TU gets definition on bowl possibilities: Liberty or Armed Forces
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Monday, November 26, 2012
11/26/12 at 4:30 PM
The West Division champion University of Tulsa football team hosts East Division champion Central Florida in Saturday’s 11 a.m., ESPN2-televised Conference USA title game at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference or the Big East, the UCF-Tulsa winner travels to Memphis, Tenn., to represent Conference USA in the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl (2:30 p.m., ESPN).
If the Golden Hurricane does not prevail on Saturday, its Plan B destination has been established. Conference USA has confirmed that for the second consecutive season, and for the third time since 2006, TU would play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.
Air Force already has accepted a berth in the Armed Forces Bowl, set for Dec. 29 at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Televised by ESPN, the game begins at 10:45 a.m.
In 2010 and 2011, while Amon G. Carter Stadium underwent a $164 million renovation, the Armed Forces Bowl was played at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium. It was there that TU was beaten by Brigham Young in the 2011 game. In the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl, Tulsa lost 25-13 to Utah.
“You want to win the conference championship and go to Memphis, but I think the Armed Forces Bowl is a great opportunity for our program and our fans,” TU athletic director Ross Parmley said. “Air Force is an extremely well-known opponent, and the game is played in a newly renovated, first-class stadium at TCU.
“While you definitely want to be in Memphis as a champion, either bowl game would be great for TU and great for the fans. From a travel standpoint, it’s excellent for the fans.”
From Tulsa, Fort Worth is a five-hour drive. Memphis is a seven-hour drive.
Associated Images:
Tulsa quarterback Cody Green (left) and coach Bill Blankenship. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World
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