The Carousel Continues: Todd Graham heading east to Pittsburgh

Todd Graham/Courtesy: eyeandeerblog.com

((ht: collegefootballtalk.com))

It looks as though another pairing has been made on the coaching carousel. KTUL-TV in Tulsa is reporting that University of Tulsa head coach Todd Graham will be leaving Oklahoma and heading towards the pastures of Pittsburgh to replace the recently hired and more recently fired Mike Haywood.

The station reports that there was a 3:30pm (central) team meeting scheduled. It happened, though Graham wasn't there. He was apparently in Pittsburgh boarding a plane that is expected to return to Tulsa around 5pm (central).

Graham actually has a pretty good track record and a good amount of success at Tulsa. It's mildly surprising he had not surfaced for someone else's job.

Here's your KTUL-TV report (It hasn't been on TV yet) RIGHT HERE

The Tulsa World says things are still a bit murky, their story RIGHT HERE

While Fox 23 in Pittsburgh says the deal is done. Read it RIGHT HERE

The Fox story says Graham will be getting a 5-year, $10 million deal. He wasn't doing badly at Tulsa at roughly $1.3 million, but this would be a big jump in pay. But then again, he's heading to an alleged BCS Conference too.

TWTW Bowling: Is Tulsa's Todd Graham Still A Honk...?

The reason the HQ asks is that the Golden Hurricane ran up 62 against the host Hawai'i squad in the bowl game on the big island in a 62-35 win on Christmas Eve...

The Warriors lost star wideout Kealoha Pilares early in the game and were never the same offensively... and the reason we ask the question above is that the Warrior defense seemed to tank in the fourth quarter- perception can go either way.

Here's some sound from Graham about how important it was for the team to get to a 10-win season, thanks to our friends at KJRH-TV in Tulsa


G.J. Kinne, Damaris Johnson and 15 other starters return for Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane should be the favorites to win Conference USA going into 2011. As for Hawaii, the Warriors return QB Bryant Moniz, who threw for more than 5,000 yards this season.

Tulsa's Damaris Johnson became the career leader for all-purpose yards in the NCAA with 7,799. He had 329 all-purpose yards against Hawaii and three touchdowns.

Both teams combined for 1,076 total yards of offense, but Warrior quarterbacks threw 5 interceptions and a fumble lost is thrown in for good measure.

Highlights when we have them...

TWTW: Boise State Hangs On In Tulsa

This was the upset alert game that those of us at OSG HQ had this week...

If anyone in the WAC was going to step up and take out Boise, it would be in Tulsa on a funky preparation week...

And the loss couldn't happen to a nicer guy in Golden Hurricane Head Coach Todd Graham... whose exploits have long been vilified here- see his Rice to Tulsa experience if you've forgotten how much we like the guy...

He almost threw a nutty for the ages when Tulsa was flagged for a sideline interference penalty late in the fourth quarter as he was trying to get the ball back for one last chance to tie.

The four-letter was more than happy to show close-up after close-up of Graham "BS'ing" the side judge.

But, Todd, that's what happens when one of your coaches gets in the way of the zebras trying to do their job...

Here's your highlights, thanks to our friends at KJRH/News2 in Tulsa and ESPN...

Who's In... Who's Out...

With all the fun that these New Year's Day bowls give us...((Just ask JoePa about just how much he's enjoying 1-1-09))

College athletes are declaring their intentions for their career extensions...

Beanie Wells of Ohio State hasn't made up his mind...((foxsports))

Shonn Greene of Iowa has made up his mind... he's leaving...((WOI-TV))

Kansas State's Josh Freeman is leaving...((Joe Schad at the four-letter))

South Carolina's Captain Munnerlyn and Eric Norwood are also leaving... ((The State))

Coaches are, allegedly, staying for longer than anticipated as well...

Todd Graham, Esq. ((pictured, thanks Mike Simons/Tulsa World)) is hanging around Tulsa until 2018 with his new deal...((Tulsa World))

((This is us holding our collective breath on that one- just ask the people at Rice how that one worked out for them...))

He agreed to a six-year extension at Rice in January 2007, but was introduced as Tulsa's coach a mere three days later.

"There were a lot of mistruths about that deal," Graham told the Tulsa World, which reported the 10-year contract first on its Web site. "Having the opportunity to come home here was a no-brainer for me."

And Cal is keeping Jeff Tedford until 2015 with his new rollover extension...((SFGate))

Welcome Tulsa To The Top 25

We were somewhat conflicted as to whether or not to post this...

Those of us here at OSG HQ are not the biggest Todd Graham fans for his contract shenanigans...

Brother Wilkie knows full-well what a Gus Malzahn offense is capable of doing if given the time...
Here's your proof... and proof that Mike Price may be on an unemployment line near you very soon... the most points for Tulsa in, almost, 40 years...

((HT: KVIA-TV))