The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Begin Classes and Regular Season Practice Schedule
8/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Thursday marked the first day of classes and regular season practice for the UAB football team, which battled the heat for about two hours on the practice field in the middle of the afternoon. Temperatures approached the mid-90's while the heat index climbed above the 100-degree mark.
With the long stretch of hot temperatures and intense practices, some players showed signs of soreness which led head coach Watson Brown and the Blazer coaching staff to change the practice attire from full pads to just shoulder pads. Despite this, Brown expressed some concern about his players.
"I was disappointed," said Brown. "I didn't think they gave us what they needed to give us when we backed off them a little bit. But it was the first day of school, and I hope its just that they weren't focused. Hopefully they'll come back better tomorrow."
The Blazers will hold their second scrimmage of the season on Saturday morning, and Brown expects to find out more about his team.
"We're looking for a little more teamwork on Saturday," said Brown. "I'd like to see more fluidness and execution on both sides of the ball and still more individual performances. Because this is it. We'll make our decisions off of this last scrimmage and come Monday, we'll start scout teams and preparing for Tennessee. It will be a big day for everyone to see where they fall on the depth chart."
UAB opens the season by traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., to face Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 3. The Blazers and Volunteers play at Neyland Stadium at 12:30 ET/11:30 CT, in a game that will be televised regionally on Jefferson Pilot.
The Blazers return to the practice field on Friday afternoon before holding their second scrimmage of the season on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
