Tulsa Football Releases 2012 Schedule

University of Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship released the 2012 football schedule Thursday and the Golden Hurricane kickoff the new season September 1 at Iowa State.

After the season opener, TU returns home for three straight games including the home opener Sept. 8 against Tulane.

"I think it's exciting and an advantage for us to open up the league schedule at home, although I think our guys have shown to be pretty good on the road early. We'll have to be road warriors in November, but I think we have a chance to build some momentum early on with some home games and hopefully engage our fan base. I think it should be a very exciting year," added Blankenship.

In the 2012 campaign, five of Tulsa's first eight games will be played at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The Hurricane will face four programs with a first-year head coach, including three of the first five contests.

 "I'm most excited about the fact that we have more early season home games than we've had the last few years," said Blankenship. "I think it gives us an opportunity to really build some momentum and give our fan base something to be excited about. We have a very attractive non-conference schedule with Iowa State and Fresno State early and certainly a late game at Arkansas. I think those are really strong non-conference games and will give us a chance to show how we do regionally and also against a team that could be in our conference in the future."

Tulsa's 2012 football schedule is highlighted with five Bowl teams from this past season, including road contests at Iowa State and Arkansas.

The Golden Hurricane is coming off of an 8-5 season in 2010 under first-year Head Coach Bill Blankenship against a schedule that featured four top-10 ranked opponents.

This season's homecoming game will be against Rice on October 20.

Following a bye week, Tulsa will finish out its non-conference schedule with a trip across the border to play the Arkansas Razorbacks on November 3rd.

"We want to play a team of Arkansas' caliber. We want a game with at least one national power every year because for us to get where we want to be we have to be able to compete at that level. If we're not playing Oklahoma, we want to play Arkansas. If we're not playing Oklahoma State, we'd hope to play a team of that caliber every season," said Blankenship. "I honestly like that we play Arkansas in November. It's a chance to see how we'll grow as a team and hopefully we'll be a little bit more mature by the time we go into Fayetteville."

Tulsa closes out the regular season on the road Thanksgiving Weekend against the SMU Mustangs (Nov. 24). Tulsa grabbed a 38-7 home win this past year against the Mustangs and have posted a 5-4 record over the last nine years, but trail the all-time series by a 12-7 margin.

Game times and TV broadcast for the games will be released at a later date.

2012 Tulsa Football Schedule:

Sept. 1 at Iowa State
Sept. 8 vs. TULANE*
Sept. 15 vs. NICHOLLS STATE
Sept. 22 vs. FRESNO STATE
Sept. 29 at UAB*
Oct. 6 at Marshall*
Oct. 13 vs.UTEP*
Oct. 20 vs. RICE* (HOMECOMING)
Nov. 3 at Arkansas
Nov. 10 at Houston*
Nov. 17 vs. UCF*
Nov. 24 at SMU*