The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Holds Annual Preseason Media Day
8/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - As it prepares to hit the field in preparation for the upcoming season, the UAB football team held its annual preseason media day Thursday.
Head coach Neil Callaway, in his third season at the helm of the Blazers, and four of his players - DT D.J. Reese, C Jake Seitz, CB Terrell Springs and QB Joe Webb - were on hand to discuss the beginning of fall camp and the 2009 campaign.
"We're excited about getting started," said Callaway. "It's an exciting and important time of the year. Even though I think we're a lot more talented football team, we still have to do the things you have to do to build a football team, and that's play together, eliminate mistakes and try to develop a closeness that will carry over to gameday, where they're not only playing for themselves, they're playing for each other. That's how you win championships."
One of the many things that has Callaway optimistic about the upcoming season is the increased number of players on the UAB roster, as well as the number of experienced players that are returning to the Blazer lineup.
"The thing that's different this year is that we finally have some numbers and experience to choose from," said Callaway. "I'm really excited about the depth and the experience. It's going to be an exciting year for us.
The Blazers' first practice will be held Thursday afternoon. The coaching staff and players have been looking forward to this day for a long time.
"I know I'm certainly excited, I think the whole team is," said senior center Jake Seitz. "We have been doing summer workouts for a while now and that gets old quick. We are all ready to get back to playing football."
UAB will kick off its 2009 campaign on Sept. 5 when it hosts Conference USA foe Rice. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff at Legion Field.
UAB Head Coach Neil Callaway
Opening Statement:
"We're excited about getting started. We had our first meetings and walk-through this morning. We've got a good nucleus of guys coming back. The thing that's different this year is that we finally have some numbers and experience to choose from. I'm really excited about the depth and the experience. It's going to be an exciting year for us.
"The players are upbeat. They've worked awfully hard from all the way back in January when we started winter workouts, and they've continued that on through spring and even on through the summer, even though summer workouts are voluntary. They've done a really nice job, and I know (strength) Coach (Steve) Martin is pleased. I'd like to also brag on Coach Martin and his staff for the work they've done. They have done an outstanding job. During the summer, we as coaches can't have any contact with the players, and it's really all on Coach Martin as far as working out and training, He does an outstanding job, and I don't know where we'd be without him.
"It's an exciting and important time of the year. Even though I think we're a lot more talented football team, we still have to do the things you have to do to build a football team, and that's play together, eliminate mistakes and try to develop a closeness that will carry over to gameday, where they're not only playing for themselves, they're playing for each other. That's how you win championships."
On nearly having a full roster of scholarship players for the first time:
"It's a big difference, not only the numbers but the quality and the experience of the athletes we have. I think we've made a lot of progress. We still have a lot of work to do obviously, but we have made a lot of progress."
On this year's schedule:
"I think we have a tremendous challenge early on. You can't look at our schedule and say we play anybody that's a `gimme' or anybody that's an easy football team. We open up at home with Rice, and then we play SMU at home. I'm glad to be playing at home, but it makes you a little nervous to open up with a conference game. Normally, you like to get a couple games under your belt before you get into conference play, but I do think playing at home will be good.
"Troy is going to be a tremendous challenge for us, and I think Ole Miss is ranked anywhere from five to 10 depending on which publication you read, and then we finish up with our conference schedule. We want to win every football game we play, but we want to put a priority on our conference games because our goal is to compete and win a conference championship."
On the expected improvement of this year's defense:
"Obviously, we have struggled defensively in the past. I think a large amount of that is due to the talent. We've gone into games in the last two seasons, and we may have only had two linebackers on the trip or two safeties on the trip. Our numbers have just been so thin. Right now, I think we have four quality safeties, and I think we have seven or eight quality linebackers. Not all of them have played, but at least our numbers are there. We just have to build some continuity and get some experience of playing together. We have to have 11 guys on defense flying to the ball and playing with passion."
On carrying over momentum from the end of the 2008 season:
"I hope we will ride that momentum into this fall. At the same time, this is a new year, and it's a new team."
Junior Defensive Tackle D.J. Reese
On what to expect from the defensive line this season:
"Our goals are to get to the ball when they snap it, go get the quarterback when they are throwing it and get the running back when they have the ball. It's as simple as that."
On the excitement of starting practice:
"Everybody's excited. We were in the weight room and everybody was screaming and hollering because we are all ready to go. Everybody is ready to get on the field and hit somebody."
On going up against the big defensive lines of the SEC and Big 12:
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall. It's going to be tough standing across the ball from them, but in the end, they put on the pads just like us. We are going to go play hard, just like we do everyone else that we play."
Senior Center Jake Seitz
On feeling like the team has something to prove this season:
"I absolutely feel like we have something to prove this season. I think I play with a chip on my shoulder most of the time. Hopefully, the rest of the team will play with the same motivation to prove to everyone that we are a better team than they think we are."
On the team being ready to get back on the field:
"I know I'm certainly excited, I think the whole team is. We have been doing summer workouts for a while now and that gets old quick. We are all ready to get back to playing football."
On playing the position of center:
"I like my job. I kind of like being under the radar, but still being an essential part of the team. I'm not big on personal glory. I like celebrating with my teammates after a touchdown. That's what I enjoy doing.
On his relationship with quarterback Joe Webb:
"Joe and I came into UAB together. We've been taking snaps with each other for years now. He is a phenomenal athlete. Having a guy behind me like Joe is always a good feeling."
Sophomore Cornerback Terrell Springs
On the upcoming season:
"I feel good about it. I hope the defense comes together and plays as one, that will really be important to our success. In the end, it's all about stopping people for the defense."
On his expectations for the team during conference play:
"I think we are going to do well. We really have to stay focused on our goals and win the conference so that we have a shot at a bowl game."
On what the defense is doing to improve from last year:
"The main goal of the defense is to stop people, period. We are trying to simplify things and get everybody on the same page. For the cornerbacks specifically, we are trying to switch things up and get a lot of people in the rotation. We are working on getting the freshmen ready so that we can be fresh on the field."
Senior Quarterback Joe Webb
On the excitement of starting another football season:
"It's very exciting. In the summer, there's not much going on. Everyone is getting pumped up about football season. I think the fans are ready and I know the players are ready for some football."
On the team's motivation for this season:
"Our motivation is to turn this program around. The past couple years, we haven't had the best of seasons and we haven't been to a bowl game in awhile. I think everyone is ready for a big turnaround and we are focused on making it happen.
On the non-conference schedule:
"We have some big games down the road. Our main goal is to just take one game at a time and approach each game with the mentality that we can win this game. As long as we watch film and stick to our game plan, we will be okay."
On being more comfortable in his second year as UAB's full-time quarterback:
"Things will come a little easier this year. I watched a lot of film from last year and I learned from different situations what I need to do and how to handle things. The coaches did a very good job of teaching me and showing me what to do."
