UAB Football Notes For The UCF Game

Oct. 1, 2001

THE GAME: UAB (2-2) at UCF (1-3), Saturday, Oct. 6

KICKOFF: Set for 6:00 pm EDT at the Florida Citrus Bowl (70,188/Grass) in Orlando.

THE TEAMS:? UAB is 2-2 (1-1 C-USA) and coming off a 3-0 loss at Southern Miss last Saturday (Sept. 29).? UCF is 1-3 and coming off a 46-14 loss at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. on Sept. 29.

THE COACHES: UCF's Mike Kruczek is 21-16 in his fourth season as head coach of the Golden Knights. UAB's Watson Brown is 33-37 in his seventh season at UAB (65-114-1 in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach).

THE SERIES:? UCF leads 1-0, the Golden Knights won the only previous meeting between the two 35-13 at Legion Field (Nov. 9, 1996) led by quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns in the game (the 421 yards still ranks as the second-highest ever by a UAB opponent QB).

TELEVISION: Live cablecast on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS). The broadcast crew includes Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and former Blazer quarterback John Whitcomb (color analyst).?

RADIO:? The game will be broadcast live on the UAB Football Radio Network on stations throughout the state of Alabama and in Birmingham on the Blazers' flagship station, WAPI AM 1070.? Gary Sanders is in his 23rd season as the play-by-play voice of the Blazers (and his 11th broadcasting UAB football games).? Sanders will be joined in the booth by color commentator Matt Coulter (now in his fifth season with the UAB Broadcast crew), as well as producer/engineer and jack-of-all-trades Jon Gentile (now in his fourth year with UAB) and spotter/sideline reporter/legal advisor Bill Lewis. Saturday's broadcast will begin with the pre-game show at 4:30 pm CDT live from the Citrus Bowl Stadium? in Orlando.

WE KNOW HOW THEY FEEL: Known for most of their time in the world of intercollegiate sports as "Central Florida," the Golden Knights prefer to be called "UCF." This scenario is very familiar to the coaches, players, administrators and fans of the Blazers, who have struggled for years to be known simply as "UAB."

WE KNOW HOW THEY FEEL, cont.: The Golden Knights are coming off a trip to Blacksburg, Va., where they lost to Virginia Tech 46-14 last Saturday. The Blazers have faced the Hokies three times in the past five seasons, losing twice in Blacksburg (31-10 in 1999, 37-0 in 1997) and once in Birmingham (41-0 in 1998).

WE KNOW HOW THEY FEEL, III: An urban university with an acronym name.? Very competitive at the I-A level, yet seemingly always in the shadow of the more famous (not always necessarily better) teams from the SEC, ACC, et. al.? Playing home games in a huge downtown stadium.? A breakthrough win against a famous SEC team during the 2000 season. A famous former SEC quarterback as either the head coach or athletics director.? Are we describing the Blazers? Yes, and the UCF Knights as well.

BROWN AND SLOAN: Blazer head coach Watson Brown and UCF Director of Athletics Steve Sloan go way back, the two former SEC quarterbacks (Brown at Vanderbilt, Sloan at Alabama) coached together at Vanderbilt in the 1980s.? In fact, Coach Brown once stated that Sloan is one of only two offensive coordinators he has ever let call the plays directly.? The other?? Current UAB offensive coordinator Pat Sullivan (also a former SEC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn).

IT'S A FACT:? Saturday's game with UCF will be the Blazers' third straight against a team that wears black and gold and has either "Golden" or "Knights"? as part of its nickname (actually, the first five UAB opponents in 2001 have gold as part of their color scheme, it would have been six, but the Pittsburgh game was postponed).

HEARTBREAK IN HATTIESBURG: Two of the nation's finest defensive teams went nose-to-nose for 60 minutes at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg last Saturday, and only three points were scored, unfortunately, those three points wound up in the "Southern Miss" column on the scoresheet, and the Golden Eagles escaped with a very hard-fought victory.? Placekicker Brant Hanna's 25-yard field goal early in the second quarter proved to be the winning margin.? The UAB defense put up a valiant battle, holding Southern Miss to 196 total yards on 64 plays (78 net rushing, 118 passing) and did not allow a touchdown (USM passed up a scoring opportunity with first-and-goal inside the UAB five yardline in the final seconds, QB Jeff Kelly downed the ball to end the game).? Several key penalties -- one which wiped an apparent go-ahead touchdown off the board late in the third quarter (a Jeff Aaron to T.J. Simmons touchdown pass was called back on an ineligible receiver downfield penalty on second-and-goal from the USM four yardline) -- and three missed field goals (one of which was blocked) kept the Blazers off the scoreboard.

SPEAKING OF THE 1998 VIRGINIA TECH GAME: Until last week's 3-0 loss at Southern Miss, the Blazers had gone 29 consecutive games without being shut out,? the last time was the 41-0 loss to the Hokies at Legion Field (Oct. 24, 1998).

