The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Step Back Into Conference USA Action At FAU
10/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB's football team sets its sights on the stretch run of Conference USA action as the Blazers head to Boca Raton, Fla., to take on Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. CT Saturday at FAU Stadium.
On Monday, head coach Bill Clark and selected players spent time previewing the upcoming contest at the team's weekly Media Luncheon, which was held in the Green and Gold Room at Bartow Arena.
Saturday's game will be televised by the American Sports Network (ASN) with Ron Thulin (play-by-play) and Keith Moreland (analyst) on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Blazer IMG Sports Network with David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (analyst) and Sam Miller (sideline) calling the action. Fans can listen to the game locally on WUHT-FM 107.7.
Below are quotes from head coach Bill Clark and selected UAB players during Monday's press conference.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening comments
"On the previous game, we played a really good Arkansas team. They jumped on us early and are really hard to defend offensively. We didn't play a great first half, but give them credit. I thought our guys came in at halftime and responded. We played a good second half. Our special teams, with the exception of one miscue against their field goal team, had a great day. Our defense came back and played well in the second half and our offense was solid. Our whole focus as soon as that game was over was onto this next game. It is obviously a huge game for us. We still have all of our goals intact and we knew that going into the game on Saturday. We are on to FAU."
On getting back to conference play
"It's going to be every little thing. All of those minute details and turnovers, it is every game. We felt like Marshall might be a little ahead of everybody, and then FAU leads them for three quarters. That tells you who they are. They should be 4-4. They had Wyoming beat. Using FAU as an example of our whole conference, everybody is really close. It's just week to week."
On FAU QB Jaquez Johnson
"They probably run him more than what we have seen. Middle Tennessee had an athletic quarterback, but they didn't run him a lot. (FAU) feels pretty good about their backup. He played the whole Alabama game and was solid. They run quarterback powers, zone read, and he's not afraid to take off. He's a big guy. People bounce off of him, and he gets the ball out of his hand. He does a really good job."
On FAU's defense
"We noticed a huge change in them since halftime of the Western Kentucky game. They challenged Marshall's receivers and did a great job. The guy from Marshall is just a really good running back and he broke out on a couple big runs. They have really made a move."
On the progress of UAB's offense
"We have a chance to be a great offense. Anytime you lose your quarterback and have to play your backup, it's hard. That could have just been who we were playing. Offensively, it starts with our rushing attack. We've got a lot of weapons outside and we have to keep taking advantage of those guys. When people play man-to-man, we have to win those battles. Overall, I have been very pleased with our offense."
On other teams in Conference USA getting better
"Everybody gets better. They are getting better. We are getting better. When you compare a team from the first of the year, what happens with injuries? That is the thing that none of us know in the offseason. Our weight training and conditioning has helped our overall team. You have seen that. That is the comment I get from every coach that saw us the year before. Conditioned athletes are going to be a lot less susceptible to injuries, and I think you have seen that with our guys."
#90 Chris Walton | Senior | Defensive Lineman
On the size of Arkansas last week
"Their size definitely lived up to the hype. Lining up against a 6-foot-10 guy at left tackle, and me playing a three technique, made trying to see if it is a run or pass very difficult. The average was 6-foot-5, so they were pretty tall."
On playing SEC schools
"It definitely is a test, but those games make us stronger as a team. If we can put up a good fight against those guys, then going into the conference play we already know what to expect."
On the rest of the season
"It definitely is a dog fight. I was talking to one my teammates, (senior kicker) Ty Long, and the energy we had going into the Troy game, that same energy and intensity we should have going into this week, if not more. This game is almost like a Super Bowl for us, and we know what is at stake. It is right in front of us and we need to reach out and take it. We expect practice to be as intense as it ever has been this week."
On younger players rotating in and helping out
"The younger guys have helped a lot. Coach has been rotating us so we are never really tired. Those second group of guys can come in and play like first groups. You really don't notice a change. Those guys have come in and learned quickly."
#38 Alonzo McGee | Junior | Linebacker
On being in the thick of Conference USA play
"We are back to work and ready for the next game. We are really motivated and are going to treat the rest of the season like it is the playoffs, just one game at a time. We need to start with a win this week. We really want to go to a bowl game, so we are trying to come together as a team. This week we are going to focus on practice and practice hard every play."
On Florida Atlantic quarterback Jaquez Johnson's ability to run
"It puts a lot of pressure on us, especially at linebacker, because it is our job to stop the run and the pass. We want to stop the run first though and worry about the pass later. Once we stop the run, then we will be able to stop the pass."
#6 DJ Vinson | Senior | Running Back
On what is driving the team this year
"We've never been in this position before. We talk about going to a bowl game and winning a conference championship. Now we're in a position to do those things."
On how close this team is to competing for a conference championship
"It's very exciting because if you look at the standings and see where we're at, and see what we can do, it's very exciting. All of our teammates are pulling for each other, even when someone is hurt they say, `Come on man, we got it, we got it.' That feeling is very exciting, knowing where we stand right now at this moment."
On he and Jordan Howard working together in the backfield
"Jordan is a better blocker than I am, but he also helps me and talks to me about blocking. So when I get in there, they don't know if I'm running the ball or if I am blocking, so it could go either way."
#9 Josh Magee | Sophomore | Wide Receiver
On winning the last four games of the season
"We are definitely going to try and win all four. As far as making it to a bowl game, we have to win two, but the main goal is to win all four and to come out with a better record than last year."
On UAB redshirt freshman quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe
"Jeremiah Briscoe is a great quarterback. I know he was probably nervous playing in a hectic environment at Arkansas, but he is a great quarterback."
