The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Football Team Goes Through Game-Day Plan
8/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 23, 2001
The UAB Football team went through a game day dress rehearsal Thursday afternoon as the Blazers are one week away from a the season opening game against Montana State.
?This is probably the most important practice of the preseason,? Blazer head coach Watson Brown said. ?It is mostly an assignment practice. We go over everything we do on game day, warm-ups, substitutions and anything that can happen in a game.?
?I thought it was a good day. We left the one?s in for a long time. They got in more than 50 plays each,? said Brown. ?I did see some glaring things out there that we?re going to have to work on the next few days. I?m really looking forward to seeing this tape.?
The practice consisted of a non-live, light contact scrimmage that was run just like a real game.
The Blazers will practice Friday afternoon and take Saturday off as they participate in Fan Day at 4 p.m. at the UAB Mini Park on the corner of 14th Street and University Boulevard.
WOUNDED UPDATE Three of UAB?s injured hope to return to the practice field Friday. They include junior center Kirk Tuck and junior offensive guard Larry Coachman. Wide receiver Kenny Borders is also hopeful of returning to practice, however is probably out for the Montana State game.
Defensive end Ryan Meeks, who has been bothered by a knee injury, is still questionable for practice and the opener.
Third-team center Matt Batusic sprained his ankle Wednesday, but Brown is hopeful he can return Monday.
Brown says he is very concerned about the center position with the injuries to Tuck and Batusic. ?We?ve just got three centers and two of them are out. If Kirk or Matt can?t come back then we have some real problems. I really hope, and think, both can get back and play next Thursday.
?However, there is no way you can miss 7-10 days and be ready to play a full game, so this is going to put a lot of pressure on that position and Jimmy Joynt. He will play a lot against Montana State.?Joynt is a 6-2, 285, redshirt freshman.
Coachman?s injury has caused some shuffling on the right side of the offensive line. Redshirt freshman Andy Galloway moved from right tackle to guard and Brad Spencer has been the starter at right tackle.
?We moved Andy over and he has done a good job, as has Brad Spencer. So we?re going to leave them right now and let Coachman get back in behind Galloway. That will change as the season goes along. Andy will be a swing guy most of the season.?
The Blazers play their first game against Montana State, Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. in Legion Field.
