By Nate Allen
Special to the News-Times
FAYETTEVILLE - Tulsa’s Golden Hurricane always considered this more a rivalry with Arkansas more than the Razorbacks figured it a rivalry with Tulsa when they played annually.
It hasn’t changed since Tulsa and Arkansas just play occasionally as they do in today’s 11 a.m. SEC Network televised non-conference Arkansas homecoming at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Neither brings a vintage team.
The Golden Hurricane of fourth-year coach Philip Montgomery isn’t gusting at 1-6.
The Razorbacks that first-year coach Chad Morris inherited for 2018 wallow at 1-6.
Arkansas will also reportedly be without the services of quarterback Ty Storey, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Friday.
Storey, who suffered a head injury that forced him to depart in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 37-33 loss to Ole Miss in Little Rock, was cleared for practices Tuesday and Wednesday but in the non-contact jersey that all Arkansas quarterbacks wear in practice.
Thursday’s practice was entirely closed to media when the decision was reportedly reached that Storey’s healing process was not sufficient to play in today’s game.
Freshman Connor Noland, who was seen taking first-team snaps during the final minutes that media was allowed to view Wednesday’s practice, and third-year sophomore backup Cole Kelley, the starter for two games who played as a backup or in goal-line situations, have been splitting practice reps behind Storey the last two weeks.
Noland has only played mopping up the 44-17 loss to North Texas back on Sept. 15, but may get his first start Saturday.
After throwing a first-half touchdown pass when Storey was briefly shaken up by a hard hit in his ribs last Saturday before his aforementioned departure in the fourth quarter, Kelley couldn’t keep the Hogs ahead with the 33-24 lead they had starting the fourth quarter.
By the records, Arkansas and Tulsa appear equally inept.
However, just like when they played annually, first in 1899 and consecutively from 1944-1990, the Razorbacks are favored, this time by seven.
Arkansas represented the more respected Southwest Conference, while Tulsa was mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference during that consecutive string.
It reflected in Arkansas’ 54-15-3 series dominance and home-field advantage. Arkansas won the last 18 meetings all in Fayetteville.
Same applies with Arkansas at home representing the powerful SEC versus the American Athletic Conference housing Tulsa.
Yet Arkansas victories over Tulsa seldom came easily.
No exceptions for Arkansas’ three previous meetings representing the SEC against Tulsa: 24-11 in 1992, 30-23 in 2008 and 19-15 in 2012.
Morris, Tulsa’s offensive coordinator in 2010, knows the Golden Hurricane’s history for inspired play against its Power Five neighbors like Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
At SMU, he was the head coach in AAC games against Tulsa and Montgomery from 2015 through 2017.
Though Tulsa is 0-5 against FBS opponents after beating lower FCS division University of Central Arkansas, the Golden Hurricane last week showed its history of scaring the bejabbers out of favored opponents lives on.
Tulsa had now nationally 21st ranked AAC rival South Florida on the ropes before USF escaped 25-24 at Tulsa.
At Austin back on Sept. 8, the hosting now seventh-ranked Texas Longhorns were fortunate to survive Tulsa 28-21.
“This is a very well-coached football team,” Morris said. “A team that is a lot better than their record. Two hours up the road, we know we're gonna get their absolute best. There's no doubt we will have to be on our game this week.”
Montgomery also has called the Razorbacks “better than their record.”
Like Morris about Tulsa and their close but no cigars against South Florida and Texas, Montgomery has cause to tout Arkansas above its one-win season that’s 0-6 against FBS foes.
After a dreadful 44-17 loss in Fayetteville to North Texas, the Razorbacks have played far better in their 0-4 SEC start against then nationally ranked Auburn, currently No. 17 Texas A&M, No. 1 reigning national champion Alabama and Ole Miss.
Against the Rebels last week in Little Rock, the Razorbacks led Ole Miss 27-17 at half and 33-24 after three quarters, but failed to seal the deal, losing 37-33 on a touchdown capping a 97-yard drive with 42 seconds left.
Like Arkansas, Tulsa is also banged up at quarterback.
Tulsa has played three quarterbacks so far, recently going with redshirt freshman Seth Bloomer because early-season sophomore starter Luke Skipper was injured.
All three, junior Chad President has quarterbacked in four games, share a trait, Arkansas sophomore safety Kamren Curl said.
“All of them are mobile quarterbacks,” Curl said.
The Hogs can’t allow to get so mobile as Ole Miss’ Jordan Ta’amu did, finishing with 154 yards rushing and 387 yards passing last Saturday in Little Rock.
With running back Devwah Whaley undergoing ankle surgery after getting injured against Ole Miss, the Razorbacks welcome that running back Rakeem Boyd, 15 carries for 103 yards against Alabama and seven carries for 109 yards with a 69-yard touchdown plus two catches for 38 yards against Ole Miss, has recovered from the back injury that sidelined him for last Saturday’s second half.
“That was big,” junior left offensive tackle Colton Jackson of Conway said of Boyd returning to practice.
“Rakeem just gets better and better each week.”