The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Prepare For Season Finale At Marshall
11/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team is getting ready to play its final game of the 2007 season when it travels to Huntington, W. Va. Saturday for the third all-time meeting with the Marshall Thundering Herd. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
When the Blazers and the Thundering Herd meet, both squads will be sporting identical 2-9 records. The two teams have played each other on two previous occasions, with Marshall winning both outings. The last meeting resulted in a 31-24 Marshall win in 2006 in Birmingham. The Herd won 20-19 at Huntington two years ago.
"I think they are a very good football team," said UAB head coach Neil Callaway. "They have really improved over the last three to four weeks. They played without their quarterback early on and I guess that's what caused them to struggle."
The Blazers are coming off a 25-9 loss at Memphis last Saturday and will be looking to close out the season with a win in Huntington.
"It's the last game of the year and we all want to win this game for a lot of reasons," said Callaway. "One reason would be for the seniors, to let them leave this program with a good taste in their mouth. We are going to give it our best shot and see what we've got."
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.
Head Coach Neil Callaway
On the upcoming game at Marshall:
"We have our last ballgame coming up at Marshall. I think they are a very good football team. They have really improved over the last three to four weeks. They played without their quarterback early on and I guess that's what caused them to struggle. I do know that there are two guys that stand out offensively for Marshall. One is their quarterback. He is an outstanding football player who can run and throw very well. The other guy that stands out is their tight end. I think he is the leading receiver. He's kind of like David Sigler (UAB H-Back). He's not overly big or overly fast, but he's just a good athlete that makes a lot of plays for them. Defensively, I think their strength is their front seven. They have a linebacker, No. 45 (Maurice Kitchens), who does a nice job for them. They have some size and strength up front and that's their strength of their team on defense."
On needing the win at Marshall:
"It'll be a big challenge for us. It's the last game of the year and we all want to win this game for a lot of reasons. One reason would be for the seniors, to let them leave this program with a good taste in their mouth. Another reason is to try to build some momentum going into next year. It's a game that we are going to try very hard to win. We are going to give it our best shot and see what we've got."
On UAB's senior class:
"I think they are all good guys. I think they all care about UAB. They have bought into what we've wanted to do here. Anytime there is change, I think it's always hard on the seniors. As a new staff, coming in and implementing what we want to do and how we want to do it, the guys have really bought into it. I'm thrilled with what they have done."
On the loss to Memphis:
"You're upset anytime you lose. I felt the same feeling after that game just like after any loss. I think our guys have done a good job being resilient and putting it behind them. When we practiced Sunday night, I didn't see any hangovers from the game. I think they are ready to move on."
On the team being resilient:
"We've talked a lot about being resilient over the past three or four weeks. We've talked about playing for each other and trying to right the ship. We've continued to work hard and be demanding of them. We haven't altered what we have done. We are trying to be as positive as we can, put the negative behind us and move forward."
Placekicker/Punter Swayze Waters
On continuing to play hard throughout the season:
"It's always tough losing, but I think everyone on this team has done a real good job of putting last week's loss behind us. We are just going to go out and try to get a win this week. Most people think we don't have much to play for, but Coach Callaway has challenged us to treat it like the Super Bowl. I think everyone's going to go all out and see if we can end on a winning note."
On trying to give the seniors one final victory:
"It's tough having a coaching change during your senior year, everything is different. On top of that, not having as good of a season as you'd like to, it's hard to imagine what that would be like. We're just trying to send them out on a winning note because they've given a lot to the program."
Wide Receiver Mario Wright
On playing for the senior class in the final game of the season:
"We're going to go out there and play our heart out all of the time. When you put your jersey on, you're out there to play and win. This is the last game for the seniors, so we're trying to send them out on a good note."
On how he feels the season has gone for him:
"I know that I can get better. I'm going into this game focused and trying to get better."
Cornerback Brandon Carlisle
On playing through the entire season:
"Anytime you come into a season with big aspirations and things don't go your way, I think there's a little bit of disappointment. I think each and every week we've come back to practice and played hard. I think if we continue to do that each and every week and get a couple of balls to bounce our way, we will be alright."
On injuries to the defensive unit this year:
"I think injuries have been a little bit of a problem, but at the same time you can't dwell on the injuries. You have to go to work with what you have."
On the challenges he faced when defending Memphis 6-foot-8 receiver (Carlos Singleton):
"As a defensive back unit, we take each and every game as a challenge. I think if you're a player in this game and you want to be good, you have to go against the best. It's my job to cover them and do the best that I can."
On using this game to start momentum into next season:
"Like Coach Callaway said, this season has been one of missed opportunities. We just want to end on a good note and send the seniors out with a victory. We want to have a good taste in our mouth going into the off-season program."
