The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Travels to UTSA for C-USA West Division Tilt
11/6/2017 3:49:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Riding a two-game winning streak and looking for sustained momentum after its 52-21 victory over Rice to gain bowl eligibility, the UAB football team travels to San Antonio this Saturday, Nov. 11 to face UTSA. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.
NOTES:
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"Going back to last Saturday, any win is a big win but to get a win and follow up on our win from Southern Miss and play probably our most complete game of the year is exciting. And then, the elephant in the room, to get bowl eligible at home was a huge accomplishment for our players, our coaches, our staff and all of the people that supported us. It was a really great day for us.
"It goes without saying that we are not satisfied and we have a lot of work to do, hopefully we are playing our best football now. We have a big challenge this week going to UTSA. I have played in their stadium before, it is going to be loud, they always have a big crowd and play a lot of noise in that confine of a dome stadium. UTSA is a lot like other teams we've played, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, they've been right there in all of those games and started off the year with a big win over Baylor. They have played very well and it is going to be a huge challenge for us. They are very athletic. Offensively they are pro-style offense and mix it up with multiple personnel groupings. Their quarterback is very dynamic, reminds me a lot of A.J. (Erdely) which is high praise. He's a runner thrower, thrower runner. Defensively they lead the conference in defense, I believe. They play a lot of man coverage, really just challenge you and our offense will have to do a good job. Of course, special teams it'll be another good challenge. We have our work cut out for us but we're looking forward to it and I don't think you'll have any relaxation out of our guys."
On having to stay on the guys about being hungry:
"Hopefully we have learned our lessons on that. I was telling someone every week we have grown as a team and that is the mark of a good team. That's not just X's and O's, not just blocking and tackling, it's also growing up. It's understanding that every team can beat you and they're on scholarship too, their coaches are fighting for jobs and success and I think our guys get that. When we came into the locker room there was celebrating but a lot of guys wanted to know what I thought. I told them it was ok to celebrate because this is an unbelievable deal but we're not satisfied. Immediately Tevin Crews got up and said we have three games left and we have to be 1-0 this week. I think their heads are where they need to be. We always have our Monday morning meeting where we do the good, bad and ugly of the last game and then we put them to bed, both the good and bad ones. It's ok to be happy but also know that we have work to do."
On your offensive balance making it harder to defend:
"That's what we've been looking for – where we run the ball, throw the ball, get the ball out on the perimeter, take some shots, be physical – that's that balance and complete package that we've been looking for. We were tremendous on third down, good in the red zone, we only punted one time so offensively it was a complete game. When you can do that it's hard to defend."
On Daryl Waters and Kailon Carter stepping in and getting playing time:
"To me that's the epitome of what we look for. James Noble III, he's playing early and then all of a sudden he doesn't, then someone gets injured and then it was just his time. Then it's Kailon Carter who did not get in until almost right at camp time, so he missed summer workouts and all of the training, and so naturally he was behind but he kept a good attitude and kept on working. Daryl Waters, you are going to get your opportunity. That is why I love this game this much, when guys keep a good attitude and they keep thinking about the team putting that ahead of themselves, good things usually happen you just have to have some patience."
On wide receiver Andre Wilson:
"I felt like he was going to be good, I think we all did, but I think he's better than we even thought. He was an All-American punt returner, dynamic, but he's that guy with those great and short hands and he does something well after the catch too which is what I love."
On your reaction to seeing the players in the locker room after the game on Saturday:
"It probably doesn't get much better than that. From being in some tough locker rooms because they really care so much to being in those that are really just that special. I told them we're going to have a chance to experience some things that you'll never forget. I had a guy tell me that that was one of the top-five experiences in his life, and this was one of our foundation members. To get to see how much work has gone into this opportunity and to see them get to fulfill that, I don't know if it gets much better than that. To know that if you work hard, you do these things we ask you to do and here's what happens and it's truly a team thing. This is what this is all about."
NOTES:
- The Blazers (6-3, 4-2 C-USA) gained bowl eligibility last Saturday for the fifth time in program history and the second straight season under the direction of head coach Bill Clark.
