The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Athletic Department Set To Host Friday Frenzy
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 14, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB athletic department will give UAB fans the chance to see several of their favorite teams in action as it hosts four different sporting events on Friday, Oct. 15, a day aptly dubbed "Friday Frenzy"
The action begins on Friday when the UAB volleyball team plays host to Conference USA rival DePaul in Bartow Arena at 2 p.m. The Blazer women's soccer team (8-4-1, 4-1-0 C-USA) will face Saint Louis (9-3-1, 5-0-0) at 4 p.m. at West Campus Field in a crucial conference match. Saint Louis currently sits atop the C-USA standings, but a UAB win would propel the Blazers, the defending conference champions, into a tie with the Billikens for the overall lead.
The UAB football team (4-1) will meet TCU at 7 p.m. at Legion Field in game nationally-televised on ESPN, as the Blazers look to go 3-0 in C-USA play and continue their best start in school history. UAB has won three-straight games and defeated Mississippi State, 27-13, in Starkville, Miss., last Saturday.
UAB fans will get their first chance to see the men's and women's basketball teams in action following the football game, as the two teams host their annual Midnite Madness at Bartow Arena beginning at 10:30 p.m. The two teams will be introduced to the fans and will sign autographs. The Blazer Band, cheerleaders, and Golden Girls will be on hand and their will be a multitude of interactive events and contests.
Fans will get an opportunity to meet women's first-year head coach Audra Smith and her staff, and the men's team will be honored by receiving their C-USA championship rings. The Blazers knocked off No. 1 seed Kentucky last season to advance to the Sweet 16 and finished 22-10 under the guidance of head coach Mike Anderson, the 2004 Ray Meyer C-USA Coach of the Year. Each team will also scrimmage to complete the night. All fans are encouraged to bring a canned good item to benefit Magic City Harvest.
Free football t-shirts will be given away to the first 10,000 fans entering Legion Field and Blazer Village will be set up where kids can enjoy free inflatable games, face painting and music, and there will also be a pre-game pep rally. Fans will be able to greet the football team and coaching staff as they enter the stadium for the "Blazer Walk", a new tradition which occurs at 4:30 p.m. next to Blazer Village.
Friday is also designated as UAB Student Spirit Day as all UAB students are encouraged to attend as many athletic events as possible that day. Students can pick up a Spirit Day card at any of the events on Friday. Students who attend four or more events will receive giveaways and prizes. The fifth and sixth athletic events in addition to the sporting events are the Gang Green Tailgate Party held outside Legion Field in Blazer Village, which begins at 5 p.m., and the Gang Green Olympics, which will begin at 10:30 p.m. at Bartow Arena. Admission is free and for more information, call the UAB marketing and promotions department at (205) 934-7413.
