The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday Practice Gears Toward Saturday Scrimmage
4/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB football team practiced for nearly two hours in helmets and shoulder pads under sunny skies and 70-degree weather Friday evening at the on-campus practice facility.
The Blazers continued to make final preparations for Saturday's first full-scale scrimmage.
UAB head coach Garrick McGee has been impressed with the Blazers' football team through six practice sessions, but at the same time he understands there is a long way to go.
"I think things have been going well," McGee said. "We're definitely not doing everything right in regards to executing or technique. But the guys show up with a good attitude, they understand I want to practice at a fast pace and get a lot of reps. They are trying to do what I ask them to do, and they have a long way to go, but I've been impressed."
McGee said that the coaching staff is looking forward to the season's first scrimmage, especially in terms of evaluating and execution.
"I get to see them play football," McGee said in regards to what he is looking most forward to on Saturday. "I am looking forward to seeing them move the ball, execute different situations and see how they respond after a good play and a bad play. We are looking forward to them just playing football and not just going through controlled drills.
"We are in an evaluation process," McGee continued. "I'm interested in watching how guys respond to good plays and how they respond to bad plays. I'm interested in seeing how they understand certain situations. I'm interested to see if they can withstand the intensity of a full scrimmage and executing techniques when they are tired. I want to see them push themselves until they can't go any further, then we force them to go even further than that. That's how you win games."
The scrimmage is set to take place at the UAB practice fields at 1 p.m. and is open to the general public.
