The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Rested Blazers Turn Focus To FIU, Conference USA Play
9/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Following last week's open date, the UAB football team returns to the practice field on Monday to prepare for FIU and the start of Conference USA play. During Monday's media luncheon, head coach Bill Clark and selected players met with media to discuss the upcoming game.
The Blazers enter Saturday's contest with a 2-1 overall record, while FIU comes into the game at 1-3 overall following consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and Louisville. The matchup between the Blazers and Panthers will air on the American Sports Network. Fans can catch the game locally on MyTV Channel 68 in Birmingham.
Ticket information for Saturday's game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT, can be found by contacting the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-8221.
For more information on the UAB football team, follow the Blazers on Twitter @UAB_Football. For more on all Blazer athletic teams follow @UABAthletics.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening comments
“Looking back to the Alabama A&M game, our offense picked it up after a slow start. The defense played pretty well the whole game, and they had some takeaways and some big plays in the second half. We went into our open date and practiced early in the week. We got a little healthier and got a mental break. We know we are going into conference play. The new season or the real season is getting here now. It was a good open date for us.”
On Mississippi State’s performance against LSU giving the team confidence
“I think so. We talk about the fact that we can compete against anyone on our schedule. But we feel like anyone on our schedule can beat us. That’s the scary thing about the conference play that we are approaching. Everybody is really good.”
On FIU’s offense
“They had a true freshman quarterback come in this season and they had their guy from the year before. They made the decision to play the young kid but then he gets hurt and the other guy comes back in. They don’t train either player differently. They both have played and I think that they are good offensively. They are capable and multi-formational with a coach that has had a lot of success. They have great skill athletes all over the field.”
On a different vibe heading into conference play
“I think it is going to be a different vibe. The Troy game was big because it was our first game, and Mississippi State because they are an SEC team. We had a good open date. It’s a playoff game. That is how we are approaching it. We are not looking ahead. That is the way it is going to be the rest of the year and that is going to be tough. It’s stressful. But that is the only way we know to do it.”
On the rotation at the running back position
“We just see how it flows. It is based on how tired they are and who is doing what. We have certain plays that we like one guy ahead of the other. We have so many snaps though. For example, let’s take 80 snaps (on offense). That is a lot of snaps for one guy with us being a one-back offense. If they both get 40, that is a lot of snaps. We like to keep it balanced for rest purposes.”
On FIU’s kick returner Richard Leonard
“They are third in the country in kickoff returns. When you have a guy that will take it seven or eight yards deep in the end zone, that is normally not a good move. But he gets it out to the 40 or 50 yard line. We are definitely aware of who he is and they do a great job with him.”
On offense affecting defense
“We want to score. We don’t want to sacrifice the fact that we believe in defense for our scoring. We still want to score even though that puts us in a tough scenario sometimes defensively. We said to be great defensively, we don’t have to stop our offense.”
So. Safety Jordan Petty
On if there is greater intensity going into Conference USA play this week
“Yes, because it’s more serious, as far as winning and losing because we look at it like a championship game like in high school. That’s how our mentality is. It’s all or nothing. We don’t want to lose.”
Jr. Nose Tackle Jontavious Morris
On being concerned with his team’s slow starts to games
“The defense came out slow, but the offense has our back. We amp them up. Once we get it rolling, it’s coming.”
On if there is a different vibe with the team as they prepare for a C-USA game
“Our coaches do a great job on adjustments, so we try to adjust to what they do and how they play. The feel is different. We know what’s at stake and coach does a good job by putting us in game-like situations. We’re ready to play.”
Jr. QB Cody Clements
On the difference between the first quarter and second quarter of the Alabama A&M game
“We knew what we needed to do. We got rolling in the second quarter. We got the feel of positivity. We went off that feeling.”
On if there is a different vibe with the team as they prepare for a C-USA game
“It turns up a notch knowing that each win counts toward our goal of winning a conference championship. We can’t afford slow starts anymore because these are the games that count.”
On the state of the program compared to past years
“I believe that the struggles in the past are irrelevant now. We are a whole new team with a new coaching staff. We go into every game thinking we will win, not to just compete or to just have a chance, but to win.”
