The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Fans Choose Top 10 Football Highlights
9/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 1, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- As UAB kicks off its 10th season of competition at the Division 1-A level this Saturday when the Blazers travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the Tennessee Volunteers, UAB fans have voted on their top 10 highlights of Blazer football.
The entire process was controlled by the fans, with them making nominations and then voting on their favorites. Here are the Top 10 UAB Football Moments according to Blazer fans in chronological order:
1) First Ever Win
On September 21, 1991, The Blazers marched into Lexington, Virginia, to face Washington & Lee and left with the first victory in program history. After trailing 21-12 going into the fourth quarter, UAB rallied for 22 unanswered points to earn the 34-21 win.
2) Homecoming Spoiler
In 1995, first-year head coach Watson Brown and his UAB football team went to North Texas and upset the Eagles on their homecoming. Kevin Drake threw two touchdown passes to Cedrick Buchannon in the victory.
3) Division I-A Here We Are
In 1996, UAB football made a Division 1-A debut to remember, as the Blazers took the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium to face the #18 Auburn Tigers. The Blazers fought gallantly in front of more than 80,000 fans.
4) Amazing Recovery, Amazing Win
On November 6, 1999, East Carolina came to Legion Field ranked #17 nationally and left with a loss. After what looked to be a game-ending head injury early in the game, junior cornerback Rodregis Brooks re-entered the game in the second half to score two thrilling touchdowns and lead the Blazers to a 36-17 victory. It was UAB's first win against a nationally-ranked team.
5) Silence in Death Valley
September 23, 2000 is a date Blazer fans will never forget. UAB marched into Tiger Stadium and defeated the LSU Tigers 13-10 on homecoming. Rhett Gallego hit a 32-yard, game winning field goal as time expired to give the Blazers their first win against an SEC opponent.
6) C-USA Attendance Record
On September 4, 2003, 44,669 rowdy fans packed Legion Field to watch the Blazers take on Southern Mississippi in a nationally televised ESPN game. Despite a close loss, the crowd set a then-C-USA attendance record.
7) Five in a Row
On September 25, 2004, the Blazers defeated C-USA rival Memphis on Corey White's 30 yard game-winning touchdown run with 13 seconds left. The 35-28 victory was UAB's fifth consecutive win over Memphis.
8) Another SEC Team Feels the Heat
In 2004, UAB went into Starkville to face SEC foe Mississippi State and came away with a 27-13 victory. The Blazers were in good hands as quarterback Darrell Hackney and wide receiver Roddy White hooked up for seven completions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
9) TCU Goes Down on ESPN
On October 15, 2004 Darrell Hackney led an air assault against TCU, throwing for five touchdown passes in the first half. UAB counted on two field goals in the second half by Nick Hayes to beat the Horned Frogs 41-25 in front of 33,280 people at Legion Field and a national TV audience.
10) Going Bowling
Christmas Eve 2004, was a day to be remembered by Blazer fans. After going 7-4 in the regular season, the Blazers took on the Hawaii Warriors in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in their first ever bowl game appearance. Although the Blazers fell in an exciting game, the Hawaii Bowl served notice to football fans everywhere just how far UAB football has come in just 14 short years.
