What Is 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 3–9 record under head coach Keith Burns. They competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and played home games at Skelly Stadium.

Key Facts

The 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished the season with a 3–9 overall record
Head coach Keith Burns led the team during his fourth and final season at Tulsa
Tulsa played home games at Skelly Stadium, now known as H.A. Chapman Stadium
The team scored 238 points, averaging 19.8 points per game in 2002
Tulsa finished 6th in the 8-team Western Athletic Conference (WAC)

Overview

The 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the team struggled to find consistency under head coach Keith Burns, who was in his fourth and final year leading the program.

Despite flashes of offensive potential, the Golden Hurricane finished the season with a 3–9 overall record and a 2–6 mark in conference play. The team played its home games at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a venue that has hosted Golden Hurricane football since 1930.

Season Record: The team finished with a 3–9 overall record, including losses in seven of their final eight games, highlighting late-season struggles.
Conference Standing: Tulsa placed 6th in the 8-team WAC, ahead of only Rice and SMU, both of which also had losing conference records.
Head Coach:Keith Burns served as head coach for the fourth consecutive season but was not retained after the 2002 campaign due to poor performance.
Home Stadium: Games were played at Skelly Stadium, which had a capacity of approximately 36,000 and was later renamed H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Scoring Output: The offense generated 238 total points across 12 games, averaging 19.8 points per game, which ranked near the bottom nationally.

Season Performance

The 2002 campaign was marked by defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistent quarterback play. Tulsa faced a challenging non-conference schedule and failed to secure a win against any team with a winning record.

Opening Game: The season began with a 38–21 loss to Oklahoma State, a Big 12 opponent, setting a tough tone for the year.
Best Win: Tulsa’s most notable victory came in Week 3, a 27–24 win over UTEP, which briefly raised hopes for a turnaround.
Defensive Struggles: The defense allowed 383.6 yards per game, including over 250 passing yards per contest, contributing to multiple close losses.
Home Record: The Golden Hurricane went 2–4 at home, failing to capitalize on home-field advantage despite fan support.
Season Finale: They closed the season with a 42–10 loss to SMU, a game that underscored the need for major program changes.
Quarterback Stats: Starting QB David Johnson threw for 1,842 yards and 12 touchdowns, but also 13 interceptions, reflecting offensive inconsistency.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2002 Tulsa Golden Hurricane compared to conference peers and national averages across key statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	WAC Record	Points Scored	Points Allowed
Tulsa	3–9	2–6	238	362
Boise State	12–1	7–1	403	225
Hawaii	10–4	6–2	358	277
TCU	10–2	6–2	346	189
Rice	4–8	3–5	241	298

Boise State dominated the WAC in 2002, going undefeated in conference play and winning the league championship. In contrast, Tulsa’s 3–9 record highlighted a significant gap in competitiveness, especially on defense, where they allowed 30.2 points per game. The team’s struggles reflected broader issues with recruiting and coaching stability, leading to a major rebuild in subsequent years.

Why It Matters

The 2002 season was a turning point that ultimately led to a complete overhaul of the Tulsa football program. Poor results prompted the university to seek new leadership, culminating in the hiring of Steve Kragthorpe in 2003.

Coaching Change: Keith Burns was fired after the season, ending a four-year tenure with a 15–30 overall record.
Program Rebuild: The 2002 season exposed flaws in recruiting and player development, prompting a strategic shift under new management.
Stadium Legacy: Skelly Stadium remained central to team identity, later undergoing renovations to modernize facilities.
Conference Realignment: The WAC weakened over time, pushing Tulsa toward eventual moves to Conference USA and later the American Athletic Conference.
Statistical Benchmark: The 3–9 record became a low point, used as motivation in future seasons to improve performance.
Fan Engagement: Despite poor results, Tulsa maintained strong local support, laying groundwork for future success with community investment.

The 2002 season, while disappointing, served as a catalyst for long-term improvements that helped position Tulsa for greater success in the late 2000s, including multiple bowl appearances and conference titles in subsequent years.