The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Team Turns in Pair of Competitive Workouts
8/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB football team completed its second regiment of two-a-day practices on Tuesday as the Blazers worked out in shorts and shells during the 7:30 a.m. practice before going in full pads at 4:30 p.m. under cloudy skies here at the UAB practice facility.
"Today's practices went well," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "The players are getting tired and sore. We've been really physical out here. We have a young team and we have to do this in my opinion, and we're going to hope and pray that we get through it without any serious injuries. So far we have been without serious injury, but when you hit this much, you're going to get bumped and bruised."
UAB finished its ninth and 10th practices of the fall season on Tuesday and closed out its first full week of workouts. After a one-and-a-half hour session in the morning, the Blazers endured a two-and-a-half hour practice on Tuesday night that was intended to build the team's endurance.
"I'm still a little worried about this weather," Brown said. "This is August and it's cool and breezy and then I look on the Internet and see 102 degrees out in Waco (Texas). It concerns me, but we're running the fool out of them (the players) and they sure know that."
The Blazers will continue fall practice on Wednesday with a brief walk-through for the kicking game at 10:20 a.m. followed by the team's first scrimmage of the season at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday's scrimmage is the first installment of three fall scrimmages and will take place at the UAB practice facility. UAB's second scrimmage is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Legion Field, while the substitution scrimmage will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24.
"I'd like to go 45 to 50 plays with the ones and twos in tomorrow's scrimmage," said Brown. "Then I'd like to sprinkle the threes and fours in with them, so I'd say we'll go about 100 plays total. That's if we can do it. If they get beat up at a couple of positions, then we'll have to cut it a little short."
The UAB football team will begin its 2003 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, as the Blazers take on the Baylor Bears at 6 p.m. at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.
