The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Michigan State (ESPN2)
Blazers Fall On Road To Michigan State, 55-18
9/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
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EAST LANSING, Mich. ---- The UAB Blazers, playing their first game under head coach Neil Callaway, had their lack of experience exposed in the early going here Saturday as the Michigan State Spartans jumped to a 21-0 first quarter lead en route to a 55-18 victory.
The game was played in front of 67,796 fans at Spartan Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
The Blazers knew Saturday's season-opening game on a Big Ten opponent's homefield would be a tough challenge, especially considering their travel roster included 15 true freshmen with more than half of it made up of players who had never seen action for the Blazers.
The Spartans, also playing their first game under a new coach in Mark Dantonio, seized the opportunity to jump on the young Blazers. MSU marched 65 yards on six plays after the game's opening kickoff, culminating the drive with a Jehuu Calulcrick 1-yard touchdown run.
Caulcrick finished with 93 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the game.
Michigan State continued its momentum in the first half as it led 21-0 after one period and 45-3 at intermission.
"Obviously, it was a very disappointing day for us," said Callaway. "We knew Michigan State would be a good football team, a physical football team. They really kinda handed it to us today.
"We're a young football team. I know that. We're playing a lot of guys who have never played, but we've got to learn how to play faster, we've got to learn how to tackle better and we've got to learn how to be more physical from a defensive standpoint."
Michigan State and Dantonio, a former Cincinnati head coach, wasted no time unveiling an offense that is more run-oriented and physical than the system used under former coach John L. Smith. The Spartans rolled up more than 500 yards of offense.
The first play from scrimmage was a pass to Andrew Hawken -- a fullback, a position that didn't exist in Michigan State's previous system. The Spartans then used five straight running plays to highlight the 65-yard scoring drive, capped by Caulcrick's 1-yard touchdown plunge, to take a 7-0 lead over the Blazers (0-1).
Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer completed his first 10 passes and also had a 44-yard touchdown pass to Devin Thomas. Michigan State played two backup quarterbacks.
Michigan State's defense was able to limit a UAB offense that had two true freshmen and a sophomore who had never played as a Blazer among its starters.
The second half was much better for UAB as the Blazers outscored the Spartans by a 15-10 score.
Blazer quarterback Sam Hunt completed 21 of 39 passes for 214 yards, including a fourth-quarter TD pass to Joseph Webb and an interception. Webb, a sophomore quarterback, showed he could be effective as a receiver as well. He caught six passes for 98 yards and a 15-yard TD grab.
UAB struggled all day mounting a ground attack. The Blazers finished with 32 carries for 12 yards in the game. Sophomore Rashaud Slaughter was the leading ground gainer with 25 yards on 13 carries.
The placekicking of junior Swayze Waters was a bright spot for the Blazers Saturday as the Jackson, Miss. native kicked three field goals in three attempts. He was good on kicks of 35, 50 and 48 yards. His 50-yarder was the longest of his career and was the first of that distance for a UAB kicker since the 2003 season.
Defensive, Joe Henderson led the way with a game-high 12 tackles. True freshman Mike Tashman, who started at linebacker, finished the contest with eight tackles as did safeties Matt Taylor and Durrell Fuqua.
"I take my hat off to Michigan State," said Callaway. "I thought their coaches and players did a good job. I think they will be a good football team through the course of the year."
UAB had only 67 scholarship players on Saturday, 18 under the NCAA limit.
The Blazers were facing a Big Ten opponent for the first time in its 12 seasons playing in the NCAA's top division, now the Football Bowl Subdivision. UAB has lost three straight season openers.
UAB faces another difficult road challenge next Saturday when the Blazers travel to Tallahassee, Fla. to play nationally-ranked Florida State. The game will be televised by ESPNU and will kick off at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
