The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Concludes Regular Season with UTEP at Home
11/20/2017 1:07:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Playing its final regular season game of 2017, the UAB football team welcomes UTEP to Legion Field on Saturday at noon. The Blazers will honor their seniors who will go down as the most influential class in program history.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement
"Talking about Florida, from a preparation standpoint we had a really good week. There was not a doubt in my mind that we were excited, ready and we went to win the game. I give Florida credit, they figured out from a defensive standpoint that they had the size and the bodies and continued to run right at us. There were some times, particularly on third downs, that I would have liked to get off the field but we made a lot of stops holding Florida to field goals. We probably could have done a better job on third down as the game wore on. We wore down defensively but never quit fighting. Offensively we were disappointed, we couldn't run the ball and no one has been able to take our run game away. North Texas gave a good effort in the first half when they loaded the box but Florida didn't have to load the box. We had some dropped balls and some uncharacteristic turnovers, which you can't do against anybody, but protecting the football is something we work on every day. We had a trick play shot that probably shouldn't have been thrown and there was a lot of things offensively that we would have liked to have back. Special teams for the most part was solid. It was a tough day, our guys fought their tails off but as I said as we walked off the field, we have to put that one behind us.
"Here we are at the last regular season game and to answer this question before anyone asks, no we have not forgotten about Charlotte. We don't care what UTEP's record is, they've been in every single game really going into the fourth quarter. They don't look like an 0-11 team, they don't have those types of people, they're fighting their tails off. Coach (Mike) Price has a history of winning and we feel like we're going to get their best game because every game we've been in has been a dogfight. That's all we're going talk about today, we're going to have a normal week of practice even though it's Thanksgiving. We have a 12 p.m. kickoff so we need our guys there, we need our fans there, we know that there are other things going on around the state on that day but we are trying to accommodate. We have a game to play and it's Senior Day for our seniors who have done so much for this program and we would love for everyone to come out and support them and send them off on a big note as we get ready for the bowl."
On what this senior class means to you:
"I was looking at them the other day as we were getting ready for Florida knowing that I won't have them back. I'm thankful I have one more game with them at the bowl game that we can enjoy together but Saturday will be emotional. These guys have almost become like coaches with the things we asked of them and what we expected. That's one of those hidden secrets is how we put this team together, those guys have been a glue to all of the things we've asked them to do. This is a tough job the things they're asked to do and they're put on scholarship to be here, most of them, but the work and the volume of academic work, football and how hard we've had to work to get where we are right now they've been instrumental. We're going to look back at the history of UAB football and thank those guys. They'll have a special place from now on."
On the seniors impact outside of football and inside the community:
"It's been huge. I've been talking to NFL scouts about these guys and everyone is saying that they are just a great group of guys and it really is not just me saying that. They are really good people, they've been on every magazine cover, anytime anyone has asked a question they've been gracious. Not only do they say the right things but they believe the right things. I'm always worried about the next group that's coming up if there will be some entitlement with the nice building. But the seniors have had to fight just to have a program. They believed in us, they believed in this city and this school. They stayed here and practiced without games and then really led us behind the scenes, all of the things I don't ever really hear about, when they're telling guys hey believe in what coach is telling you because it is the right thing, act right, do right. These guys have been coaches for us. Then you start thinking about all of the Children's Harbor, Children's Hospital, Big Brother and all of those things and they're in all of that. It's going to be emotional because you don't replace the people that they are."
On Wally Adams:
"What a great attitude he's had. That's the balance that you want of you want a guy to be a competitor but also subjecting himself to the team's needs. Wally is a guy who wants to play but he saw his role early on was to be a leader and he goes down to the scout team as a fifth-year senior as does his job. He does it with enthusiasm and effort. I don't get a chance to brag on these guys enough so here is my chance to brag on Wally Adams."
On what this season has meant to you:
"It's hard to put into words. I'm a live-in-the-moment, in the routine of the week because you have to be that way. People have figured that I hate to lose and those games wear on you. But now when you go back and look at what we are. I was sitting on the field the other day thinking we didn't have a program and now we are competing against Florida with all of the resources they have. It is special, it's special for these guys because they've had to fight to win these games. The big thing is this team has set the precedence for teams to come as we go into next year with a lot of guys returning. These are the things I tell the guys about when I say we'll remember them when the season is over. We'll look back in five, 10, 15 years from now and say how special this group was and we have to keep building on that."
- At 7-4 overall and 5-2 in Conference USA play, a victory against the Miners would set a program record for FBS wins (8) and C-USA wins (6) in a season.
- The Blazers are 5-0 this season and look to go 6-0 at Legion Field for the first time in program history.
