at the Silver Flame. The Silver Flame is owned and operated by TU alum Abdul and he was a gracious host. The Silver Flame is also hosting our media dinner tonight and we are eagerly awaiting some more great food!
Today has consisted of getting the credential pick-up station set up and delivering some ticket fliers to local elementary schools. And now, as I said, we are in the press box setting up the seating chart and getting it all ready to go for first thing in the morning.
As a reminder to all fans and Tulsa residents, great seats are still available for the game on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Reynolds Center Ticket Office on the TU campus or by phone at 918-631-GoTU (4688). Tickets can be purchased all week online, in person or by calling the ticket office. Ticket office hours are 8:30-5 pm, Monday-Friday.
Ticket prices for the C-USA Championship game are $20, $30 and $40.
-TM
Related Links
• C-USA Championship Central (complete game coverage)
• 2007 C-USA Championship Blog
• 2006 C-USA Championship Blog
• C-USA Football Homepage