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August 14, 2008

Brains and brawn

Whaley achieves academic honors while anchoring Tulsa offensive line

Michael Pineda

COMANCHE — When Jody Whaley signed with Tulsa University following his senior year, he embarked on a road not traveled by many Comanche Indians football players.

Division One schools have not had a history of making their way down Highway 81. Now entering his third year for the Golden Hurricane, he has proved that he belongs and then some.

Last season, Whaley started 13 games at center for a Tulsa team that advanced to the Conference USA championship game and then proceeded to set a record for the largest margin of victory in a bowl game, when it defeated Bowling Green 63-7 in the GMAC Bowl.

Entering this season, Tulsa is looking at getting back into the Conference USA Championship game and battling its way into BCS consideration. The Hurricane appear poised to meet its goals, backed by an offense that set 15 Conference USA records last season and returns nine starters.

“Coming to Tulsa was definitely the right choice for me,” Whaley said. “I felt it in heart that is was definitely where I was supposed to go. Our goals this year are to go to a BCS game and go 14-0.”

At 6’3, 305 pounds, Whaley combines size with intelligence. He has been named Conference USA All-Academic for three straight years. That intelligence comes in handy on the field for the Hurricanes, whose no-huddle offense requires split second thinking when calling out blocking schemes.

“We have to be quick and we just have to make the call,” Whaley said. “I kind of like it at center. I have a little more on my table and I feel that I have a good knowledge of the offense. It has definitely slowed down for me since the first day of camp my freshman year. Personally I would like to be an All-Conference center. Last year I had some bad snaps that hurt me.”

As a two-year letterman, Whaley has progressed to the point where he is a mainstay on the line. Last year he battled through injuries that resulted in a missed start. Whaley came off the bench in that game against the University of South Florida and started in the final seven games. On the year, he graded out over 80 percent in four games and had a high of 85 percent against the University of Texas-El Paso.

Whaley will be one of four starters that return on the offensive line, a close knit bunch that has come up through the system.

“We’re a close team,” Whaley said. “We have four offensive line coming back and most of us were on the scout team together. Our two quarterbacks are also close to the offensive line.”

In the truest traditions of offensive linemen, the group joins together for nights out on the town, clearing out restaurants. They have also been known to put away the beef at cookouts during the summer.

Currently, Whaley weighs in at 305 pounds, 10 pounds over where he would like to be. The additional weight does not hurt him with his speed which is crucial in Tulsa’s high octane offense.

“We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning getting ready of the no-huddle offense,” Whaley said. “The coaches want me down to 295, but I’m making my times. I definitely got bigger and stronger since I left high school. I feel like I am in the best shape of my life.”

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