The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Football to Put on Pads Sunday Afternoon
8/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2001
UAB Head coach Watson Brown said his Blazers have gotten a lot accomplished in the first three days in shorts, but now must step things up when the team puts on full pads Sunday afternoon.
?It?s been a good three days,? said Brown. ?We?ve been inconsistent. We?ll have one good play by the defense and then one by the offense. But we?ve got to have a sense of urgency about what we?re doing out there to get ready to play a game.
?We?re where I thought we would be at this time, which is good. We haven?t had many hurt. The weather has helped. It hasn?t been too hot so far. We have to just get after it now.?
The Blazers will practice just once, late afternoon, Sunday. They will then go through a week of two-a-days prior to school starting next Monday. UAB will practice in shorts in the morning and full pads in the afternoon, Monday and Tuesday, and have its first full scrimmage, Wednesday.
THE FRESHMEN After working with the returnees for three full days, Brown says a few freshmen have stood out that could get playing time this fall.
?Darrell Hackney has really looked good at quarterback. You have to have three ready to play and Darrell is looking good.? The top two on the depth chart are Jeff Aaron and Thomas Cox.
?Roddy White (wide receiver, Charleston, S.C.)has been impressive. He can really run,? said Brown. ?(Cornerback) Carlos Hendricks (Montgomery, Ala.), Zack Woodfin (linebacker, Pratville, Ala.) and Randal Gibson (defensive lineman, Aliceville, Ala.) are freshmen who have stood out.?
THE WEATHER The temperatures at the start of practice was 96-degrees, before cloud cover and wind quickly cooled things off. It was the hottest temperature of practice so far. ?We?ve had too days where it started out real hot, but then clouds came over,? said Brown. ?It shows how lucky we have been with the weather.?
UAB opens the season, Aug. 30 at home against Montana State.
