The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Begin Game Week With Monday's Media Luncheon
8/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 31, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - With the 2009 season set to begin in less than one week, the UAB football team started its typical game week routine with Monday's media luncheon. The Blazers will face Conference USA foe Rice on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT at Legion Field to open the season.
UAB head coach Neil Callaway and four players - RB Jim Mitchell, C Jake Seitz, CB Terrell Springs and QB Joe Webb - addressed the media about the progress the Blazers made during fall camp and the excitement surrounding the kickoff of the 2009 campaign.
After almost a month of fall camp and hitting each other, Callaway and the Blazers are ready to get the season underway and play another team. Callaway was happy with preseason camp and is ready to see what this team can do.
"We're excited about this week and getting to play Rice," said Callaway. "We've had a good camp. I've been very pleased with the attitude and effort of the players.
"We're going to be a much improved football team, but at the same time, I think we have a lot of work still to do. We have closed the gap somewhat. We have players here that are more athletic, more physical, and more in line with what we need. At the same time, we've never played together as a unit in some areas, particularly defensively, so we still have a lot of work to do."
Callaway is more excited and confident heading into the 2009 season than his previous two seasons at UAB. He has many reasons to be optimistic, beginning with the increase in scholarship players, as well as talent and athleticism.
"We are more athletic this year," said Callaway. "We're bigger, stronger, and I think we have more team speed than we've had."
"I remember when we played Michigan State (2007) the first game our staff was here. I asked our guys to stand up if they had ever played in a college football game, and there may have been about a dozen of them. We are certainly past that point now. We're gaining on it, and we're heading in the right direction.
"Our scholarship numbers are up. It's good to have the personnel getting better and better as we go, particularly defensively. We have some linebackers and safeties in here that I feel comfortable with as far as being able to play like we want to play. The big thing now is getting them all to gel together."
UAB and Rice are scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT kick off on Saturday at Legion Field. The game will be televised regionally by CSS (Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast).
Head Coach Neil Callaway
Opening Statement:
"We're excited about this week and getting to play Rice. We've had a good camp. I've been very pleased with the attitude and effort of the players. I thought we had one of our best practices of the year Saturday. We're going to be a much improved football team, but at the same time, I think we have a lot of work still to do. We have closed the gap somewhat. We have players here that are more athletic, more physical, more in line with what we need. At the same time, we've never played together as a unit in some areas, particularly defensively, so we still have a lot of work to do.
"I think we'll be a football team that hopefully gets better as the year goes on. We're going to take some time to gel. Hopefully we don't take too long because we need to come out and play well the first ballgame. Our guys have worked hard, and it's time for us to reap some of the rewards."
On Rice as the opening opponent:
"The fact that Rice won 10 football games last year, to me, is outstanding. You have to take your hat off to coach Bailiff and his staff and their players. We have a tremendous challenge ahead of us. They're a very good football team, very sound, very well-coached in every phase of the game. I'm impressed by watching their film. I know it will be a tremendous challenge, and I know our players are looking forward to it."
On opening with a conference game:
"It's a concern. We are playing at home, which is good. With the choices we had in scheduling, I think we did the right thing, but the fact that you open up with a conference game gets you a little nervous. But we've had a good camp. We've known our schedule since about mid-March, so we've been preparing for it, and hopefully we'll be successful at it."
On his team's attitude in fall camp:
"Our guys, for the most part, have been focused and had a good work ethic. They've worked hard and approached this thing with a good attitude. I know they're hungry. We've talked a lot about righting the ship. We'll have to see how we respond come Saturday."
On the increase in numbers for this year's team:
"Our scholarship numbers are up. It's good to have the personnel getting better and better as we go, particularly defensively. We have some linebackers and safeties in here that I feel comfortable with as far as being able to play like we want to play. The big thing now is getting them all to gel together."
On the differences between this team and previous teams:
"We are more athletic this year. We're bigger, stronger, and I think we have more team speed than we've had. I remember when we played Michigan State (2007) the first game our staff was here, I asked our guys to stand up if they had ever played in a college football game, and there may have been about a dozen of them. We are certainly past that point now. We're gaining on it, and we're heading in the right direction."
On the need for playmakers on offense:
"Joe is by far our best playmaker offensively, and we've asked him to do an awful lot. For us to be a very good offense, we have to find people to go around him. I feel good about our receiving corps. I think we have a couple tight ends that can do some things to help. My biggest concern right now is our running back spot. We need to find a running back or two or three that we feel comfortable giving the ball to them 30 times a game and we can come out somewhere between 100-150 yards from the running back spot."
On his impressions of the team heading into the season:
"We have a lot of work to do, don't get me wrong. But we've made a lot of progress. As long as we continue to improve and get better, as a coach, that's what you want."
Senior RB Jim Mitchell
On the team overall heading into the season:
"We are a very good team this year. As far as the offense, almost all of the players are back. The defense has stepped up a lot too. I feel quite confident. "
On the running backs:
"We have about five or six good running backs this year. As far as day to day practice, I think we are all pretty close with each other as far as talent."
On sharing the field with his talented teammates:
"As a team, I think it makes us more comfortable knowing that there are guys in front or behind us that are all very talented. I feel less pressure when I'm on the field with my teammates."
On his goals for the year:
"I definitely want to win a conference championship and go to a bowl game. I think this team is capable of achieving those things."
On closing the 2008 season with a win over UCF and carrying that momentum into the 2009 campaign:
"Ending on a positive note has definitely carried over to this year. We felt good about that win at UCF and we are confident going into this season."
Senior C Jake Seitz
On how the team progressed during preseason camp:
"I've been to a lot of camps here at UAB and this is the best I've felt about any team so far. We come and practice hard every day, and right now we are just tired of hitting each other and we are ready to hit someone else."
On his teammates:
"We have a lot of experience across the board and we have guys who have been here before and played their position. I think we are just going to be a much more sound football team this year."
On the season-opening game versus Rice:
"I think winning the first game of the year would be a huge win because it sets the tone for the season. If we go out there and beat Rice, it would really mean a lot to the whole team."
On turning things around this season:
"The last two seasons in general have not been what we've wanted. This year we've been saying enough is enough, and we're going to go out there and try and change our name."
Sophomore CB Terrell Springs
On the defense:
"We're definitely improving. Like coach Callaway said, we just need to come together and play as a unit. Overall, I think we are going to surprise some people this year and we're going to be a good team."
On whether he thinks the defense will come together by the Rice game:
" We have to come together otherwise we're not going to win. We need to do what we've practiced and get the ball back to Joe (Webb). We learned a lot from last year. Hopefully, this season will be a success."
On his height and what he does to overcome that on the field:
"I'm 5'8''. I make up for my height with my quickness and I also use my head during the game. I study my opponents to know the best way to go up against them."
On going up against QB Joe Webb in practice:
"It's hard. He makes our defense better because we aren't going to see many quarterbacks with his same talent. He is definitely a special player."
Senior QB Joe Webb
On what he is most excited about this season:
"This year, I'm most excited about the entire team. This is a different team because we have a lot of good recruits that came in and this is the most depth that we've ever had since I've been here. Everyone worked hard this summer and we're just ready to play someone else instead of beating up on each other all day."
On turning things around and having a winning season:
"Since I've been here, I feel like we've been so close to winning. Some games (we lost by) just a couple points. There were a lot of teams that we almost had in the past, but this season we're going to get it done. I think this year's preseason camp has been all about thinking strong and not taking things for granted."
On the 2009 season opener versus Rice:
"The first win determines the season. So if we get that first win in and get that confidence going early, I think everyone will be ready to go."
