Conference USA Media Day: Irving, Texas: Tulsa in the bull's-eye
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
8/2/2006
Hurricane coach is the focus of attention after last year's C-USA title
IRVING, Texas -- Steve Kragthorpe's trip to last year's Conference USA's media day could almost be labeled boring.
His team was picked to finish fourth in the West Division of the 12-team league. Instead of being hounded by reporters, Kragthorpe thumbed through opponents' media guides and occasionally answered a question.
On Tuesday, Tulsa football was one of the hot topics at C-USA media day. For nearly three hours, the Golden Hurricane's fourth-year coach had reporters flocking around him.
What a difference one year and a league championship can make.
Instead of accepting credit, Kragthorpe deflected attention to his team's journey to the top.
"The players, in particular, have made a lot of sacrifices and have worked extremely hard," said Kragthorpe, whose Hurricane are this year's favorite in the C-USA West. "It's been a good three years because we've experienced success, but it's been a hard, tough climb. The guys have invested a lot in this program."
Kragthorpe said TU football isn't just a hot topic at media day, but also in his hometown.
"When I walk into QuikTrip, everyone wants to talk TU football,"
Kragthorpe said. "I walk into the mall and I see TU hats and T-shirts. Three years ago, I didn't see that. Now I see people wearing Tulsa gear around town.
"It's great for the city, program and players."
After going 20 years without a league championship, the players' maturity will be tested. The bull's-eye is locked squarely on the Hurricane.
"Everyone's cool with it," said TU running back Brandon Diles. "We know everyone wants to be in our shoes.
"We just have to play hard in every game."
Senior linebacker Nick Bunting didn't focus too much on last year's preseason predictions. He pointed to the final tally, which included a C-USA and Liberty Bowl title.
"We showed last year that it doesn't matter what the polls say," Bunting said. "Anything can happen on any given day."
UCF was picked to finish last in the 2005 East race. Instead, they hosted the C-USA championship game against Tulsa.
The Golden Knights are stacked, with nine starters returning on both offense and defense.
Quarterback Steven Moffett said his team is motivated for another successful run.
"It's pretty easy to get pumped up because we lost (in the conference title game and bowl game) last year," he said. "All we want to do is get back in that (league title) game and win a bowl game."
One of the teams chasing TU in the West will be UTEP, which finished second in preseason voting.
Miners coach Mike Price said TU deserves to get the early nod.
"They're going to be real competitive," Price said. "Paul Smith is an awesome quarterback and Steve Kragthorpe does a great job coaching."
Houston, SMU and Southern Miss are also expected to vie for league supremacy.
Kragthorpe was asked if two or three teams could annually establish themselves as schools to beat in the league.
"Absolutely not," he said. "I look at the quality of coaches in this league and the quality of players and it's going to be hard to be a consistent performer."
Tulsa's players will meet for their first practice on Saturday.
"Just because you've been successful doesn't ensure success the next year," Kragthorpe said. "We haven't arrived. We're not going to come into training camp and say we're just going to tune up the engine. We're going to tear it down and start it all over again.
"We're a totally different football team in 2006 than we were in 2005. That's fun, exciting and the challenge of being in this situation. Our guys know and understand that."
Diles is ready to lace up his shoes one final season.
"In my senior year, I want to go to another bowl game and have another successful season," he said.
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Eric Bailey 581-8391
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2006 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 Stephen F. Austin 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 at BYU 3 p.m.
Sept. 16 North Texas 6 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Navy 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 S. Miss ESPN2 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 at East Carolina 2 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Memphis 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 UTEP ESPN2-26 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 atHouston 3 p.m.
Nov. 11 Rice 2 p.m.
Nov. 18 at SMU 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 Tulane 2 p.m..