The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Turn Focus Towards Marshall
10/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team began preparations for Marshall on Tuesday afternoon, going for approximately two hours in full pads on the UAB practice field. The Blazers are looking to rebound from a heartbreaking 34-33 loss at Rice last Saturday in Houston. UAB head coach Watson Brown felt Tuesday afternoon's session was a good start to the week and is excited about returning to the practice field.
"Win or lose, you have to come back and come out here again," Brown said. "If you win by 40 or lose how we did, you have to get back out here because the next week's more important than the last one. Our guys have done that all year. This has been an easy team to coach in that way.
"This has maybe been my best bunch just as far as coming prepared every week," Brown continued. "We still have five games to go, but they have showed up for seven in a row. We have given a really good effort in every game and been ready to play. We haven't played well all the time, but this has been an easy bunch to coach in that aspect."
One good sign for Brown and the Blazers is the return of several significant players, including two members of the offensive line in seniors Julius Wilson and Tommie Keys, as well as defensive tackle Jason Hamlin.
"It's good to have some of these lineman and a couple of these big bodies back on the field," Brown said. "To have Julius (Wilson) back is huge because he is one of our better leaders. To have him back on the field you can just feel the emotion. They all went hard today, so we will see how they feel on Wednesday."
Furthermore, quarterback Sam Hunt returned to the practice field after missing the last two weeks with an ankle injury suffered during the Blazers' 21-3 victory over Troy on Sept. 30. Brown listed him a possible backup for senior quarterback Chris Williams, but does not plan on using him unless needed.
"Sam was decent today," Brown said. "It looks like right now he could be a backup to Chris, but not in the rotation. He could go in if Chris got hurt, but I will have to see how he is tomorrow because this is the first time he has done anything in a couple of weeks."
The Blazers and Thundering Herd kickoff at 6 p.m., and can be heard on the Blazers ISP Sports Network, beginning with the pregame show at 4:30 p.m. CST. Birmingham listeners can follow all the action on WYDE 101.1 FM, as well as WIQR 1410 AM in Montgomery.
