ULM offensive line coach Cameron Blankenship will face disciplinary action after pushing a Warhawks player on the sideline during a 28-23 loss against Marshall. Video of the incident went viral on social media after the game.
Offensive lineman Drew Hutchinson appeared to mistakenly sub into the game, and Blankenship was seen sprinting, jumping up and down and screaming at Hutchinson. Another ULM coach appeared to be telling Blankenship to calm down. When Hutchinson ran off the field, Blankenship shoved Hutchinson and had to be held back by another player before finally walking off.
“In Saturday’s game at Marshall, assistant coach Cameron Blankenship made physical contact with a ULM student-athlete on the sideline,” ULM said in a statement. “This behavior is unacceptable and not how ULM football conducts business. There will be disciplinary action taken against the assistant coach. Because this is a personnel matter, the discipline will be handled internally.”
On Sunday in the aftermath of the incident, Blankenship apologized on social media.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during yesterday’s game,” Blankenship wrote. “I recognize that my physical contact with a player was inappropriate, and I take full responsibility for it. I value the trust of our players and there are no excuses for my actions.
“I am committed to learning from this incident. I appreciate the support of our team and am dedicated to creating a positive and respectful environment for everyone moving forward.”
Hutchinson also addressed the matter with a statement on social media.
“I’m sure by now most of you have seen the video from yesterday of Coach Cam reprimanding me and eventually pushing me. We have since talked and he sincerely apologized for his behavior,” Hutchinson said. “Coach Cam and I have a good relationship and I appreciate his passion for the game and for this team. Coaches are humans too and just as players learn from their mistakes I think that coaches can learn from theirs as well. With that being said I still love football and this university and this team. I’d like to leave you all with a quote I heard at church this morning. ‘Vengeance is in the Lord’s hands and forgiveness is in mine.'”
Blankenship is in his first year as an offensive line coach after joining Bryant Vincent’s staff. He served with Vincent at New Mexico and followed him from UAB, where Blankenship previously played as a three-year starter for the Blazers.
ULM got off to its first 5-1 start in program history under Vincent, but the Warhawks have lost two straight games.
