The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football Wraps Up Sixth Day Of Fall Practice
8/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 14, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - With one two-hour session in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts the UAB football team wrapped up its sixth day of fall practice Wednesday. The team was scheduled to scrimmage Wednesday, but head Coach Watson Brown opted for a lighter practice after injuries to several lineman occurred in Tuesday's practice.
Although the practice was not as physical as the last two, Brown was pleased with the workout.
"It was a good practice," said Brown. "We only had about 20 minutes of physical work against one another, which is about 30 minutes less than we did the first two days of full pads. I feel like we are in good shape. We'll get a full-pads day tomorrow and we'll hope to scrimmage Friday. The guys are tired. We don't have the quickness we had five days ago, but that is supposed to happen with two-a-days."
A true freshman may be stepping up on the depth chart, with quarterback Matt Johnson still experiencing a sore throwing arm. True freshmen quarterbacks Curtis Falany (Vestavia Hills High School) and Kyle Bissinger (North Cobb High School in Atlanta) have had to take more snaps in practice.
"Both freshman have had to move up," said Brown. "Matt Johnson still cannot throw. His shoulder got sore after four days of work. We have to press those guys right now. Somebody has to step up and be the third guy. That is a concern of mine. I had hoped we would have been better there, but now we may have to use a freshman."
Practice continues Thursday with one session scheduled for 3 p.m. The team is scheduled to scrimmage Friday.
UAB opens the season Aug. 31 against the nationally-ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (ET) kickoff and will air live on a pay per view basis and will also air on a taped delay basis through the Sunshine Network.
