The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
THANK YOU SENIORS! Leaving Behind a Historic Legacy
1/8/2019 6:52:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Think about this. UAB had 35 seniors on its roster this season. This group brought the Blazers to milestones never once before accomplished in the 28-year history of the program.
But their story is different. Their story is one that no one in the HISTORY of college football has ever gone through.
Three years ago in 2016, these players, hardly even recognizable as football players on campus, gathered from all over the country because they believed in a vision.
No season in sight, inadequate facilities to train at and the realization that this may be crazier than they even anticipated.
Fast forward to present day 2019. Not only has this group put UAB on the map in Birmingham, but UAB football is now a national household name. They leave the program with a record of 19-8 over a two-year span, and more importantly, they are champions. They are Conference USA Champions and Boca Raton Bowl Champions, something that has never been accomplished at UAB.
Some names are now more recognizable that others, but all 35 players had a vital role in getting the Blazers to this point.
Take quarterback A.J. Erdely for example. An injury to his shoulder forced him to cheer on his teammates from the sidelines during the C-USA championship game along with the Boca Bowl. But think about what he did for the program.
Erdely was 15-7 as a starter and quarterbacked the Blazers to their historic 38-7 victory over Alabama A&M in UAB's return to the field. He started all 13 games in 2017 and put together one of the most prolific seasons for a quarterback in school history. Although his 2018 season didn't end how he envisioned, he will always be remembered for his contributions to UAB football.
And Collin Lisa, who was on the team in 2014 and left for Buffalo once the program was shut down. He returned in 2016 because he thought this day could once be possible.
Four offensive linemen who gathered from the junior college ranks, all leave as All-Conference USA performers. Xavier Ubosi garnered every bowl record and accolade imaginable, as he, Andre Wilson and Kailon Carter have caught attention of scouts all across the NFL.
Anthony Rush, Broderick Thomas, Tre' Crawford, Chris Woolbright, Mar'Sean Diggs, Jamell Garcia-Williams, Quindarius Thagard, D.A.Williams, Stacy Keely, Craig Kanyangarara, Zac Williams, Duke Culver, Bentley Easley – the names go on-and-on for the defensive side of the ball.
Some of them were two-year starters. Some of them seized their opportunity this year. But they were all here from the beginning and made substantial contributions in 2018, leaving as the most dominant defense in program history and a top 10 unit nationally.
On January 18, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the city of Birmingham will celebrate the 2018 team for their accomplishments with a parade that goes down University and ends at the Football Operations Center, a facility these seniors helped build.
Some of these seniors will be at the parade, some will not. But make no mistake about it, they have earned this parade. It's for the blood, sweat and tears they left behind the last three years. It's for what they have done for an entire community.
The fact the UAB even returned to the playing field was impressive enough, but this group has given this city multiple championships to celebrate just two years removed from not having a team.
But most importantly, what these seniors leave behind is a standard. This group has set the bar for generations to come. It is a new age of UAB football where championships are the expectation. UAB football is here to stay and these seniors can tell their grandkids that they were a part of the greatest comeback in college football history.
But their story is different. Their story is one that no one in the HISTORY of college football has ever gone through.
Three years ago in 2016, these players, hardly even recognizable as football players on campus, gathered from all over the country because they believed in a vision.
No season in sight, inadequate facilities to train at and the realization that this may be crazier than they even anticipated.
Fast forward to present day 2019. Not only has this group put UAB on the map in Birmingham, but UAB football is now a national household name. They leave the program with a record of 19-8 over a two-year span, and more importantly, they are champions. They are Conference USA Champions and Boca Raton Bowl Champions, something that has never been accomplished at UAB.
Some names are now more recognizable that others, but all 35 players had a vital role in getting the Blazers to this point.
Take quarterback A.J. Erdely for example. An injury to his shoulder forced him to cheer on his teammates from the sidelines during the C-USA championship game along with the Boca Bowl. But think about what he did for the program.
Erdely was 15-7 as a starter and quarterbacked the Blazers to their historic 38-7 victory over Alabama A&M in UAB's return to the field. He started all 13 games in 2017 and put together one of the most prolific seasons for a quarterback in school history. Although his 2018 season didn't end how he envisioned, he will always be remembered for his contributions to UAB football.
And Collin Lisa, who was on the team in 2014 and left for Buffalo once the program was shut down. He returned in 2016 because he thought this day could once be possible.
Four offensive linemen who gathered from the junior college ranks, all leave as All-Conference USA performers. Xavier Ubosi garnered every bowl record and accolade imaginable, as he, Andre Wilson and Kailon Carter have caught attention of scouts all across the NFL.
Anthony Rush, Broderick Thomas, Tre' Crawford, Chris Woolbright, Mar'Sean Diggs, Jamell Garcia-Williams, Quindarius Thagard, D.A.Williams, Stacy Keely, Craig Kanyangarara, Zac Williams, Duke Culver, Bentley Easley – the names go on-and-on for the defensive side of the ball.
Some of them were two-year starters. Some of them seized their opportunity this year. But they were all here from the beginning and made substantial contributions in 2018, leaving as the most dominant defense in program history and a top 10 unit nationally.
On January 18, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the city of Birmingham will celebrate the 2018 team for their accomplishments with a parade that goes down University and ends at the Football Operations Center, a facility these seniors helped build.
Some of these seniors will be at the parade, some will not. But make no mistake about it, they have earned this parade. It's for the blood, sweat and tears they left behind the last three years. It's for what they have done for an entire community.
The fact the UAB even returned to the playing field was impressive enough, but this group has given this city multiple championships to celebrate just two years removed from not having a team.
But most importantly, what these seniors leave behind is a standard. This group has set the bar for generations to come. It is a new age of UAB football where championships are the expectation. UAB football is here to stay and these seniors can tell their grandkids that they were a part of the greatest comeback in college football history.
Players Mentioned
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