The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Wrap Up Spring Practice
4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 22, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB football team concluded its 2004 spring practice drills here Thursday afternoon, culminating its final session with a 45-minute scrimmage, and no doubt, left Blazer head coach Watson Brown pleased with the results of the past three weeks.
UAB, which returns 17 of 21 offensive and defensive starters as well as its starting placekicker and punter from last season, wrapped up what Brown called "the best spring practice we've had here.
"I don't think we had anybody hurt seriously and we did a lot of hitting," said Brown. " I think, if we get these kids who are bumped and bruised back by June, which is really really our summer conditioning program starts, we will be in good shape going into two-a-days.
"I think we got a lot accomplished," Brown said "We got a good ways into our defense and I think we got further than I thought we would on offense, putting in a lot of new stuff. I'm very pleased. Really, today the last part of the practice we scrimmaged with mainly a lot of second and third-teamers. We really wanted to take a hard look at every one of them individually and give them one last shot to see where they would fit in with this team.
"I've said many times, you're only as good as your second and third units are," Brown said, "so I'm looking forward to watching the tape from today to see if anyone popped up from the second and third units who can help this team."
A year ago, the Blazers were concluding spring practice having installed a new defense under new defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt. Now, a year later, the UAB defenders are familiar and comfortable with Bolt's system. Brown said the difference from a year ago was obvious.
"Our defense, they just know so much more and most all of them are back," Brown said. "And you can see that. I think we had a good spring defensively. We didn't get anyone hurt. We had three guys (CB Dio Hill, DE Jermaine McElveen and LB Gaylon Black) who weren't out here in the spring because of injury who are important to us and we'll get them back.
"We've said all along, our question mark is the offensive line because we'll have some new people," said Brown. " They weren't all here for the spring and we'll have to jump right into two-a-days. But I think we've got a chance to have a good team."
The Blazers open their 2004 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 4 when they play host to the Baylor Bears of the Big XII Conference.
