The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Holds Second Practice Of Fall Season
8/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 7, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team held its second practice of the fall season Saturday. After a 30-minute morning walk through, the team closed the day with a two-hour-and-40-minute practice. "We had a good practice today," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "We are doing a lot, probably earlier than normal. We have a little more experience this season, so we are a little further along right now. Things are going well. We've had two good days of installation both on offense and defense." The Blazers returned 21 of 25 starters overall, including 10 of 11 on the defensive side. Brown was particularly pleased with offensive tackles Cornelius Rogers, a sophomore, and red-shirt freshman Jamarius Dismuke. "I've been excited," said Brown. "The two new tackles have picked stuff up very well. That's been good. That is a good sign for us." Brown also noted the play of red-shirt freshman David Sigler, who made the move from linebacker to "H" back/tight end in the spring. "He's moved and he's done a great job," said Brown. "He's going to be a really good player. He played that in high school. He played tight end and linebacker. We moved him the last week of the spring. He's doing well. He's picked it up well. He's going to help us." The weather has also cooperated nicely for UAB over the past two days with temperatures in the mid to low 80s. "The weather has been fantastic," Brown said. "It has been really nice these first two days. It feels like early fall." Brown announced that senior defensive back Dio Hill would not play his senior season due to injuries and that he would take on the role of student assistant coach. "Dio just couldn't go," said Brown. "He had those two surgeries. He's going to help us coach. He wants to be a coach and he should graduate this year." The team will attend church Sunday morning at Southside Baptist and will later hold a kicking practice at 4 p.m. The Blazers open the season Sept. 4 against Baylor at 6 p.m. at Legion Field.