RUNNING WAS TOUGH:? UAB finished the Southern Miss game with 89 net rushing yards, that came against the nation's top rushing defense (as of last week) which entered the game allowing opponents an average of 26.0 yards per game.? As usual, senior running back Jegil Dugger led the way, rushing for 64 net yards on 19 carries.

BLAZERS TOUGH vs. THE RUN, TOO:? The UAB Blazer defense has traditionally been very tough vs. the run.? UAB opponents rushed for 100+ yards as a team only five times in 2000 and six times in 1999 and have done so once thus far in 2001 (Florida State's 135 net yards Sept. 8), no individual opposing player has broken the 100+-yard barrier since Louisville's Frank Moreau did so vs. the Blazers during the 1999 season (Oct. 30, 1999 in Louisville) -- that's 17 straight games.? Southern Miss' Tim Blackwell came as close as anyone has since then, Blackwell finished the game with 97 net rushing yards on 24 carries (he actually had 100 yards but three negative yards brought him back to 97 for the game).

VERY TOUGH: UAB is currently ranked ninth overall in rushing defense, allowing opponents an average of 64.50 yards per game.?

BLAZERS STINGY WITH THE POINTS, TOO: UAB is currently ranked ninth overall in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 12.0 points per game.

?"THE STEEL SHIELD": A nickname that originated with Coach Watson Brown, given to the team's defensive front four -- seniors Bryan Thomas (DE), Eddie Freeman (DT), Rodney Jones (NG) and Marlon Bush (DE).? Of late, the nickname has come to be used in reference to the entire defensive unit, which is ranked seventh overall in total defense (allowing opponents an average of 242.25 yards per game) and? in the top 20 in interceptions (tied for 17th with 6) and pass efficiency defense (opponents have a 93.70 rating).

MORE DEFENSE: ?The UAB defense has not allowed a touchdown in nine quarters, dating back to Florida State game (Sept. 8).? The last touchdown scored by a Blazer opponent was by Florida State's T. Gardner on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Chris Rix with 3:53 to play in the third quarter.

BIG NUMBERS: UAB's 55 points vs. Army (Sept. 22) is the most ever by the Blazers vs. an NCAA Division I-A opponent. The UAB all-time record is 61 points vs. Knoxville College in? a I-AA game at Legion Field in 1995, the previous scoring high in the I-A era for the Blazers was 48 vs. Tennesssee-Martin (at the Hoover Met, 1998).?

MULTIPLE INTERCEPTIONS: UAB's four interceptions in the Army game (Sept. 22) equals the school's I-A era record, set vs. LSU last season (Sept. 23, 2000) when the Blazers picked off four Tiger passes en route to a 13-10 victory in Baton Rouge.? The all-time UAB mark for interceptions in a single game is five (5), set vs. Morehead State in a I-AA game at Legion Field in 1999.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME: UAB is? 2-0 at Legion Field this season. The Blazer defense has not allowed a touchdown in eight quarters at home in 2001.? The only touchdown scored by a UAB opponent at Legion Field? to date this season was an interception return by Montana State's Kane Iaone (Aug. 30).

DUGGER WATCH: Senior running back Jegil Dugger has 327 yards this season on 77 carries (4.2 average) and 1,467 career rushing yards on 312 carries (4.7 average).? Dugger scored two TDs vs. Army, giving him 11 for his career (ranking him second in the UAB Division I-A era and third all-time in Blazer football history).

MULTIPLE INTERCEPTIONS: UAB's (four) interceptions in the game equals the school's I-A era record, set vs. LSU last season (Sept. 23, 2000) when the Blazers picked off four Tiger passes en route to a 13-10 victory in Baton Rouge.? The all-time UAB mark for interceptions in a single game is five (5), set vs. Morehead State in a I-AA game at Legion Field in 1999.

IT'S A FACT: UAB has intercepted at least one pass in 20 of its last 26 games (and in two of four games this season).

IT'S ALSO A FACT: UAB has blocked at least one kick in two of three games this season (punts vs. Montana State and Army), and in four of its last six games dating back to the Southern Miss game at Legion Field last season.

PITTSBURGH GAME RESCHEDULED: UAB will make up the game at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Heinz Field (time TBA).

STRONG SCHEDULES: The Blazers have ambitious non-conference schedules over the next few seasons that include dates at Florida (2002),? at South Carolina (2003),? at Florida State (2004), and Tennessee (2005), as well as a home game vs.? Pittsburgh (2002), and home-and-home series with Baylor (2003 in Waco, 2004 in Birmingham) and UNLV (2005 in Las Vegas, 2006 in Birmingham).

THOMAS PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION:? Senior defensive end Bryan Thomas was named to the preseason All-Conference USA team in July.?

CLOSING IN:? Bryan Thomas led UAB with 10 sacks last season, and currently has 26.0 career sacks (including three in the Southern Miss game last week), ranking him first among all UAB players in the NCAA Division I-A era (1996-? ) and second all-time at UAB behind Rodney Foster (29, from 1991-94).

