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
Conference	Missouri Valley Conference
Record	9–2 (4–1 MVC)
Head coach	John Cooper (2nd season)
Home stadium	Skelly Stadium
Seasons ← 1977 1979 →

1978 Missouri Valley Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
New Mexico State $	5	–	1	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Tulsa	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Southern Illinois	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Drake	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Indiana State	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Wichita State	2	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
West Texas State	1	–	5	–	0			3	–	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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	Arkansas State*	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 21–20	20,900	[4]
September 9	at Virginia Tech*	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	W 35–33	26,000	[5]
September 16	Southwestern Louisiana*	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 10–3	21,500	[6]
September 23	Kansas State*	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 24–14	22,000	[7]
September 30	at No. 2 Arkansas*	Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	L 13–21	45,435	[8]
October 7	Louisville[n 1]	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 24–7	20,500	[9]
October 14	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	L 20–23	12,337	[10]
October 21	at Cincinnati*	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	W 27–26	11,521	[11]
October 28	Drake	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 44–20	17,500	[12]
November 4	West Texas State	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 44–23	18,250	[13]
November 11	at Wichita State	Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS	W 27–13	6,519	[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[2][15]

Notes

1. Designated conference game

After the season

1979 NFL draft

The following Golden Hurricane players were selected in the 1979 NFL draft following the season.^[16][17]

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

1. "College Standings". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. United Press International. November 27, 1978. p. 15. Retrieved January 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
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. "Cajuns find Tulsa dry country, 10–3". Daily World. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Hurricane hands K-State 13th straight loss 24–14". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Arkansas blows past Hurricane". Abilene Reporter-News. October 1, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Tulsa downs U of L". The Paducah Sun. October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "TU loses it, 23–20, just for kicks". Tulsa World. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Tulsa ekes by Cincy, 27–26". Dayton Daily News. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Tulsa topples Drake". The Sioux City Journal. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Tulsa soph gains 213 in runaway". The Daily Oklahoman. November 5, 1978. Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Tulsa belts Shockers". The Wichita Eagle. November 12, 1978. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Tulsa Golden Hurricane Football Record & Fact Book 2022" (PDF). University of Tulsa. p. 185. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
16. "1979 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
17. "Tulsa Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.