The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Looks for Program Record this Saturday at The Swamp
11/13/2017 4:07:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Winners of three in a row and five of its last six, the UAB football team travels to The Swamp this weekend to conclude its non-conference slate with the Florida Gators. Kick is set for 4 p.m. local time and 3 p.m. CST on the SEC Network.
NOTES:
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement:
"It was a big win for the program to go to San Antonio, second time in the last few weeks to go on the road and get a win against a quality opponent. I was really pleased with our start on all sides of the ball, defense, offense and special teams. We jumped on them early and had a big take away in the first possession. The defense got the offense the ball in good field positon and they were able to capitalize on it. We did a great job of capitalizing on our opportunities. We knew they would go in and make adjustments for the second half and come out fighting.
"Probably didn't play as well as we would have liked in the second half, give them credit, we had a couple of turnovers which is uncharacteristic for us but they made some good plays. We had to fight for our lives to finish that thing off but that's the world we're in with our conference. There isn't a lot separating us but I'm really pleased with our guys finding a way to get the win. It solidified our bowl eligibility and keeps the win streak going and here we are again this morning making corrections from that game and talking about our next opponent.
"We're going on the road again to an SEC team which is one of those things our players look forward to playing this kind of quality opponent. They are going to be excited to play and as the season winds down we want to be playing our best football at this time and I think we are. I was really pleased with our special teams and felt like they had their best performance off the year. We're all going to have to be playing our best to go get a win."
On the improvements the team has made over the season:
"I think we have gotten exponentially better. We have gotten a better understanding of what practice looks like, what the game looks like and the urgency. We still have moments where you scratch your head but that's why I keep saying we are a work in progress. We have gotten a lot better and I think more than anything it is the urgency. Other coaches are watching and are like wow you guys are flying to the ball and see how hard we play and that's been what we always want to see out of our guys and our team. We can't always control out talent level but we can always control how hard we play and how important it is to us."
On the confidence level of the team:
"I think there is a belief in what we do and how we do it. There is a process of how we prepare for a game and I'm a stickler for every play in practice counts and we're trying to get on every ball. If a guy catches a ball I'm going to get on him. I even have to explain that to coaches sometimes because it seems like you're being really hard on a player and I explain to them that's what the game looks like. Understand if we go out on the practice field and a guy catches a ball I am going to be upset at them. I am going to be upset if you don't lock up and all of those things carry over to the game but then I think your practice becomes like the game and that creates the confidence."
On dealing with the crowd noise at Florida:
"This will be another week to use our system that plays music and crowd noise. I know those offensive guys got tired of hearing it because we played it the whole time last week heading into UTSA, but it helped us with our hand signals and we had silent counts that we have to deal with in a loud environment."
On dealing with the mental and physical fatigue:
"We say all the time that you're just running on fumes this time of year and so is everybody else. To that point it creates, 'what makes you work a little harder or keeps you going?' We talk about the number of hours we spend each week and there is a light at the end of the tunnel with these last few weeks and then get ready for a bowl game. It's a little easier to get up when you win. We had our normal 6:45 a.m. and I think our guys probably thought they lost with the way I acted, that's just the way I do it. We haven't accomplished our goals. We've accomplished a lot of them but we haven't accomplished all of them."
On the battle at the line of scrimmage:
"It's huge. They are so talented up front. They are great on both sides of the ball. Our guys have done a good job and that is the level of play we are aspiring to. We want to be consistent and understand the physicality we have to play with. It is a challenge we are going to be faced with. I know what it is going to mean to them playing at home. They are going to want to play well in front of their home fans. We are going to get their very best and that's what we have to be ready for."
On Nose Tackle Garrett Marino:
"He's been one of the players of the week for three straight weeks. When he stepped into the starting lineup it's almost like 'Ok, let's take it up another notch.' This is the guy we recruited. He's been dominant. Hopefully he continues to play like that. He's been practicing well – not that he was practicing bad – but we have a good rotation on the line with all those guys, but he's especially playing really well right now.
NOTES:
- A victory would establish a new program record for FBS wins in a season with eight. At 7-3 overall, UAB has matched the 2000 and 2004 Blazer teams who each had seven wins.
- Freshman running back Spencer Brown has three straight 100-yard rushing games and has moved his way up to third on UAB's single season rushing list with 1,177 yards. Brown is the nation's second leading rusher among freshmen and is a candidate for Freshman All-American honors. He has six 100-yard rushing games overall and is averaging 117.7 yards per game.
