Dakota State to Rename Football Stadium to Blankley Field

Shirley Blankley, wife of former Athletic Director and Football coach for Dakota State George Blankley, is making a donation to the Trojans Unite. The campaign will ensure that her husband will be with Trojan Football forever with the renaming of DSU’s football field to Blankley Field. From Curwensville, PA, George Blankley, or known as “Big George” by friends and family, served as Athletic Director and Football coach in 1962 and served numerous positions in the next 22 years. Other than coaching football, he also coached the track and field teams and men’s tennis, and was an instructor for general physical education, athletic training, and first aid safety. He also taught a popular outdoor education class that students loved. Big George was inducted into DSU’s Hall of Fame in 1996 for his time as a coach. Along with the ongoing scholarships, the Blankley name will live on at the new athletics complex, which will help grow the Trojans’ athletics program.