The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Open Spring Football Drills
3/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 18, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Spring football practice began here Tuesday at UAB as head coach Watson Brown and the Blazers start working toward the 2003 season.
Spring drills had been scheduled to begin Monday, but Brown decided to postpone the start a day because of inclement weather.
UAB's 2002 team that finished 5-7 overall and 4-4 in Conference USA included 23 seniors on the squad, a significant contrast to the seven seniors listed on the spring roster.
"We have a ton of returning players, and even though overall this will be a young team, we've got good experience at a lot of positions," said Brown. "No doubt, it's a junior-oriented team. I think we'll have 20-something juniors, but only seven seniors. But they've all played."
A rash of injuries last season forced Brown and his staff to play many younger players, perhaps a liability at the time but now something that Brown expects to be an asset for the Blazers.
Tuesday's practice was the first of 15 for UAB over the next five weeks. The Blazers will hold "Blazer Day", highlighted by the spring game, on Saturday, April 12. UAB will conclude spring drills the week after "Blazer Day" with four additional practices.