- Florida native Darious Williams leads Conference USA in passes defended with 14 total (1.40/game). The senior had his streak of four straight games with an INT come to an end at UTSA, but had two critical pass breakups, including one on UTSA's 2-point conversion attempt with 1:11 left in the game with UAB leading 24-19.
- The Blazers had 10 TFL at UTSA and now have 72 on the season. UAB ranks 23rd nationally in tackles for loss at 7.2 per game.
- A.J. Erdely set the UAB single season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback at UTSA. Erdely now has 12 rushing touchdowns this season, breaking Joe Webb's previous record of 11 which he set in 2008 and 2009. The 12 rushing touchdowns are the most by a quarterback in C-USA this season.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement:
"It was a big win for the program to go to San Antonio, second time in the last few weeks to go on the road and get a win against a quality opponent. I was really pleased with our start on all sides of the ball, defense, offense and special teams. We jumped on them early and had a big take away in the first possession. The defense got the offense the ball in good field positon and they were able to capitalize on it. We did a great job of capitalizing on our opportunities. We knew they would go in and make adjustments for the second half and come out fighting.
"Probably didn't play as well as we would have liked in the second half, give them credit, we had a couple of turnovers which is uncharacteristic for us but they made some good plays. We had to fight for our lives to finish that thing off but that's the world we're in with our conference. There isn't a lot separating us but I'm really pleased with our guys finding a way to get the win. It solidified our bowl eligibility and keeps the win streak going and here we are again this morning making corrections from that game and talking about our next opponent.
"We're going on the road again to an SEC team which is one of those things our players look forward to playing this kind of quality opponent. They are going to be excited to play and as the season winds down we want to be playing our best football at this time and I think we are. I was really pleased with our special teams and felt like they had their best performance off the year. We're all going to have to be playing our best to go get a win."
On the improvements the team has made over the season:
"I think we have gotten exponentially better. We have gotten a better understanding of what practice looks like, what the game looks like and the urgency. We still have moments where you scratch your head but that's why I keep saying we are a work in progress. We have gotten a lot better and I think more than anything it is the urgency. Other coaches are watching and are like wow you guys are flying to the ball and see how hard we play and that's been what we always want to see out of our guys and our team. We can't always control out talent level but we can always control how hard we play and how important it is to us."
On the confidence level of the team:
"I think there is a belief in what we do and how we do it. There is a process of how we prepare for a game and I'm a stickler for every play in practice counts and we're trying to get on every ball. If a guy catches a ball I'm going to get on him. I even have to explain that to coaches sometimes because it seems like you're being really hard on a player and I explain to them that's what the game looks like. Understand if we go out on the practice field and a guy catches a ball I am going to be upset at them. I am going to be upset if you don't lock up and all of those things carry over to the game but then I think your practice becomes like the game and that creates the confidence."
On dealing with the crowd noise at Florida:
"This will be another week to use our system that plays music and crowd noise. I know those offensive guys got tired of hearing it because we played it the whole time last week heading into UTSA, but it helped us with our hand signals and we had silent counts that we have to deal with in a loud environment."
On dealing with the mental and physical fatigue:
"We say all the time that you're just running on fumes this time of year and so is everybody else. To that point it creates, 'what makes you work a little harder or keeps you going?' We talk about the number of hours we spend each week and there is a light at the end of the tunnel with these last few weeks and then get ready for a bowl game. It's a little easier to get up when you win. We had our normal 6:45 a.m. and I think our guys probably thought they lost with the way I acted, that's just the way I do it. We haven't accomplished our goals. We've accomplished a lot of them but we haven't accomplished all of them."
On the battle at the line of scrimmage:
"It's huge. They are so talented up front. They are great on both sides of the ball. Our guys have done a good job and that is the level of play we are aspiring to. We want to be consistent and understand the physicality we have to play with. It is a challenge we are going to be faced with. I know what it is going to mean to them playing at home. They are going to want to play well in front of their home fans. We are going to get their very best and that's what we have to be ready for."
On Nose Tackle Garrett Marino:
"He's been one of the players of the week for three straight weeks. When he stepped into the starting lineup it's almost like 'Ok, let's take it up another notch.' This is the guy we recruited. He's been dominant. Hopefully he continues to play like that. He's been practicing well – not that he was practicing bad – but we have a good rotation on the line with all those guys, but he's especially playing really well right now.
Players Mentioned
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