The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Team Concludes Spring Drills
4/18/2003 12:00:00β―AM | Football
April 18, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ------ The UAB football team wrapped up its spring drills here Friday, capping off the 15 sessions of the past month with a 90-minute scrimmage.
Blazer head coach Watson Brown called the spring a success, as he did Friday's final workout. He singled out several players, including sophomore quarterback Darrell Hackney who hit 14-of-21 passes for 225 yards in the scrimmage. Most impressive were his three touchdowns with no interceptions. In last Saturday's Blazer Day scrimmage, he threw for 367 yards, but he also had three interceptions.
"I thought it was important for Darrell to come out today and do that (play well), said Brown. "Last Saturday, he had a bunch of yards, he had touchdowns, he had a lot of big plays, but we're not going to win with three turnovers. I told him after the scrimmage that I'd rather have 200 yards passing and 30 completions and no interceptions than 367 yards, 18 completions and three interceptions.
"I thought today he didn't really throw a ball in a crowd all day," said Brown. "He took what he had, he threw a lot of short balls. His yards per pass were probably less than Saturday, but he took care of the ball."
Brown was pleased with his team's enthusiasm Friday, his players realizing the practice would be the last one until two-a-days begin in August. "No doubt they were excited," Brown said. "I think they were counting the plays until it was over. It's a little tougher when you have a spring game the week before even though it really wasn't a spring game and then have another scrimmage, but they made it through. I don't think we got anybody hurt seriously, and I think we got something out of it."
One of the Blazers' primary objectives coming into spring practice was putting in a new 4-3 defense under new defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt.
"By far, the defense was more improved than the offense from the start of spring to now," Brown said. "They had a lot further to go, but I think they understand what we're doing better. We're still giving up a few too many big plays, but I think that will come. We're a zone team now more than a man, so we have to learn the zones a little better and how to hold people up. I really like what we're doing and I think the players are adjusting to it well."
Whereas last Saturday's receiving star was Lance Rhodes, the big-play maker in Friday's scrimmage finale was junior Bradley Chavez. Chavez was on the receiving end of five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jhun Cook caught two passes - both touchdowns - for 57 yards.
Aside from Hackney's passing performance, redshirt freshman Curtis Falany hit 8-of-11 passes for 83 ayrds while Chris Williams was 4-for-6 for 43 yards.
Redshirt freshman Bo Moncur was the leading ground gainer with 34 yards and a touchdown. Junior Kendal Gibson contributed 19 yards on six rushing attempts. Nick Hayes was 1-of-2 on field goals, both 47-yard attempts.
UAB opens its 2003 season Saturday, August 30 with a contest at Big 12 Conference foe Baylor. The Blazers will have a short turnaround the following week when they prepare for a nationally-televised (ESPN2) game Thursday, Sept. 4 with Conference USA rival Southern Mississippi at Legion Field.
