PASS THE HAT

TU's new touchdown hat a gift from interim athletic director Rick Dickson

Interim athletic director Rick Dickson is already making an impression with the University of Tulsa football team.

Dickson, who returned to his alma mater last month after the departure of Derrick Gragg to a senior vice president role with the NCAA, recently presented the Hurricane with a gift: a touchdown hat.

The blue fedora with a red feather is worn on the sidelines by a TU player who scores a touchdown, similar to the flashy turnover chain that a defensive player puts on after forcing a turnover.

“It was Rick's idea all the way,” coach Philip Montgomery said. “He kind of wanted to give something to the players that they could have fun with and that brought his personality with it, too. I think the guys have enjoyed the hat.”

A former TU football player who previously was the Hurricane's athletic director in the early 1990s, Dickson has been an everyday attendee at the team's

practices. On the first day, he wore a straw Panama hat that somehow sparked the idea of a touchdown hat.

“Our new AD, we call him OG,” said linebacker Zaven Collins, whose picksix Friday at USF led to him wearing the hat and the chain. “He's a great guy. … He's always around, even when it's cold. He makes it out and supports us, not just on game days.”

Gragg, who played college football at Vanderbilt, also frequently attended practice.

“I've been blessed since I've been here to have two ADs that have football backgrounds, guys that love the game and love the sport and love student- athletes,” Montgomery said. “They both fall into that category.

“It's been fun to have (Dickson) around. He's been exceptional as far as taking care of our student-athletes, taking stuff of our plates. He really jumped both feet in and started working and it's been great.”

After scoring seven touchdowns last week including two apiece from running backs Corey Taylor II and Deneric Prince, the Hurricane is counting on more touchdown hat appearances in Friday's home game against East Carolina.

“It's been a lot of fun so far,” Taylor said. “I think the guys including myself take a lot of pride in it and hopefully we can continue to wear that hat as often as possible as the weeks go on.”