The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Discuss Final Home Game At Monday's Media Luncheon
11/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2007
Listen to the Press Conference
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB head football coach Neil Callaway and members of the Blazers met with the media Monday afternoon at the team's weekly media luncheon. The Blazers, including their 20 seniors, will host UCF for their final home game of the 2007 campaign Saturday.
The Blazers will play their fourth home game in five weeks on Saturday before finishing the season on the road at Memphis (Nov. 17) and Marshall (Nov. 24).
Saturday's contest will be televised nationally by CSTV and will kick off at 6:30 p.m.
Members of the Blazers on hand to meet with the media on Monday included junior Joe Henderson, who led the team with 15 tackles against Southern Miss last weekend, and sophomore Brandon Carlisle from the defensive side of the ball.
The offense was represented by junior wide receiver Sylvester Mencer, who had four receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown on Saturday, and sophomore tight end Zach Lankford.
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.
Press Conference Transcripts
Head Coach Neil Callaway
On Southern Miss:
"I think they have a very good football team and have an outstanding offensive line and running backs that can create problems for you. Defensively, I think they are strong up front. I think we made some improvements last week even though we lost the game 37-7. I think the kicking game was a lot better. Defensively, we made some strides - we did some things well. Biggest problem we had defensively was when they lined up and ran it right at us inside the tackle box. We just couldn't hold up in there.
"Offensively, I'm concerned. We had a situation where we weren't able to do much of anything right. I think it stems from the problems we are having up front offensively; having people banged up and the youth. We are not functioning well enough up front to let the other people function. We have some issues there we need to address that we will continue to work on."
On UCF:
"We are playing an outstanding UCF football team. I think they lead the conference in scoring offense and are one or two in scoring defense. Coach (George) O'Leary has done a very good job down there. They have a running back that I think is one of the top guys in the country. I know we have had two or three of them in this league that we have already played, UCF's guy is Kevin Smith. He is just a big, strong, powerful back that makes a lot of things happen. Defensively they are well tied together. They bring a lot of zone blitzes. It's a game that we'll have to work hard to have a chance."
On how much the team has grown up:
"The first game we didn't play well against Michigan State. I thought we made a lot of progress through the Tulane game. Then we started having some injury problems, which caused us to start shuffling people to different places. Then I got in a deal where for a couple of weeks I backed off trying not to get people hurt. Last week, I thought we started back on the right track in doing things in a positive way."
On dealing with youth and injuries during practice:
"The two weeks we backed off of them was a mistake, because we went backwards. From this point on, we are going to continue to work hard and get better. Whoever is there, is there."
On Joe Webb taking more snaps at QB:
"That's something we are always evaluating and talking about. He did some good things Saturday night, but that's when they had their backups in there. We think Joe is going to be an excellent quarterback and it's a situation we may give some more looks, but we are happy with what Sam (Hunt) has done."
On playing against UCF running back Kevin Smith:
"It's got to start with our defensive line. Anytime you play a good back like that, if you let him get out in space, he's awfully hard to deal with. We have to do a good job of playing our gap responsibilities and not giving him any cut back lanes."
On UAB's offensive line:
"I really think they have gone backwards the past two or three weeks because of injuries. I thought they had made a lot progress but there's not one of them up there that doesn't have some issues. That's what has been frustrating. It's being unable to perform even though we are young in some areas and not as talented as we'd like to be. When you have the injuries that we've got, that's what has makes it hard to get better."
On what UAB has to play for:
"I told them yesterday, they are playing for each other. We are at a point where we have three games left, we're not bowl eligible and we can't win the conference. But there is still a lot to play for. We are trying to build a team here that we are all going to be proud of for a long time. To do that, we have to start caring about one another and play for each other. I think we've got a lot of that going on. We've done a good job of getting those things going in the right direction. Once we can get those things solidified where we can play for each other, then all the championships and things will come."
Junior wide receiver Sylvester Mencer
On the outcomes of the past three games:
"Over the past couple of weeks the games have been a little lopsided. Right now, we just have to continue to play hard and fight through practice. We can still end up 4-4 in the conference and we're playing towards that."
On finishing the season strong for next year:
"We have a real bright future. We don't have many seniors and we have a good returning class. We're excited about finishing this season strong and getting back to the weight room and preparing for next year."
On how much sophomore Joseph Webb can help in the future:
"Joe plays and fights hard. He is one of the stronger, faster guys on the team. We know with him or Sam Hunt playing quarterback that we have the capability of doing what we want to on offense."
On what the offense needs to do vs. UCF:
"Offensively, we just need to make plays. Last weekend, we had a lot of plays that we could have made, but didn't. We just know that we have to fight hard and work through practice. We need to work hard this week at every single practice."
On how last week's physical practice helped in Saturday's game:
"Two or three of the previous weeks coach Callaway had backed off on contact during practice because of the injuries. So we went back to what he knows, with more physical practice. I thought we worked better and had better practices. I think it helped during the game because we were ready for it."
Sophomore tight end Zach Lankford
On playing these final games for the senior class:
"All of the seniors have been through a lot. We all look up to them and we try to play hard for them and hopefully get some wins in these last few games."
On building more experience in the final games of the season:
"Hopefully we can continue to build on what we've learned. Every game we are trying to get a little better. With more experience you're going to play better, so hopefully that is what we will continue to work on the next few weeks."
On the team's attitude playing when trailing:
"We just continue to play hard. We have no give up in us at all. If you're out on the football field at this level, you are going to play hard. You don't want to let your teammates down."
Sophomore defensive back Brandon Carlisle
On how to take care of defensive struggles:
"We need to take care of ourselves and do what we need to do. We have to take care of our responsibilities and if we do that, we are going to be alright. When we have got in trouble it has been because we weren't doing what we are supposed to be doing as a team. We have missed spots where we are supposed to be."
On UCF running back Kevin Smith:
"Kevin Smith is a really good back. He is a big and strong player, but we have played against some of the better running backs around the nation this whole year. We need to all tackle and swarm the ball in order to stop him. We have played some real good offenses this season and Saturday will be no different."
On where the defensive unit is at this time of the year:
"We are getting closer to being where we need to be, but at the same time we aren't there yet. We are making the same mistakes that we shouldn't be making this time of year. We just need to go back, continue to prepare and listen to our coaches."
On team psyche:
"I think there is a little disappoint from all of us, because we all had big aspirations coming into the season. At the same time, we know the season's not over and we are going to continue to play hard and try to finish on a high note. If you don't have the motivation to play hard week in and week out, then you shouldn't be playing."
Junior linebacker Joe Henderson
On coming off career-high 15 tackles against Southern Miss:
"I had a week off with no contact last week, so that got my body rested. When I woke up Saturday morning, my body felt real good. I just wanted to go out there, run around and make plays. I wanted to get back to being myself on the field and I haven't been able to do that a lot lately because I have been hurt. I have had to wear a lot of protective equipment over the last couple of games and it felt good to have that taken off and be able to move around more freely."
On the overall feeling of the team after going through more physical practices:
"It was better. Tuesday's practice was exciting with guys getting after it. I couldn't participate in it, but I really wanted to get in because the guys were having a good time and getting real excited. We still have to work hard and correct some of our mistakes this week. We have to keep our focus."
On stopping UCF running back Kevin Smith:
"I played against him my first year and we went at it pretty good in a fun way. He is one of the leading rushers in the nation and I know we are going to have to get after him because he is going to come to play."
