Tulsa's been in a tailspin since winning 2001 opener

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

There have been short practices and long ones, weekly outings to the movies and meetings involving only the players and head coach Keith Burns.

Still, Tulsa has not been able to break a 16-game losing streak, the longest current drought in NCAA Division I-A football.

Tulsa, which plays Hawai'i Saturday at Aloha Stadium, has not won since the 2001 season opener against Division I-AA Indiana State. Because of a bye and the 9/11 attacks, Tulsa did not play for another 23 days. It has yet to get back on track.

This is Burns' third season at Tulsa, and he has rebuilt with mostly high school recruiting. There are 11 seniors on the roster, with five among the top 60 players. The inexperience and injuries, in addition to a tough schedule — three of the losses were against Big 12 schools and another against Western Athletic Conference favorite Boise State — have factored in the losing streak.

"The way the players have handled it has been positive," Burns said. "Our players are giving us everything they have. ... We know we'll get one soon, and when we get one, we feel we have a chance to get several."

UH center Lui Fuata, a fifth-year senior, has empathy for the Hurricane. From the middle of the 1997 season through Jones' first game as UH head coach in 1999, the Warriors lost 19 in a row.

"I know what it's like and I don't wish it upon anybody," Fuata said.

Fuata recalled UH's mounting losses as "a very depressing time in my life, and a lot of the other guys' lives. We'd practice hard and you want some kind of result. It was very frustrating."

• In the mix: Two nearly forgotten running backs — senior Josh Galeai and second-year freshman Pesefea Fiaseu — have earned extra practice time because of injuries to Thero Mitchell, Michael Bass and Michael Brewster.

Brewster (sprained right ankle) is not expected to play against Tulsa and Bass (partially torn posterior cruciate ligament) is doubtful. Mitchell (subluxed right shoulder), who is wearing a shoulder harness in practices, is expected to start.

Galeai has made all of the road trips as a special-teams player this year. "Every time I get the opportunity (as a running back), I try to make the most of it," he said.

Galeai was used in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 59-34 rout of Nevada. "It was good to run the ball," he said.

Fiaseu has been fighting for playing time after failing to live up to a challenge from the coaches. In May, Fiaseu was told to report to August's training camp weighing 225 pounds. Fiaseu, who reported at 245 pounds, admitted, "We made a deal and I didn't meet it."

Fiaseu has lost a few pounds, and appears fully healed from preseason leg injuries.

"I'm really excited about getting reps again," he said. "I don't mind waiting for a chance. After all, patience is a virtue. I'm waiting and putting everything into God's hands."

• Prince of Pop: Before each home game, defensive back Gary Wright leads the Warriors out of the locker room, then breaks into Thriller-like dance moves. After the Nevada game, Jones even praised Wright for his innovative steps.

Wright said he uses moves borrowed from the King of Pop. "Ever since I was small, I would sit in the house and watch Michael Jackson (videos) and try to imitate him," Wright said.