The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Look Toward Saturday Meeting With Alabama State
9/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 15, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- At Monday's weekly media luncheon, UAB head football coach Neil Callaway and several players previewed the Blazers' upcoming game against Alabama State. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. CT Saturday at Legion Field.
UAB returns home for the first time since the season opener Aug. 30 against Tulsa. The Blazers have since played consecutive road games at Florida Atlantic and Tennessee.
Saturday's game versus Alabama State provides an in-state matchup featuring a pair of teams looking for their first win.
"It's a game we are looking forward to," Callaway said. "We have a tremendous respect for coach (Reggie) Barlow and what he is doing down there at Alabama State. It's a game we need to get on the winning track, but we better make sure we work hard and prepare for it."
Following an open date Saturday, Alabama State enters the game at 0-2 on the season. In their most recent contest, the Hornets lost Sept. 6 to Bethune-Cookman, 28-7. The program posted a 5-6 record a season ago.
UAB is coming off a loss Saturday at Tennessee. The Blazers played the Volunteers close early and trailed just 14-0 at halftime before falling 35-3.
"Again, we are disappointed with a loss," Callaway said, "although I did see improvement in our football team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. We made a lot of progress. We played fairly well the first half. The second half, as the game went on, we wore down."
Offensively, UAB receiver Frantrell Forrest continued to shine in the Tennessee game. The sophomore pulled in a team-high eight receptions for 83 yards. Forrest, who also returns kicks, leads Conference USA and ranks sixth nationally in all-purpose yards with 211.3 per game.
Saturday's contest with Alabama State will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs. The Hornets won the two previous meetings, but both came when UAB was playing at the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) level. The teams have not met since 1995.
Saturday's game will be carried on the Blazer ISP Sports Network. The game can be heard locally on WWMM 100.5 FM radio in Birmingham.
Head Coach Neil Callaway
Opening statement
"Again, we are disappointed with a loss, although I did see improvement in our football team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. We made a lot of progress. We played fairly well the first half. The second half, as the game went on, we wore down. We probably lost our focus and concentration a little bit.
"Defensively, I saw a lot of improvement the first half. Offensively, to be honest with you, I was disappointed. We kept shooting ourselves in the foot. I thought we moved the ball fairly well with consistency, but we were unable to get it in the end zone. With the penalties and turnovers we had, whenever you play a team the caliber of Tennessee, you are going to limit yourself and opportunities ... I thought Swayze Waters had a good day. Our kicking game overall was pretty consistent.
On being 0-3
"We are going through a gut check right now with our football program. It has nothing to do with playing Tennessee or Alabama State this week, or South Carolina next week. It's what we are dealing with ourselves. We are coming off a 2-10 season last year. We have asked our guys to do a lot. We have worked extremely hard ever since we've been here. You take this football team from January to this point, they have done everything we have asked them to do.
"All the naysayers are questioning what's going on and how come we are not winning. We are going through a gut check of ourselves. How much do we believe, and how committed are we? I don't have a magic wand to make it go away or win a football game. The only thing I know to do is to keep working and pulling together. As long as we do that, we are going to get this thing turned around. To our team's credit, I have been pleased with our attitude and effort to this point. I feel good about the future this year. I do still think we are going to win some football games. I know we are doing things the right way."
On Alabama State
"Alabama State has a very good offensive football team. They are a spread type offense. They line up four-wide and three-wide. Our secondary will have their hands full. They throw a lot of the quick passes. It will put a lot of pressure on our corners, safeties, and outside linebackers to make the plays. Defensively, they bring a good bit of pressure. We are going to be challenged to know where that pressure is coming from.
"It's a game we are looking forward to. We have a tremendous respect for coach Barlow and what he is doing down there at Alabama State. It's a game we need to get on the winning track, but we better make sure we work hard and prepare for it."
On keeping the team's spirit up
"We have to keep working hard and pulling together. When you look at it from the other end, we have invested a lot into this season. Why give up now? ... Obviously we are disappointed. We would like to be 3-0 ... Even though our record is 0-3, we have made a lot of progress as a football team."
On the improved defense at Tennessee
"It's the first time we've done a good job getting pressure on the quarterback this season."
On former UAB QB Anthony Speights, who transferred to Alabama State
"Anthony was here last year. He went through spring practice with us. He decided to leave after the spring semester to transfer to Alabama State. He's a great young man. Anthony is a class guy. I tried to talk him into staying. I really wish he had stayed in our program. But he chose to go to Alabama State, so we wish him the best."
On QB Joe Webb's performance to this point in the season
"I thought he looked uncomfortable in the first game against Tulsa. He was a lot more comfortable the second game at FAU. This past game at Tennessee, he made some good throws, but there are still some things he has to do better. Joe knows that. One thing about Joe is you don't have to worry about his caring and trying."
On how nice it will be to come back home
"It's going to be great to come home and try to get our first victory. We played okay on the road, but we didn't get the wins that we wanted to. We're going to come back home and be focused to get our first win."
On hearing Coach Callaway say the defense played better at Tennessee
"It motivates us to know that coach sees that we are getting better. It's going to help motivate us throughout the year to play better and better each week."
On what the team learned from playing in front of the large crowd at Tennessee
"Being in front of a crowd like that, we just had to stay focused. You have to try to maintain your composure and not let the crowd distract you."
On trying to stay focused and get that first win of the year
"Basically, we feel like we just need to keep working hard and executing our game plan. We just need to get that first win and get that pressure off of our backs. It will all fall into place after that."
On the mistakes that the team need to fix
"It's the small stuff that we need to improve on. A lot of it is mental errors that we are making."
P/PK Swayze Waters
On serving as both the punter and placekicker for UAB
"Both positions are a huge part of any game. Coach Callaway and all of the coaches here put a huge emphasis on special teams. We've been working and putting a lot of time into special teams."
On preparing to kick a field goal in a game
"I try to block everything out. It's not easy sometimes, especially at places like Tennessee. I try to relax and take a deep breath. I've already done all the work that I can in practice. So, I just try to relax, focus and follow through."
On rebounding from an 0-3 start to the season
"We've started off 0-3 and that is not what we wanted, but we are definitely a lot better football team than we were last year. The team unity is a lot better. Nobody is hanging their heads or pointing fingers. I think everyone is still focused on the goal of winning games. I'm definitely looking forward to these next few weeks."
