The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Making Final Preparations For UCF
11/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 8, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB football team practiced 15 periods Thursday as it prepares for its game against Conference USA foe UCF, and the final home game of the 2007 season.
The Blazers' two-hour practice was spent finalizing Saturday's game plan and head coach Neil Callaway called it an improvement over Wednesday's practice that he called "not a good day."
"We had a good practice today," Callaway said. "I thought our concentration today was a lot better and the tempo was more upbeat than yesterday."
UAB's defense will face one of the nation's top running backs in Kevin Smith. The Blazers have struggled stopping the run much of this season, and Smith enters the game ranked second in nation in total rushing yards. Callaway said the key to slowing Smith down begins with his defensive line.
"It's got to start with our defensive line," Callaway said. "Anytime you play a good back like that you can't let him get into space. If he does, it'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."
Callaway also named sophomore Jacob Tauanuu (defense), sophomore Rashaud Slaughter (offense) and sophomore Jim Mitchell (special teams) as captains for Saturday's contest.
Saturday's Conference USA matchup between UAB and UCF will be nationally televised by CSTV at 6:30 p.m. CT.
The game will also serve as Military Appreciation Day at Legion Field. Fans with a valid military ID will receive free admission into the game.
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.
