The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Hit Field In Preparation For 2005 Season
8/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB football team had its second practice of the 2005 season here Saturday morning. The Blazers, who wore helmets and shorts, were on the field for just over two hours.
"I thought today was a little better," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "I think we looked a little more polished than we did in our first practice."
The Blazers return 58 letterwinners and 16 starters from a 2004 squad that went 7-5 and appeared in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, the program's first bowl game. With an experienced squad, UAB is looking to install plays more quickly.
"We're going faster than in previous years," said Brown. "We're putting more in than we usually do. I have to be careful with that because we do have more experience, but we also have linebackers that aren't as experienced as in the past. You can't throw everything in on everybody at once. Coach (Wayne) Bolt is having to be careful with those guys. We are going faster, in an installation way, than we would with an inexperienced team."
Despite the return of many starters and letterwinners, the Blazers will have a few question marks to answer prior to the season. On defense, UAB has to replace all three starting linebackers from last season, as well as improve its pass defense. Additionally, the Blazers lost All-American receiver Roddy White, who was the 27th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. On special teams, gone is three-year starter Nick Hayes, who served as the Blazers' placekicker.
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 regular practice Monday morning.