GALLEGO ON GROZA AWARD WATCH LIST:? Senior placekicker Rhett Gallego, whose success was one of the big themes of the 2000 UAB season, is once again a candidate for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to college football's top placekicker. Gallego kicked a UAB single-season record 19? field goals in 2000, including game-winners at LSU (Sep. 23) and East Carolina (Oct. 28).

DUGGER A DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Senior running back Jegil Dugger, who rushed for 852 yards and five touchdowns (including game-winners vs. Chattanooga and Memphis) on 177 carries in 2000 -- primarily as a backup to often-injured starter Carl Fair -- is among the initial 43 players named to the 2001 Doak Walker Award watch list.? The Doak Walker Award is given annually to college football's top running back.

STEWART SHINES: Redshirt junior punter Ross Stewart had his finest game as a Blazer vs. Florida State (Sept. 8), the Blountsville, Ala. native punted six times for 285 yards (a 47.5 average), and had a long kick of 68 yards -- a personal best.? Stewart's season average is currently 46.56 yards per punt, good enough to rank him sixth nationally.? Five of Stewart's 11 punts this season have been downed inside the opponents' 20-yardline. Stewart currently leads Conference USA? in punting (as of 9/30).

AARON, GALLEGO RECEIVE C-USA HONORS: UAB quarterback Jeff Aaron and placekicker Rhett Gallego were honored by Conference USA for their performances in last Saturday's 55-3 win over Army at Legion Field. Aaron, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score - all in just over one half of play - was named C-USA Offensive Player of The Week.? The senior from Montgomery, Ala. (Jeff Davis HS) led scoring drives on all six UAB possessions in the first half.? Gallego, a senior from Birmingham (Hueytown HS), earned C-USA Special Teams Player of The Week honors.? He made both of his field goal attempts (from 45 and 34 yards) and hit six of six PAT attempts for 11 points in the game.? Gallego was named C-USA Player of The Week three times during the 2000 season.

TEAM CAPTAINS: UAB Head Coach Watson Brown selects game captains -- always seniors -- shortly before kickoff each week. Permanent captains are designated following the season.

NUMBER CHANGES: There were several jersey number changes among veteran Blazer players between the 2000 and 2001 season, primarily among the receiver corps. Those changes include:

Player ??????????? ??????????? Old Number? ??????????? 2001 Number

??????????? Maurice Gallery ?????? 20 (1998-00)? ??????????? 1

??????????? Travis Johnson???????? 19 (1997-00)? ??????????? 3

??????????? T.J. Simmons ?????? 11 (1999-00)??????????? ?9

NUMBER CHANGES, cont.: One newcomer, junior receiver Brandon Seabrook, has changed jersey numbers? three times since the Montana State game (Aug. 30), Seabrook, a junior college transfer from Atlanta, Ga., wore no. 40 (a duplicate number, shared with linebacker Darrius Taylor) vs. the Bobcats, no. 8 at Florida State, was scheduled to wear no. 84 at Pittsburgh(Sept. 15), and was assigned to no. 26 for the Army game.? Two other number changes for the Army game included placekicker Will "Gimp" Morthland (no. 33), and receiver Brian Buckner? (no. 84).

BROTHERS:? The 2001 Blazer team has no less than three (3) sets of brothers on the roster. The most high profile are freshman twins Kendal and Randal Gibson (Aliceville, Ala.). The Gibsons are not, however, the first set of twins to play for the Blazers,? Terry and Perry Collier (Munday, Texas) were members of Coach Watson Brown's first UAB team in 1995. Other brothers on the 2001 team include redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Artavious Williams and redshirt freshman noseguard Tony Williams (Montgomery, Ala.), and sophomore receiver Lynorse and sophomore defensive back Anthony Garrett (Cottonwood, Ala.). There was almost another set of brothers on the 2001 team, freshman defensive lineman Ernest Repress (Barnesville, Ga.) and brother Clarence (also a lineman) both signed with the Blazers last spring, but Clarence did not enroll this fall.

CURRENTLY ON NFL ROSTERS (as of Sep. 30): ?Seven former Blazers, including:

Josh Evans (DT) * Tennessee Titans

??????????? Dainon Sidney (DB) * Tennessee Titans

??????????? Izell Reese (DB) * Dallas Cowboys

??????????? Otis Leverette (DE) * Washington Redskins

??????????? Rodregis Brooks (DB) * Indianapolis Colts

??????????? Jake Arians (PK) * Buffalo Bills

??????????? Carl Fair (RB) * Cleveland Browns

? UNIFORM CHANGES: The 2001 Blazers took the field for the Montana State game (Aug. 30) in re-designed uniforms. In addition to style changes on the green game jerseys, the team wore white pants for the first time during the Watson Brown era (1995-? ), and also sported green stockings. The new jerseys and pants (as well as the team's shoes) are made by adidas. UAB still has its traditional gold helmet with green stripe and "Dragon Shield" logos (a white helmet was developed but did not make it past the prototype stage). UAB will wear the green jerseys and white pants at home and its traditional white jersey and gold pants (both made by Alabama-based Russell Corp.)? in road games.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

UAB Football Notes For The UCF Game

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