Senior day
Tulsa will play its final home game of the season Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium against Temple.
TULSA — A disappointing football season for the University of Tulsa will come to an abrupt end Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
The Hurricane has won two of its 11 games, including one of six in the American Athletic Conference, ensuring a lastplace finish in the West Division. Only last season, TU finished with 10 wins and one game out of first place in conference play.
The focus of the meeting with Temple is primarily on the class of 19 seniors who have endured up-and-down careers that included at least one 10-loss season, a coaching change and two bowl appearances.
"We’ve got a group of seniors that have done so much for our program," coach Philip Montgomery said. "This game is important for that reason . ... These guys have really dedicated themselves and disciplined themselves and done what we asked them to do."
Montgomery has coached the seniors for
three seasons, establishing close relationships with each player.
"I really do feel like these kids are my sons," he said. "They’re part of my family."
The senior class includes players who have been defensive starters for the majority of their careers: ends Jesse Brubaker and Jeremy Smith, linebacker Craig Suits and cornerback Kerwin Thomas.
Among the seniors on offense are TU rushing leader D’Angelo Brewer and veteran linemen Evan Plagg and Zac Uhles. Kicker Redford Jones, the top scorer in program history, also is a senior.
"Win or lose, it’s going to be emotional," Suits said. "It’s our last college game. I’m excited about the opportunity I’ve had here and the people I’ve met, the coaches I played for. I’m just thankful for everything that everybody has done for me while I’ve been here."