The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Holds First Football Media Luncheon
8/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB football hosted its first media luncheon of the 2003 season here Monday as head coach Watson Brown and several Blazer players discussed their first game against Big XII Conference opponent Baylor and expectations for the 2003 season.
UAB faces the Bears in Waco, Texas on Saturday, Aug. 30 (6:00 p.m. CT). Baylor is coming off a 3-9 finish in 2002, but has new coach, Guy Morriss, at the helm.
Brown opened the press conference by discussing his expectations and concerns for the 2003 season.
"This is an important year for us and this program," Brown said. "We have a lot to uphold here. This is our fifth year in Conference USA. We want to take it to the next level. We have a winning record against all but three teams in this league. Our goal every year is to win a conference championship and to get ourselves bowl-eligible. Last year, was disappointing to us. We had 23 surgeries on the team and lost so many players, it was difficult for us. This season, we are a young team, but we have some experience in our starters. Of the 78 players going with us to Baylor, 52 of them are freshmen or sophomores.
"I think this league is going to be better than it was the year before. I look at every team and they all have a chance to be better. We have the toughest schedule in the league. We are the only team with five home games. Our non-conference schedule is by far, I think, the toughest in the conference. If we're going to reach our goals, we're going to have to be lucky, we're going to have to stay healthy and we're going to have to have some young players grow up very quickly. To say the least, this is a very important start for us. We go to Waco, Texas to play a Big XII team and then five days later; we play Southern Miss at home on national television. We need to get off to a good start and we need to play well."
In addition to facing Baylor, UAB has a difficult schedule throughout the season. The slate includes home games against Southern Miss (Sept. 4), Troy State (Sept. 13), Cincinnati (Oct. 11), Army (Nov. 1) and Tulane (Nov. 8). The Blazers also have road games versus South Carolina (Sept. 20), Memphis, (Oct. 4), TCU (Oct. 18), Georgia (Oct. 24), South Florida (Nov. 22) and Houston (Nov. 29).
Brown also talked about injuries and substitutions the Blazers may face this week at Baylor.
"Injury-wise, we're concerned about the following players: Carl Duncan (out), Anthony Garrett (probable), Vince Pollard (questionable), Chico Cleveland (questionable) and Dan Burks (questionable)," said Brown. Those are some important people that we need to play on Saturday, but we're not going to play them unless they are ready. There are three potential starters that have not played for us yet. Brandon Register will start at strong safety for Thurman Pearson. Strong end Jermaine McElveen will start in Garrett's place. McElveen is a true freshman who went through spring practice with us. Bo Moncur will start if Burks is not ready to go at running back."
UAB's first home game comes against Conference USA foe Southern Miss on Thursday, Sept. 4 (6:00 p.m. CT) and will be televised on ESPN2.
Player Quotes LINEBACKER Gaylon Black On his injury during the 2002 season "It's going to take the first couple plays of the game and the first big hit for me to get comfortable. I feel pretty good about my knee so far. The rehab went really well. It was very frustrating last year. I wasn't sure why it happened, at the time. I'm probably 95 to 100 percent right now, but it's mostly confidence right now."
On the first game of the season "I can't speak for anyone else, but I've had expectations for this game since my injury. When I got hurt, it didn't take them long to tell me that I was probably going to miss the rest of the season, so I've been looking forward to this game ever since then. I don't want to be overanxious or put too much pressure on myself to do well, but I am feeling the anticipation."
On the defensive gameplan "We bring a lot of different looks, different fronts. It's one of the most fun defenses I've ever played in. The nickel defense was a lot of zone and a lot of man, but there wasn't much blitzing. Now, we have the 4-3 and we have three linebackers on the field at the same time. It's a very linebacker-oriented defense. I'm just looking forward to it because I think it's going to be very exciting. There are going to be a lot of people coming. Lots of linebackers coming, some corner blitzes. There's going to be a little bit of everything coming at the opponent. Coach (Wayne) Bolt is a great coach. He has a fun playbook, too. I think he realizes that a lot of guys like to blitz and have fun on the field. I think he's trying to incorporate some of that on the field, but makes sure his players on getting the job done."
On the billboard featuring Black, Zac Woodfin and Nigel Eldridge "At first I thought, 'Man, that's really me'. I looked at it a lot at first, but now I don't really pay attention to it. It was a trip at first, I kept thinking, 'I'm on a billboard and everyone in Birmingham is going to see it.' But, now I've gotten used to it. It just reminds me every day that I have a job to do. It's football season and it's time to be real. People are anticipating a lot of things from us."
On the Baylor offense "We haven't watched much film on Baylor, but their offensive coordinator (Brent Pease) is from Kentucky. They run every screen known to man. We've been looking at that. I think the screen is one of the hardest things for a defense to play against. It's hard to say because we've been watching a lot of Kentucky film. I think they are going to be a lot better than last year because they have a new coach."
QUARTERBACK Darrell Hackney On the Baylor game "We're going into the game expecting them to run a lot of what the coaching staff ran at Kentucky. We've been watching a lot of Kentucky film. They do a lot of bracketing. They double this receiver and then double another receiver. That's what I'm expecting, a nickel front and double X or Z."
On the feeling around the team for the 2003 season "Everybody has a sense of urgency. Everybody is looking to see what our offense is going to do. I know a lot of people are going to see what I can do when I'm healthy. I'm taking it one game at a time, starting with Baylor. I think if we can put points on the board, I think we can win. I feel comfortable with our defense. Coach (Wayne) Bolt has them ready. Today, we go in and get the scouting report together and we'll know everything we expect to see."
TIGHT END Sam Dudley On his role on the team "I'm excited and ready to get the show on the road. Hopefully, I'll get to make a lot of plays so that Coach Brown will use the tight end more often."
On expectations for the 2003 season "Our main team goal is to win the conference championship. Right now, that's my personal goal."
Which position to do you like better? Tailback or tight end "It's about equal. I just like being on the field because I'm trying to make plays."
Concerns about weather in Waco, Texas "I think we're well-conditioned, but really, no practice puts you to the test like a game. The game is a different type of energy outburst. You never know until game-time."
About fall practice "Fall practice was good because the team was more unified. In the past, we've gone our separate ways after practice, but this year, we've gone and hung out and gotten to know each other."