- Quarterback A.J. Erdely is coming off a near flawless performance which garnered him multiple national awards. Erdely set a Conference USA record for completion percentage as he finished 20-of-21 for 197 yards and three touchdowns vs. the Owls, good for a 95.2 completion percentage rate. For his efforts, he was named the CFPA National Performer of the Week and received the Manning Star of the Week from the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
- Freshman All-American candidate Spencer Brown became just the fifth player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season against Rice. The nation's second leading rusher among freshmen, Brown has gone over 100 yards in four of his last five games and is averaging 134.2 yards per game in C-USA action.
- Brown has five 100-yard rushing games this season and his current rushing total of 1,049 yards is the fourth most in a single season at UAB. His 10 rushing touchdowns are also the sixth most at UAB in a single season.
- Cornerback Darious Williams is making a strong case for all-conference accolades. The senior has an active streak of four straight games with an interception which is the only such streak in the country this season. His 12 pass breakups (eight PBU, four INT) are the second most in C-USA.
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"Going back to last Saturday, any win is a big win but to get a win and follow up on our win from Southern Miss and play probably our most complete game of the year is exciting. And then, the elephant in the room, to get bowl eligible at home was a huge accomplishment for our players, our coaches, our staff and all of the people that supported us. It was a really great day for us.
"It goes without saying that we are not satisfied and we have a lot of work to do, hopefully we are playing our best football now. We have a big challenge this week going to UTSA. I have played in their stadium before, it is going to be loud, they always have a big crowd and play a lot of noise in that confine of a dome stadium. UTSA is a lot like other teams we've played, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss, they've been right there in all of those games and started off the year with a big win over Baylor. They have played very well and it is going to be a huge challenge for us. They are very athletic. Offensively they are pro-style offense and mix it up with multiple personnel groupings. Their quarterback is very dynamic, reminds me a lot of A.J. (Erdely) which is high praise. He's a runner thrower, thrower runner. Defensively they lead the conference in defense, I believe. They play a lot of man coverage, really just challenge you and our offense will have to do a good job. Of course, special teams it'll be another good challenge. We have our work cut out for us but we're looking forward to it and I don't think you'll have any relaxation out of our guys."
On having to stay on the guys about being hungry:
"Hopefully we have learned our lessons on that. I was telling someone every week we have grown as a team and that is the mark of a good team. That's not just X's and O's, not just blocking and tackling, it's also growing up. It's understanding that every team can beat you and they're on scholarship too, their coaches are fighting for jobs and success and I think our guys get that. When we came into the locker room there was celebrating but a lot of guys wanted to know what I thought. I told them it was ok to celebrate because this is an unbelievable deal but we're not satisfied. Immediately Tevin Crews got up and said we have three games left and we have to be 1-0 this week. I think their heads are where they need to be. We always have our Monday morning meeting where we do the good, bad and ugly of the last game and then we put them to bed, both the good and bad ones. It's ok to be happy but also know that we have work to do."
On your offensive balance making it harder to defend:
"That's what we've been looking for – where we run the ball, throw the ball, get the ball out on the perimeter, take some shots, be physical – that's that balance and complete package that we've been looking for. We were tremendous on third down, good in the red zone, we only punted one time so offensively it was a complete game. When you can do that it's hard to defend."
On Daryl Waters and Kailon Carter stepping in and getting playing time:
"To me that's the epitome of what we look for. James Noble III, he's playing early and then all of a sudden he doesn't, then someone gets injured and then it was just his time. Then it's Kailon Carter who did not get in until almost right at camp time, so he missed summer workouts and all of the training, and so naturally he was behind but he kept a good attitude and kept on working. Daryl Waters, you are going to get your opportunity. That is why I love this game this much, when guys keep a good attitude and they keep thinking about the team putting that ahead of themselves, good things usually happen you just have to have some patience."
On wide receiver Andre Wilson:
"I felt like he was going to be good, I think we all did, but I think he's better than we even thought. He was an All-American punt returner, dynamic, but he's that guy with those great and short hands and he does something well after the catch too which is what I love."
On your reaction to seeing the players in the locker room after the game on Saturday:
"It probably doesn't get much better than that. From being in some tough locker rooms because they really care so much to being in those that are really just that special. I told them we're going to have a chance to experience some things that you'll never forget. I had a guy tell me that that was one of the top-five experiences in his life, and this was one of our foundation members. To get to see how much work has gone into this opportunity and to see them get to fulfill that, I don't know if it gets much better than that. To know that if you work hard, you do these things we ask you to do and here's what happens and it's truly a team thing. This is what this is all about."
Players Mentioned
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