1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

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.[1] 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).[2]

1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record9–2 (4–1 MVC)
Head coach
Home stadiumSkelly Stadium
(capacity: 40,385)
1978 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
New Mexico State $ 5 –1 –06 –5 –0
Tulsa 4 –1 –09 –2 –0
Southern Illinois 3 –2 –07 –4 –0
Drake 3 –3 –04 –7 –0
Indiana State 2 –3 –03 –8 –0
Wichita State 2 –4 –04 –7 –0
West Texas State 1 –5 –03 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion

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.[3] Head coach John Cooper was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2Arkansas State*
W 21–2020,900[4]
September 9at Virginia Tech*
W 35–3326,000[5]
September 16Southwestern Louisiana*
  • Skelly Stadium
  • Tulsa, OK
W 10–321,500
September 23Kansas State*dagger
  • Skelly Stadium
  • Tulsa, OK
W 24–1422,000
September 30at No. 2 Arkansas*
L 13–2145,435
October 7Louisville[n 1]
  • Skelly Stadium
  • Tulsa, OK
W 24–720,500
October 14at New Mexico State
L 20–2312,337
October 21at Cincinnati*
W 27–2611,521
October 28Drake
  • Skelly Stadium
  • Tulsa, OK
W 44–2017,500
November 4West Texas State
  • Skelly Stadium
  • Tulsa, OK
W 44–2318,250[6]
November 11at Wichita State
W 27–136,519[7]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2][8]

Notes
  1. Designated conference game

After the season

1979 NFL Draft
Main article: 1979 NFL Draft

The following Golden Hurriane players were selected in the National Football League Draft following the season.[9][10]

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
239Rickey WattsWide receiverChicago Bears
4106Eddie HarePunterNew England Patriots
8202Doug PanfilGuardNew Orleans Saints
11295David RaderQuarterbackSan Diego Chargers

References
  1. "College Standings". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. United Press International. November 27, 1978. p. 15. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  2. "1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  3. "1978 Tulsa Golden Hurricane Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  4. "Hare saves TU, 21–20". The Daily Oklahoman. September 3, 1978. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Tulsa, 35–33". The Tampa Tribune. September 10, 1978. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Tulsa soph gains 213 in runaway". The Daily Oklahoman. November 5, 1978. Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Tulsa belts Shockers". The Wichita Eagle. November 12, 1978. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Tulsa Golden Hurricane Football Record & Fact Book 2022" (PDF). University of Tulsa. p. 185. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  9. "1979 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. "Tulsa Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.


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