1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1978

| team = Tulsa Golden Hurricane

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Missouri Valley Conference

| short_conf = MVC

| record = 9–2

| conf_record = 4–1

| head_coach = John Cooper

| hc_year = 2nd

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme =

| def_coach =

| dc_year =

| def_scheme =

| captain =

| stadium = Skelly Stadium

}}

The 1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach John Cooper, the Golden Hurricane compiled an overall record of 9–2 record with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, placing second in the MVC.{{cite news |author= |title=College Standings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116839567/the-salina-journal/ |newspaper=The Salina Journal |location=Salina, Kansas |agency=United Press International |date=November 27, 1978 |page=15 |access-date=January 19, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }} The team defeated Virginia Tech (35–33), Kansas State (24–14), Louisville (24–7), Cincinnati (27–26), and Wichita State (27–13), but lost to No. 2-ranked Arkansas (21–13) and MVC champion New Mexico State (23–20).{{cite web|title=1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=February 27, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tulsa/1978-schedule.html}}

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback David Rader with 1,683 passing yards, Sherman Johnson with 826 rushing yards, and Rickey Watts with 730 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=February 27, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tulsa/1978.html#all_passing}} Head coach John Cooper was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1978

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 2

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Arkansas State

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 21–20

| attend = 20,900

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110950759/hare-saves-tu-2120/|work=The Daily Oklahoman|title=Hare saves TU, 21–20|date=September 3, 1978|accessdate=October 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 9

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Virginia Tech

| site_stadium = Lane Stadium

| site_cityst = Blacksburg, VA

| score = 35–33

| attend = 26,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632287/tulsa-3533/|work=The Tampa Tribune|title=Tulsa, 35–33|date=September 10, 1978|accessdate=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 16

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Southwestern Louisiana

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 10–3

| attend = 21,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-world-cajuns-find-tulsa-dry-countr/157584710/|work=Daily World|title=Cajuns find Tulsa dry country, 10–3|date=September 17, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 24–14

| attend = 22,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-hurricane-hands-k-stat/157526945/|work=The Wichita Eagle & Beacon|title=Hurricane hands K-State 13th straight loss 24–14|date=September 24, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Arkansas

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Razorback Stadium

| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR

| score = 13–21

| attend = 45,435

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-arkansas-blows-pas/157504737/|work=Abilene Reporter-News|title=Arkansas blows past Hurricane|date=October 1, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date= October 7

| w/l = w

| opponent = Louisville{{#tag:ref|Designated conference game|group=n|name=designated}}

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 24–7

| attend = 20,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-tulsa-downs-u-of-l/157584849/|work=The Paducah Sun|title=Tulsa downs U of L|date=October 8, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = New Mexico State

| site_stadium = Aggie Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Las Cruces, NM

| score = 20–23

| attend = 12,337

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-tu-loses-it-2320-just-for/157584307/|work=Tulsa World|title=TU loses it, 23–20, just for kicks|date=October 15, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Cincinnati

| site_stadium = Nippert Stadium

| site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH

| score = 27–26

| attend = 11,521

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-tulsa-ekes-by-cincy-2/157584959/|work=Dayton Daily News|title=Tulsa ekes by Cincy, 27–26|date=October 22, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = w

| opponent = Drake

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 44–20

| attend = 17,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-tulsa-topples-dra/157585072/|work=The Sioux City Journal|title=Tulsa topples Drake|date=October 29, 1978|accessdate=October 21, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = w

| opponent = West Texas State

| site_stadium = Skelly Stadium

| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK

| score = 44–23

| attend = 18,250

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76806261/tulsa-soph-gains-213-in-runaway/|work=The Daily Oklahoman|title=Tulsa soph gains 213 in runaway|date=November 5, 1978|accessdate=April 30, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 11

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Wichita State

| site_stadium = Cessna Stadium

| site_cityst = Wichita, KS

| score = 27–13

| attend = 6,519

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72140852/tulsa-belts-shockers/|work=The Wichita Eagle|title=Tulsa belts Shockers|date=November 12, 1978|accessdate=February 26, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

{{cite web |author= |title=Tulsa Golden Hurricane Football Record & Fact Book 2022 |url=https://tulsahurricane.com/documents/2022/8/19/TU_FB22_MediaGuide_Web_220819.pdf |publisher=University of Tulsa |page=185 |access-date=January 19, 2023 }}

Notes

After the season

=1979 NFL draft=

The following Golden Hurricane players were selected in the 1979 NFL draft following the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1979/draft.htm|title=1979 NFL Draft Listing|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 23, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/tulsa/drafted.htm|title=Tulsa Drafted Players/Alumni|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 23, 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane\|Round \|Pick \|Player \|Position \|NFL club}}
2	39	Rickey Watts	Wide receiver	Chicago Bears
4	106	Eddie Hare	Punter	New England Patriots
8	202	Doug Panfil	Guard	New Orleans Saints
11	295	David Rader	Quarterback	San Diego Chargers

References

Tulsa

Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football seasons

Tulsa Golden Hurricane football