CONFERENCEUSA.COM - The Official Athletic site of The Conference USA

Tulsa's Blankenship Named C-USA Football Coach of the Year
FB Coach of the Year

	Bill Blankenship, Tulsa

Dec. 5, 2012

IRVING, Texas – After leading his team to a Conference USA Championship and a berth in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship has been named C-USA Coach of the Year, as selected by a vote by the league’s head coaches.

Blankenship led the Golden Hurricane (10-3, 7-1 C-USA) to its fourth C-USA Championship Game and second title in 2012 after posting a 7-1 record during league play. He guided Tulsa to its ninth 10-win season in program history and fourth in the past six seasons.

During his two years as head coach, Blankenship has amassed 18 wins, which is tied for the second-best start by a TU football coach. Tulsa has posted a 14-2 record in regular season Conference USA play under his leadership.

The Golden Hurricane won seven consecutive games from Sept. 8 through Oct. 20 and averaged 35 points per game. The leading C-USA ground attack (240.2 ypg) out-rushed opponents by nearly 1,600 yards, ranked 11^th nationally in rushing yardage and scored 37 touchdowns on the ground.

Tulsa also leads C-USA in total (353.9 ypg) and rush (121.2 ypg) defense, red zone defense, kickoff returns (27.4 ypr) and sacks for (48) and against (9).

Blankenship will lead Tulsa in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Monday, Dec. 31, in Memphis, Tenn., against Iowa State. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

Follow Us, Like Us

Fans can follow C-USA online on Twitter (@ConferenceUSA1) with the hashtag #CUSAFB, #CUSAchamp during all C-USA Championship events and on Facebook (facebook.com/ConferenceUSA).

2012-13 C-USA BOWL SCHEDULE

BEEF `O' BRADY'S BOWL (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Friday, December 21
UCF vs. Ball State (ESPN) 7 p.m. CST

R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL (New Orleans, La.)
Saturday, December 22
East Carolina vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (ESPN) 11 a.m. CST

SHERATON HAWAI'I BOWL (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
Monday, December 24
SMU vs. Fresno State (ESPN) 7 p.m. CST

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL (Dallas, Texas)
Saturday, December 29
Rice vs. Air Force (ESPN) 10:45 a.m. CST

AUTO ZONE LIBERTY BOWL (Memphis, Tenn.)
Monday, December 31
Tulsa vs. Iowa State (ESPN) 2:30p CST