Whether OU was interested or not, Chamberlain found a home at TU

By Bob Hersom

Published: September 20, 2007

TULSA — The story goes that Oklahoma wanted Bethany quarterback and free safety Chris Chamberlain to be a recruited walk-on.

It was 2003, and Chamberlain had just been named The Oklahoman's Little All-City Offensive Player of the Year after leading Bethany to the Class 2A state title.

"I never spoke with them personally,” Chamberlain said. "I came from a small school, a 2A school, so a lot of times we get overlooked. But I was fortunate enough to come here and everything's worked out well for me.”

The story goes that an OU coach became interested in Chamberlain after watching a Bethany game tape — and after the Sooners had awarded all of their scholarships.

"They never really ended up talking to me,” Chamberlain said. "Tulsa obviously offered, and it was a great fit, as far as location and where my home was. I thought it was a great opportunity for me, academically and athletically. That's why I came to Tulsa.”

The OU-Chamberlain story is of interest this week because TU will host the Sooners on Friday night at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

"Obviously, I don't have any hard feelings or anything against those guys,” Chamberlain said. "I know a bunch of those guys from high school. It's just a great opportunity to go out and play against the best and see what we can do.”

Chamberlain has done plenty in his three years as a starter and four years as a letterman at Tulsa. He has started 28 games. Chamberlain, Nelson Coleman and Alain Karatepeyan make up one of the top linebacking trios in college football.

"They know more than we know sometimes about what we're doing (on defense),” TU coach Todd Graham said. "We've learned so much from them.”

Graham and Chamberlain have worked together like hand and glove. Graham was TU's defensive coordinator in Chamberlain's first two seasons, then head coach at Rice last year. He returned to Tulsa this year after Steve Kragthorpe went to Louisville.

"You could definitely tell coach Graham wasn't (here) last year,” Chamberlain said. "His enthusiasm and energy is so electric. Having him on the practice fields and in meetings, you can definitely feel coach Graham's presence.”

When Chamberlain signed with Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane had finished its first season under Kragthorpe. TU had enjoyed its first winning season (8-5) and first bowl trip (Humanitarian Bowl) in 12 years.

"I went from playing 2A quarterback and safety to playing Division-I linebacker,” Chamberlain said. "So it was a great culture shock, totally different for me football-wise. But I've experienced lots of success, and it's been a dream come true.”

He's been a big part of the remarkable rebuilding of a Tulsa football program that had a 34-88-1 record from 1992-2002. The Golden Hurricane have gone to three bowl games in the past four seasons.

"It's amazing,” Chamberlain said, "to see where the program is now, compared to where it was when we came in, as far as facilities and success, fan support, national exposure. It's really been great to see the program grow like that.”

Chamberlain said he cheered for all of the Oklahoma teams growing up in Bethany.

"But I was kind of a Sooner fan,” he said. "Roy Williams was kind of my hero, because I played safety in high school.”

Now comes Chamberlain's second and last chance against OU. The Sooners beat Tulsa 31-15 two years ago in Norman.

The fourth-ranked Sooners are 3-0, and Tulsa is 2-0. Other than season openers, this is the first time since 1919, and only the third time overall, that both OU and TU come in with perfect records.

OU has won the last three OU-TU games, and eight of the last nine.

"We know what they bring to the table, what kind of talent they have,” Chamberlain said. "It's just exciting to get to go play them and go against the best. We want to play against teams that bring out the best in us.”

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