What Is 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. They finished with a 4–7 record under head coach Steve Kragthorpe, competing in Conference USA.

Key Facts

The 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished the season with a 4–7 overall record
They played in Conference USA and posted a 3–4 conference record
Head coach Steve Kragthorpe was in his first year leading the program
Quarterback Paul Smith threw for 1,876 yards and 12 touchdowns
Tulsa played home games at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Overview

The 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in Conference USA, the team was led by first-year head coach Steve Kragthorpe, who took over after the departure of previous coach Mike Sherman.

The season marked a transitional phase for the program as it worked to rebuild depth and consistency. Despite high hopes for improvement, the Golden Hurricane struggled to find consistency on both offense and defense throughout the year.

Season record: The team finished with a 4–7 overall record, including a 3–4 mark in Conference USA play, placing them in the middle of the league standings.
Head coach: Steve Kragthorpe began his tenure in 2001, becoming the 29th head coach in program history and leading a restructured coaching staff.
Home stadium: Tulsa played its home games at Skelly Stadium, a historic venue with a capacity of approximately 30,000 in midtown Tulsa.
Offensive leader: Quarterback Paul Smith passed for 1,876 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the team in total offense with a 56% completion rate.
Defensive performance: The defense allowed an average of 33.5 points per game, struggling particularly against stronger conference opponents.

How It Works

The 2001 season reflected the operational structure of a mid-tier college football program adapting to new leadership and evolving competition. The team's performance was shaped by coaching decisions, player development, and scheduling challenges.

Coaching transition: Steve Kragthorpe brought a new offensive philosophy, emphasizing a spread attack to maximize quarterback and receiver production.
Recruiting impact: The 2001 roster included several key recruits from Oklahoma and Texas, though depth remained an issue due to limited scholarship allocation.
Conference alignment: As a member of Conference USA, Tulsa faced teams like Southern Miss, Houston, and Louisville in a competitive mid-major landscape.
Game scheduling: The schedule included non-conference matchups against Oklahoma, North Texas, and Louisiana-Lafayette, testing the team early.
Player development: Injuries to key linemen disrupted continuity, affecting both offensive protection and run-blocking consistency.
Season trajectory: After starting 2–1, the team lost five of its next six games, indicating difficulty maintaining momentum.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2001 season to adjacent years highlights the challenges of program rebuilding.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Head Coach	Key Statistic
1999	3–8	2–5	Chris Thomsen	1,422 passing yards (Jeff Monken)
2000	5–6	4–3	Steve Kragthorpe	2,104 rushing yards (Tulsa rushing attack)
2001	4–7	3–4	Steve Kragthorpe	1,876 passing yards (Paul Smith)
2002	5–6	4–3	Steve Kragthorpe	24.3 PPG average
2003	5–7	4–3	Steve Kragthorpe	27.1 PPG average

The table shows that while the 2001 season was slightly worse than 2000 and 2002 in win total, it was part of a gradual rebuilding process. The team showed improvement in passing efficiency but lacked defensive consistency. This season laid groundwork for future progress under Kragthorpe, who would later lead Tulsa to bowl eligibility in subsequent years.

Why It Matters

The 2001 season is significant as a transitional chapter in Tulsa football history, reflecting the challenges of coaching change and program development. It set the stage for future competitiveness in Conference USA.

Foundation for growth: The 2001 season helped identify roster weaknesses, leading to improved recruiting and development in later years.
Coaching legacy: Steve Kragthorpe’s first season established a new offensive identity that would evolve in coming years.
Conference dynamics: Competing in Conference USA exposed Tulsa to higher-level competition, preparing them for future realignment.
Player development: Quarterback Paul Smith’s performance signaled potential for future offensive success under the new system.
Fan engagement: Despite a losing record, home attendance remained steady, showing continued local support for the program.
Historical context: The 2001 season is a benchmark for measuring the program’s long-term progress toward national relevance.

While not a standout year in terms of wins, the 2001 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football season played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the program in the early 2000s, serving as a foundation for future improvements and eventual success.