The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Ready For Battle For The Bones
11/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB football team will look to put an end to one streak and keep another one going Saturday when the Blazers take on the Memphis Tigers at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 2:37 p.m. CT with the game to be televised regionally by CSS.
UAB (2-8, 1-5 C-USA) is anxious to get back in the win column after dropping their last four games. The Blazers will play their final two contests on the road. Following Saturday's game at Memphis, UAB will then look to next week's season finale at Marshall.
For the second year, the teams will vie for a "Battle for the Bones" trophy -- a 100-pound bronzed rack of ribs that will be passed back and forth between the winning school each year.
The theme of the trophy comes from the tradition of fine barbecue in both Memphis and Birmingham. The two cities are renowned for their high quality barbecue, which has become a part of the culture of the cities.
The Blazers would like nothing better than to halt their losing streak and at the same time, extend their win streak over Memphis to eight games.
After losing the first two meetings to the Tigers (5-5, 4-2 C-USA) in 1997 and 1999, UAB has not lost to Memphis since, winning the last seven times the teams have taken the field. UAB won by a 35-29 score in Birmingham last season. Two years ago, the Blazers defeated the Tigers, 37-20, in Memphis.
One player Memphis won't be sorry to see no longer suited up on the UAB roster is former Blazer running back Corey White. White, now a member of the Green Bay Packers practice squad, played a large role in each of the last three Blazer wins over the Tigers. In last year's meeting at Legion Field, White ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns.
In the 2005 game in Memphis, White rushed for 200 yards in the UAB win. As a sophomore in 2004, White scored twice and ran for only 45 yards, but it was his 30-yard touchdown burst up the middle with :13 remaining that lifted the Blazers to a 35-28 win over the Tigers.
The 2007 Blazers will have their hands full trying to slow a Memphis offense that is averaging 427 yards a game. The Tigers' passing game, led by quarterback Martin Hankins, has been especially effective of late as Memphis has reeled off wins in three of the past four games to put itself right in the thick of bowl eligibility contention.
Hankins will enter the game with 2,305 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes. He has several targets at receiver, including lead pass catcher Duke Calhoun (48 receptions, 626 yards, 5 TDs) that have UAB head coach Neil Callaway concerned.
"We're going to have to do a good job matching up with their receivers," said Callaway. "That (receivers) is the best part of their offense and they've really done a good job."
UAB is expected to utilize both Sam Hunt and Joseph Webb at quarterback during the game, similar to the past two games. Both Hunt and Webb offer the Blazers a threat through the air or on the ground.
"We've had a good week of practice," said Callaway. "I thought Wednesday and Thursday were especially good compared to Tuesday."
Radio coverage of the game can be heard on the Blazers' ISP Sports Network flagship station WUHT 107.7 FM. The broadcast can also be heard on affiliates WIQR 1410 AM in Montgomery, WTRB 98.3 FM in Talladega and WACT 1420 AM in Tuscaloosa.
