EX-USC COACHES BACK IN THE RANKS : Tulsa Tops Smith and Missouri

Tulsa overcame a season-ending injury to quarterback Troy DeGar on Saturday night, confusing Missouri with a no-huddle offense that helped produce a 20-17 season-opening victory.

Solomon White ran for 127 yards in 33 carries and DeGar’s replacement, Tad Jones, scored the winning touchdown as Tulsa spoiled the debut of Missouri Coach Larry Smith.

Tulsa also ended a five-game losing streak against Big Eight opponents in its first game against Missouri.

Missouri kicker Kyle Pooler twice blew chances to tie the score. Pooler was wide left from 32 yards with 11:33 to play, and wide left from 39 with 21 seconds left.

Smith, fired by USC after the 1992 season, is attempting to revive Missouri after a decade of losing seasons. The game drew 55,263, the largest for a nonconference game since Missouri played Notre Dame in 1984.

But the Tigers, who were 3-7-1 last year, have lost their last four.

DeGar suffered a torn ligament in his right knee running for a first down on a fake punt late in the first quarter. Another Tulsa player, running back Kenny Gunn, suffered a broken right ankle in the first quarter.

Jones scored on a one-yard sneak for the winning touchdown with 49 seconds to play in the third quarter.