Rainey named Sun Belt’s offensive player of week for third time in 2011

Senior running back Bobby Rainey finished with 227 yards on 43 carries Saturday in WKU’s win over Troy and was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in 2011. It was the second straight week Rainey received the honor.

Brad Stephens

Senior running back Bobby Rainey was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, his third such honor this season and his second in as many weeks.

Rainey earned the award after rushing for a season-high 227 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday in the Toppers’ 41-18 Senior Day win over Troy.

He also broke former Topper running backs Lerron Moore’s and Joe Arnold’s career and single-season rushing yardage records in the win.

Rainey now has 4,542 yards for his career and 1,695 in 2011, both WKU records.

“Bobby, he just went out on top,” Head Coach Willie Taggart said Monday. “It was his last game here at home, and he’s done so much for this football program and helping to rebuild this program.”

The win was WKU’s seventh of the year, clinching the program’s first winning season since becoming a full Football Bowl Subdivision member in 2009 and first overall since 2007.

Rainey’s three Offensive Player of the Week awards are the most of any league player in 2011.