Vrbanovic, managing director of Croatias football feder

Tulsa, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Tulsa fired head football coach Bill Blankenship on Monday, three days after the Golden Hurricane concluded a 2-10 season. The Golden Hurricane were dealt their first campaign with double-digit losses since 2002 with Fridays 49-32 setback to East Carolina. The poor showing came on the heels of a 3-9 season in 2013, a year Tulsa was picked to win the West Division of Conference USA during the preseason. We are grateful for the service and commitment of Coach Blankenship to our university, our student-athletes and our community, but we have decided that the program needs to go in a different direction, Tulsa athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a statement. Blankenship, a former Tulsa quarterback, went 19-8 and led the program to the 2012 Conference USA title over his first two seasons after succeeding Todd Graham as head coach. The Golden Hurricane finished a disappointing 2-6 in league play in their final season in Conference USA, however, and were near the bottom of the standings in their inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference. Over four seasons overall at his alma mater, Blankenship compiled a 24-27 record. He was named Conference USAs Coach of the Year in 2012. Hakeem Butler Womens Jersey . 9 Baylor Bears just needed some time to get on track in their first game after the Christmas break. Patrick Peterson Cardinals Jersey . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-David-Johnson-Jersey/ . -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training. David Johnson Cardinals Jersey . Helwani said that Weidman has been dealing with recurring swelling and pain in his knees related to torn meniscus he suffered as a teenager and the problems came to a head last week when he suffered prolonged swelling and pain in his left knee, resulting in the decision to undergo an arthroscopic scope procedure to clean up the tear in both knees. Pat Tillman Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer.GENEVA -- FIFA has banned Croatia defender Josip Simunic for 10 games -- including the entire World Cup -- for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after the team qualified for the tournament in Brazil. Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatias then-puppet regime following a 2-0 playoff victory against Iceland last month. "After taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, and particularly given the gravity of the incident, the committee decided to suspend the player for 10 official matches," FIFA said in a statement. The incident is the latest to discredit football in Croatia, after UEFA President Michel Platini described its fans as the worst behaved at the 2012 European Championship. The sanction also reflected FIFAs commitment this year to tougher sanctions for racism and discrimination at matches. Croatia coach Niko Kovac, a teammate of Simunic at the 2006 World Cup, said the ban probably ended the 35-year-old defenders national team career. "Im unpleasantly surprised, shocked and disappointed by FIFAs ban of Simunic," Kovac said. "Im primarily sad for Simunic who will miss the World Cup. I know him for long as a player and a person and Im sure he did not want to offend anyone." Kovac said the Croatian football federation would appeal to FIFA. If that fails, a challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport could follow. Croatia hosted Iceland in Zagreb on Nov. 19 for a decisive qualifying match after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. After the match, Simunic took a microphone on the pitch and shouted to supporters: "For thee homeland!" The fans responded: "Ready!" FIFA said Monday that the salute was "discriminatory and offended the dignity of a group of persons concerning .dddddddddddd.. race, religion or origin." Simunic will miss the whole World Cup tournament in Brazil and is also barred from the stadiums where Croatia will play its next 10 games. Simunic said he felt "bitter and shocked," according to Damir Vrbanovic, managing director of Croatias football federation "It is clear that FIFA wanted to send a strong message with this draconian punishment," Vrbanovic said. FIFA also fined Simunic 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,800) and ordered the Croatia football federation to pay a fine of 70,000 Swiss francs ($78,700). Simunic previously defended his action, saying he was driven by love for his country. The Australia-born player famously was sent off at the 2006 World Cup against Australia after receiving three yellow cards. In a separate FIFA disciplinary verdict Monday, Croatia star forward Mario Mandzukic was banned for just one World Cup match for a red-card challenge against Iceland. Mandzukic will miss the tournaments opening match when Croatia plays host Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12. "We knew that Mandzukic will be punished and in that context we are happy its a one-match suspension," Kovac said. The FIFA panel imposed the minimum sanction on Mandzukic for serious foul play. The Bayern Munich forward, who scored the opening goal minutes earlier, was sent off for stamping on Iceland midfielder Johann Gudmundssons left knee. ' ' '