The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Head To Cincinnati Looking To Become Bowl-Eligible
11/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 25, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB head coach Watson Brown held his weekly press conference here Monday afternoon discussing his team's preparation for the final regular season game against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The Blazers (5-6, 4-3 Conference USA) will travel to Nippert Stadium for the 1:00 p.m. EST game on Saturday. This marks the sixth time the Blazers have met the Bearcats on the playing field. The Bearcats defeated the Blazers in the most recent matchup last season at Legion Field (31-17), while UAB's one victory in the series was a 24-21 (OT) decision at Cincinnati in 1999.
The Blazers are coming off a 41-21 Conference USA loss to the Louisville Cardinals last Saturday. UAB totaled 377 yards on offense but gave up 412 to Louisville for the defeat.
UAB redshirt freshman quarterback Darrell Hackney has started the past seven games for the Blazers and posted 1,670 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in that period. Sophomore wide receiver Roddy White has 32 catches (497 yards) of his 38 receptions this season over the past seven games, including three touchdown catches.
Cincinnati (5-4, 4-2) traveled to Hawaii for a non-conference game last Saturday and fell to the Rainbows, 20-19. Senior DeMarco McCleskey rushed for 121 yards in the game giving him five 100-yard games in the season and making him the 12th back in Cincinnati history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Below are a few comments from coach Brown and UAB players.
Coach Brown: "This is it. We go or we don't. I didn't think this team would be here. I am surprised we are, but I am going to be disappointed if we don't get the last one. The last two teams have deserved to go and didn't, but if this one goes it will be ironic. They have a good chance if they win because of the way the teams have fallen. We should snag the last spot. But the bad part is, Cincinnati is playing for the same thing. They have to win two, while we have to win one, so we have less to do and we've just got to go do it. If we lose, I will be coming home very upset. I think this team has accomplished more than I thought we would. We've been very competitive and I am very proud of this team. There's a lot at stake and we know it. They played hard last week, they just need more poise and more confidence. Cincinnati is better than us, but they have to be better than us on Saturday. I think we are going to play our best game against them. They're record may not show it, but I think this is the best Cincinnati team we have lined up against."
Kirk Tuck: "Louisville was extra aggressive. They are a tough squad. To win the conference two years in a row, you have got to be tough. We just need to step up to that level of toughness. We didn't play as well as we needed to. We started off pretty strong and we kind of lost it. We knew the last four games were going to be important and we wouldn't have it any other way. We have our destiny in our own hands. If we beat them then our chances of going to Hawaii are good and we are looking forward to it. Cincinnati has beaten us the last two times, but we do need to get a win out of that. Right now, it is the biggest game of the year because it could get us to a bowl game."
Darrell Hackney: "I think we played well in the first half against Louisville, we just didn't take advantage of our opportunities. The blame cannot be laid on just the special teams because the offense didn't move the ball. Cincinnati plays aggressively and up to their level of competition and I think if they don't take us seriously that we can take advantage of it. I have learned a lot from this season and I can carry it on through next season."
