The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Begin Preparations For Alabama A&M
9/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Hoping to build on its strong start to the 2014 season, the UAB football team sets its sights on Saturday's matchup with Alabama A&M, which is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. CT at Legion Field. On Monday, head coach Bill Clark and selected players met with media to preview the upcoming game.
Saturday's contest, the first-ever meeting between the Blazers and Alabama A&M on the football field, will be televised on the American Sports Network.
For ticket information, contact the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at 205-975-8221. For more information on the UAB football team as well as all Blazer teams, follow UAB on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Instagram (UABAthletics) and on Facebook (UAB Blazers).
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening comments
“After watching the film and meeting with our players this morning, we have a lot positives to take out of the (Mississippi State) game. The effort and the energy that our guys brought was great, and we still have a ton to learn. That’s the level that we want to play at and that’s the competition that we want to gauge ourselves by. When we met with our players early this morning, I think they saw that. There was good but there were things that we did not do well. One of the best things that came out of our meetings this morning was our players challenging each other. That’s what we need to see. We need to get better each week. That was a great measuring stick for us to see where we need to go and where we can keep improving.”
On hearing of the players challenging each other in Monday's meeting
“It was huge. That’s the message that we have had since day one. We are competing with ourselves everyday to get better. We’re either going backward or going forward, and we believe that. Alabama A&M is coming off of a big win, they have a new (coaching) staff, and I was impressed with them last week. Our job is to get better. I would expect a really good week of practice.”
On his team’s pass rush last Saturday at Mississippi State
“The more pressure we can get with the front four guys, the better we are. In a game like last week, sometimes we have to blitz and make things happen. We like to dictate to the offense when we can. Minus the first drive, we played excellent through the end of the first half. We let down a little bit in the third quarter because we probably got a little tired, and came back at the end and played well. That is going to be a constant state of getting better. But the pass rush has been pretty good so far.”
On Alabama A&M’s offense
“With their pistol formation, they are going to be able to run the ball and force you to play assignment football. That opens up the play-action game. Both of their quarterbacks have really good arms. They have a lot of speed on the perimeters. We are going to have to play our assignments and stop the run.”
On UAB’s wide receiver depth
“We had heard about it but then we got here and then actually saw it. We really felt like we were blessed with the guys that we had and we added some young guys to the mix. It’s a deep group. We didn’t show it in our first game, but we’ve got three or four guys that you have to pick your poison against if we protect the quarterback. We have guys that can really go get it and we saw that Saturday.”
On planning to play both quarterbacks
“I think we have an idea. What we want to do every week is make weaknesses strengths. We want to fix that and come up with a plan. During the game, you just see who is playing well. Both quarterbacks we have are really good guys and I think we have done a good job of explaining to them that we expect to play two guys.”
On desired ratio of run to pass plays
“My idea of balance has always been what the defense gives us. Mississippi State took some of our running game away. Balance is being able to do what we need to do when we need to do it. If you take all the running game away by putting players in the box, then we have to be able to throw it. If the defense plays soft and backs off, then we have to be able to run the ball. Sometimes you have to be able to mix it up. I don’t have a true number. We just want to do what we need to do to win.”
On Alabama A&M’s defense
“They are playing well. They are going to get better as they get together. They are very athletic, they move around, and they are very aggressive.”
Sr. WR JJ Nelson
On the players' excitement for this week's game
“It’s very exciting. It’s the next game. We have that competitive edge and attitude and we’re just ready to come out and compete again on Saturday.”
On the two quarterbacks and their mentality in the huddle
“It’s really the same. We rep it a lot at practice and we see both guys at practice, so it’s really the same. It doesn’t bother us at all.”
On the offense’s performance against Mississippi State
“I thought we did good, but it could’ve been better. We strive to be great and we have a lot of great guys on the offensive side. We left a lot of plays and a lot of yardage on the field even though we had over 500 yards, but I feel like we could’ve had more.”
On looking forward to re-watching the 88-yard touchdown reception
“It’s fun to watch yourself, but you always have to be hard on yourself knowing that you can make those plays in your sleep. It’s been on my mind a lot, so I just have to come out this week and work hard.”
On the team’s fire and enthusiasm
“Everybody has their competitive edge and Coach Clark put a lot of emphasis on that and everybody really just embraces it.”
Jr. SAF Bobby Baker
On generating excitement this week in practice
“This week at practice is going to be big and we have to practice just as hard as we did last week. It’s just as big of a game, it’s different conference, different levels, but at the end of the day we have to put points up and we have to put a lot more points up than we did last week.”
On Alabama A&M and the challenges they present
“Every game is a test. Every game, no matter who the opponent, they all mark up as wins or losses. At the end of the day every game counts.”
On the team’s fire and enthusiasm this season
“I’ve seen a lot of film from last season and confidence was one of the big things we lacked last season. This season we definitely got that back and it’s showing.”
Sr. K Ty Long
On staying focused following the loss to Mississippi State
“We just keep playing football and we don’t change for anyone. We didn’t play any differently for Mississippi State as we did for Troy. We come out prepared and give every team our best shot, and that’s the same thing we’ll do this week.”
On whether or not the Troy win was a turning point for this team
“I think it gets fans excited to see that. Us as players, we’ve seen it and we know it, but after Troy, it gets the fans to buy in because everywhere I go now I find myself talking about football with someone. You see the fans buying in more, which is something we need.”
Jr. OL Cameron Blankenship
On the excitement of playing another game this Saturday
“We are going to treat them like every other opponent. We are going to go in and train for them just like we always do. We don’t take any opponent lightly, and we might have to create some of our own fire, but at the same time we are all going to be pumped up and ready to play because it is our next game. Coach Clark instills in us to play each game like it’s our last and give the best we can.”