- After a standout performance at Florida, cornerback Darious Williams moved up to 4th nationally in passes defended at 1.60/game. Williams had a career-high four pass breakups at Florida and now has 14 this season which leads Conference USA, as does his total number of passes defended (18 - 14 PBUs, four interceptions).
- True freshman Spencer Brown continues to be the nation's second leading rusher among freshmen. The All-American candidate has 1,194 yards this season and ranks third on UAB's single season rushing list. Click here to watch Spencer Brown's season highlights.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement
"Talking about Florida, from a preparation standpoint we had a really good week. There was not a doubt in my mind that we were excited, ready and we went to win the game. I give Florida credit, they figured out from a defensive standpoint that they had the size and the bodies and continued to run right at us. There were some times, particularly on third downs, that I would have liked to get off the field but we made a lot of stops holding Florida to field goals. We probably could have done a better job on third down as the game wore on. We wore down defensively but never quit fighting. Offensively we were disappointed, we couldn't run the ball and no one has been able to take our run game away. North Texas gave a good effort in the first half when they loaded the box but Florida didn't have to load the box. We had some dropped balls and some uncharacteristic turnovers, which you can't do against anybody, but protecting the football is something we work on every day. We had a trick play shot that probably shouldn't have been thrown and there was a lot of things offensively that we would have liked to have back. Special teams for the most part was solid. It was a tough day, our guys fought their tails off but as I said as we walked off the field, we have to put that one behind us.
"Here we are at the last regular season game and to answer this question before anyone asks, no we have not forgotten about Charlotte. We don't care what UTEP's record is, they've been in every single game really going into the fourth quarter. They don't look like an 0-11 team, they don't have those types of people, they're fighting their tails off. Coach (Mike) Price has a history of winning and we feel like we're going to get their best game because every game we've been in has been a dogfight. That's all we're going talk about today, we're going to have a normal week of practice even though it's Thanksgiving. We have a 12 p.m. kickoff so we need our guys there, we need our fans there, we know that there are other things going on around the state on that day but we are trying to accommodate. We have a game to play and it's Senior Day for our seniors who have done so much for this program and we would love for everyone to come out and support them and send them off on a big note as we get ready for the bowl."
On what this senior class means to you:
"I was looking at them the other day as we were getting ready for Florida knowing that I won't have them back. I'm thankful I have one more game with them at the bowl game that we can enjoy together but Saturday will be emotional. These guys have almost become like coaches with the things we asked of them and what we expected. That's one of those hidden secrets is how we put this team together, those guys have been a glue to all of the things we've asked them to do. This is a tough job the things they're asked to do and they're put on scholarship to be here, most of them, but the work and the volume of academic work, football and how hard we've had to work to get where we are right now they've been instrumental. We're going to look back at the history of UAB football and thank those guys. They'll have a special place from now on."
On the seniors impact outside of football and inside the community:
"It's been huge. I've been talking to NFL scouts about these guys and everyone is saying that they are just a great group of guys and it really is not just me saying that. They are really good people, they've been on every magazine cover, anytime anyone has asked a question they've been gracious. Not only do they say the right things but they believe the right things. I'm always worried about the next group that's coming up if there will be some entitlement with the nice building. But the seniors have had to fight just to have a program. They believed in us, they believed in this city and this school. They stayed here and practiced without games and then really led us behind the scenes, all of the things I don't ever really hear about, when they're telling guys hey believe in what coach is telling you because it is the right thing, act right, do right. These guys have been coaches for us. Then you start thinking about all of the Children's Harbor, Children's Hospital, Big Brother and all of those things and they're in all of that. It's going to be emotional because you don't replace the people that they are."
On Wally Adams:
"What a great attitude he's had. That's the balance that you want of you want a guy to be a competitor but also subjecting himself to the team's needs. Wally is a guy who wants to play but he saw his role early on was to be a leader and he goes down to the scout team as a fifth-year senior as does his job. He does it with enthusiasm and effort. I don't get a chance to brag on these guys enough so here is my chance to brag on Wally Adams."
On what this season has meant to you:
"It's hard to put into words. I'm a live-in-the-moment, in the routine of the week because you have to be that way. People have figured that I hate to lose and those games wear on you. But now when you go back and look at what we are. I was sitting on the field the other day thinking we didn't have a program and now we are competing against Florida with all of the resources they have. It is special, it's special for these guys because they've had to fight to win these games. The big thing is this team has set the precedence for teams to come as we go into next year with a lot of guys returning. These are the things I tell the guys about when I say we'll remember them when the season is over. We'll look back in five, 10, 15 years from now and say how special this group was and we have to keep building on that."
Players Mentioned
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Sunday, March 08
UAB vs North Texas Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 01
UAB MBB vs Tulane Post Game Press Conference
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UAB MBB vs Rice Postgame
Sunday, February 08
