East Carolinian

Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jessi Mock

When Steve Kragthorpe was named the head football coach at Tulsa in December of 2002, he inherited a football program that had just two wins in the previous two years combined. Three years later, Kragthorpe led the Golden Hurricane to a Conference USA championship and a victory in the Liberty Bowl.
Saturday, Kragthorpe will bring his 4-1 Tulsa team to Greenville to take on an improving ECU team bent on turning its program around.

"They are where we aspire to be," said ECU Head Coach Skip Holtz. "They're 4-1, they're leading the conference. They have a great offense, they have a great defense and they've got a great kicking game. That's where we want to be."

Tulsa, which beat Southern Miss, 20-6, on Oct. 3, brings an explosive veteran offense led by senior quarterback Paul Smith. The Golden Hurricane have four seniors on their offensive line, which is the third most experienced line in the nation.

Smith has been sacked just three times this season, which has allowed the senior from Owasso, Okla., to complete 66 percent of his passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns to only three interceptions.

"I think lack of sacks from an offensive standpoint are indicative of what you're doing offensively with running the ball," said Kragthorpe at his weekly press conference. "Staying out of long down and distance situations, first down production, quarterback getting the ball out of his hands, running backs protecting well, wide receivers getting open and obviously the offensive line protecting. I think it's a function of everybody, not just the offensive line."

The Pirates (2-3, 1-1 C-USA) aren't a sack-happy defense, but are getting better. ECU got to Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell three times and has recorded at least one sack in its last three games.

"East Carolina I think is a front that can rush the passer," Kragthorpe said. "They're not a big pressure team as far as bringing six or seven guys. They are more of a four man rush, pop a backer here or there, but they've shown the ability to pressure the passer against a team like Virginia who again I think is pretty good without having to do that."

Protecting James Pinkney is something the reshuffled ECU offensive line must do against a senior-laden Tulsa defense that is ranked 25th nationally. The Golden Hurricane (4-1, 1-0 C-USA) lead C-USA in total defense and pass defense, allowing a meager 268 total yards and 115 through the air.

Continued...

Page 1 of 4 next >

Article Tools