Tulsa Golden Hurricane Picked Second in Conference USA Preseason Football Poll
July 24, 2007 Irving, Texas - The University of Tulsa football team was picked to finish in second place in the West Division of Conference USA, according to the preseason coaches poll released today by C-USA. Houston and Southern Miss, the two teams that played in last year's C-USA championship game, are favored to win their respective divisions. Houston received 63 points to win the West Division, followed by Tulsa's 62 points. Southern Miss was chosen to win the East Division with 69 points, a 21-point edge over second-place East Carolina. Rounding out the West Division is SMU, UTEP, Rice and Tulane. The East Division has UCF, Marshall, Memphis and UAB following Southern Miss and East Carolina in the preseason poll. "I think this shows the respectability that our football program has gained over the last few years. This is nice to talk about in the preseason, but it doesn't mean much. Where you finish at the end of the season is what matters. Our goal is to win championships, and that's what we're striving to do," said Graham. Tulsa seniors, quarterback Paul Smith and linebacker Nelson Coleman, were selected to the preseason all-conference team. A two-year starter, Smith ranks second on the school's all-time passing chart with 5,871 yards and 36 touchdowns. His 6,418 career total offense yards ranks also second on the school's all-time list. Smith became only the third quarterback in school history to pass for over 2,000 yards in two consecutive seasons. Last year, Smith completed 66-percent of his passes for 2,727 yards, a 141.02 passing efficiency and 209.8 yards per game with 15 touchdowns. He earned second-team all-C-USA honors by the coaches and third-team by the media a year ago. Coleman has played in 41 career games with 274 career stops that ranks 11th on the school's career tackles chart. He enters the 2007 season needing nine tackles to move into 10th place on the school's all-time tackles list. Last year, Coleman earned first-team all-Conference USA honors by the media and second-team all-C-USA accolades by the coach's. A year earlier, he was a second-team all-C-USA performer. C-USA also announced the preseason award winners as Rice receiver Jarrett Dillard was the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Marshall defensive end Albert McClellan earned the defensive honor, while UCF punt return specialist Joe Burnett being named the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. Smith, Coleman and Graham will represent Tulsa at the annual Conference USA Football Media Blitz next week, Monday-Tuesday, July 30-31, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tulsa newcomers report to camp on July 30, while the veterans report on July 31. The first Tulsa practice will take place on August 1. 2007 C-USA PRESEASON POLL EAST DIVISION 1. Southern Miss 2. East Carolina 3. UCF 4. Marshall 5. Memphis 6. UAB
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