Midway through season, `There's nobody healthy' for the Hurricane
TULSA — Tulsa offensive tackle X'Zauvea Gadlin grimaced when he stepped off the short platform in a meeting room Tuesday.
Still sore from a loss to Navy three days before, Gadlin had just spoken to media about the Golden Hurricane's upcoming game against Cincinnati. He and linebacker Zaven Collins, who also spoke Tuesday, already had endured six weeks of this schedule, plus a bye week the team emphasized would be used to rest.
When the Hurricane ( 2- 4) kicks off against No. 21 Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, it will officially start the second half of TU's season.
“It's that midpoint in the season where -- we got six games left, guaranteed -- so it's just getting to that point where you got to make sure you're going to try to make sure you're in the weight room rolling out, taking care of your body, eating the right things, so that you' re not hurting yourself,” Gadlin said.
Despite Navy running the ball and mil king the clock, TU' s game against the Midshipmen still lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes. The extension of time was largely due to players from both teams dropping to the turf and needing medical attention after plays. That included TU receiver Sam Crawford Jr., whose condition TU coach Philip Montgomery did not update earlier this week.
“We got a lot of guys banged up,” Montgomery said. “You're talking about a very physical game, and the nature of that game is just what (Navy) does. So it's about guys just coming out.
“There's nobody heal t hy right now. From the standpoint throughout the season, you don't feel 100 percent, so it's about getting out on the practice field and working through those bumps and bruises and getting yourself back to as close as you can get to 100 at this point.”
This point in the season also requires frequent trips to the training staff so trainers can help players decipher what's an injury they can or can't play through. Fortunately for the Hurricane, despite Montgomery saying “nobody is healthy right now,” TU is not suffering from any major injuries heading into its Week 7 matchup with the Bearcats.
“If you got a bruise or scrape, you can still play,” Collins said. “But if you have a serious injury, if you have something that won' t let you walk, won't let you run, won't let you play properly, I think that's injured. I think just being sore, having a little tweak, shouldn't really stop you from practicing or playing -- maybe not going full-contact. But that's just a part of football. You gotta push through it.”
Tulsa at No. 21 Cincinnati
When: 2:30 p.m., Saturday Where: Nippert Stadium TV: ESPNU (Cox 253)