Mayor wants to paint Tulsa blue

BY MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
11/28/12 at 5:17 AM

In honor of TU's Conference USA championship game against Central Florida on Saturday, Mayor Dewey Bartlett proclaimed this week as "True Blue for TU Week."

"We're here to kick off what I think will be a very blue-letter day for the city of Tulsa: the conference championship," Bartlett said outside of the Blue Dome building at Second Street and Elgin Avenue on Tuesday morning.

Bartlett said the game is a great opportunity for Tulsa residents and football fans everywhere to enjoy a great football game.

"Whether you're fans of high school, college or professional, we're going to have a great game," he said. "We've got a great opportunity to show off the city of Tulsa."

The game, set for 11 a.m. Saturday at H.A. Chapman stadium, is being nationally televised by ESPN (Cox cable channel 25).

"We certainly want to make certain that when the cameras pan into the crowd that we see every seat filled by a good football fan supporting the University of Tulsa football team," Bartlett said.

TU head coach Bill Blankenship said the team is excited to be playing in the conference championship game and hopes to represent the city well.

"We've prided ourselves for a long time in being Tulsa's team," Blankenship. "Our slogan has been one team, one city and we've been Tulsa's team. We carry that logo everywhere we go. It's like being in a family name. We want folks out there who want to be a part of a great college football game and a great championship weekend."

Bartlett read a proclamation declaring "True Blue for TU Week" before applying the first strokes of TU blue paint on the roof of the Blue Dome building.

"The University of Tulsa's Department of Athletics continues to promote, shine a national spotlight on the city of Tulsa through their tradition of winning and a commitment to the one team-one city concept that counts us all as TU fans," Bartlett said.

Bartlett also encouraged the community to purchase tickets to the game.

"Fifteen bucks a ticket, minimum price. What more can you ask for," Bartlett said. "We all need to show up, football fans galore. Come and support our team."

C-USA championship

TU vs. UCF

Time: 11 a.m. Saturday

TV: ESPN (Cox cable 25)

Radio: KRMG am740, fm102.3

Tickets: From $15 to $50 and can be purchased at 918-631-GoTU (4688), at the Reynolds Center ticket office or at tulsaworld.com/tulsahurricane

Original Print Headline: Mayor wants to paint Tulsa blue

Mike Averill 918-581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett rides a lift to the top of the Blue Dome building to begin painting it TU blue on Tuesday. Bartlett proclaimed the week "True Blue for TU Week" in honor of Saturday's Conference USA championship. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World