The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Team Wraps Up Two-A-Day Practices
8/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.----- Less than two weeks away from its 2002 season opener at Florida, the UAB football team wrapped up its final day of two practices here Monday afternoon.
The Blazers will scrimmage Tuesday afternoon before beginning fall semester classes Wednesday and more specific preparations for the Gators.
Weather conditions between Monday's morning and afternoon sessions could not have been much different. The Blazers' morning practice was held under some of the hottest, most humid conditions of the preseason. After an early afternoon rain, however, the temperatures and humidity dropped considerably
"I thought we had a pretty good day," said head coach Watson Brown. "If we can make it through one more day, knock on wood, we'll be alright. To this point, we haven't had any serious injuries, only the 2-3 day stuff."
Among those players who did sit out Monday's drills were four offensive starters. Tight end Sam Dudley has missed the entire preseason with an ankle but Brown is hopeful to have him back late in the week. Wide receiver Chico Cleveland (knee), RB Kendal Gibson (hamstring) and RB Theron Dudley (thigh) could be back as early as Wednesday, according to Brown.
Brown said Tuesday's scrimmage will focus on an emphasis on the kicking game. "We'll work on all phases," said Brown. "It will be the most live work our kicking game has seen during camp. We'll give our young guys a lot of work tomorrow, too, a lot of second and third-teamers."
The Blazers will open their 2002 season in Gainesville, Fla. against the nationally-ranked Florida Gators on August 31, with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. CT. SportsChannel Florida will televise the contest on a pay-per-view basis. The game will also air on a taped delay basis through the Sunshine Network.
