The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Head Coach Bill Clark Previews R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
12/17/2019 4:36:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – With just five days remaining until the UAB football team plays No. 20 Appalachian State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, head coach Bill Clark held his weekly press conference on Tuesday morning at the Football Operations Center to preview the matchup.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
HEAD COACH BILL CLARK
Opening statement:
"I think following the conference championship game, we were glad to get back to work. We needed some time off, so it was really good to give those guys a few days off as our coaches were recruiting. We came back and started practicing on Saturday. It's amazing to see what a few days off did. Playing 13 games, obviously takes a toll. We feel like we're getting everybody pretty much well. Obviously, there are going to be some things that you won't fix till after the season, but I'm excited for these guys to get their legs back under them. We've had good practices. We know Appalachian State. What a great program. I was thinking the other day that it reminds me kind of how I felt when I was at Prattville those last few years when you plug in different people. Some coaches stay, some coaches leave. Coach Clark just got the interim tag lifted off. I think he's been a part of that program for the last four years. What a great job they've done. Consistency – they're good on both sides of the ball and special teams. Their quarterback is a local guy who's really a great player. They have the running backs leading the conference in rushing. You don't know which side of the ball they're better at. Offensively or defensively, they're great on both sides of the ball. It's a huge challenge for us. We're excited about going to New Orleans and a new setting for us. I think they do a great job in everything I've heard about in how they run their bowl. We'll be leaving in the morning to go down there and are really excited about our opportunity."
On having to take on Appalachian State's normal role as a giant killer:
"It's almost like it's flipped for us if you look at them being a top-25 team and what they've done beating South Carolina, North Carolina and winning their division and conference again. I think for us, it's also a chance for us to preview next year's team. I was sitting there yesterday and asked the seniors to raise their hands, and it's a small number of guys. We want to see what our group does next year. Obviously, we'll get a few guys back that have been injured. We're really excited about our recruits. I think this has kind of been a preview of next year's team with us going up against a top-25 team. It's a huge deal for us. What a great job done in that program through the years."
On using previous bowl experience to help prepare:
"It's been different for us because we lost so many of those guys. The conference championship game was so new for most of our team. A lot of them hadn't been in that setting last year, but I think you learn from all of those instances. I use the Bahamas Bowl as an example. We were happy to be there. I kind of felt that way last week. Nobody has any expectations for you, then all of a sudden you do something that nobody and just breathe. Really, when you've got something to prove – we had something to prove last year. Now we have something to prove this week. I think that's the best place to be as a team. We'll see how it works. They have a new coach, and he's going to be out to prove something as well. I think for us, having been in those bowls, I think how you travel, watch the itinerary and things that the bowl asks of you helps, no doubt."
On balancing bowl preparation with the early signing period:
"I think for us, if we can survive signing guys in the Bahamas, there's nothing we can't do. At that time, the faxes had pretty much gone out. We were still emailing. Obviously now, they can take pictures and send them. It's a lot easier, but making it through that was really great preparation for anything we have moving forward. We've learned how to handle this early signing day. We load up on that plane at 9 and want all of that behind us when we get on the plane. I think that past experience has helped us."
On the importance of getting a 10th win:
"I think anything we do – as I said, this is next year's team that's going to be mostly playing. We still have a few of those seniors we'll want to play well for. I think anything that propels us to a great offseason – there are going to be high expectations for next year's team with all these returners. I think it starts with this game."
On the challenges of facing Appalachian State:
"It's not just a program that's good. They are good. They're really good on offense. The things they do -they're a big stretch team that they've been running for years. They're so well coached up front. Their quarterback is truly a great player. Their running back is truly a great player. Defensively, they're really good. I think besides this history, they've got a really good team. That's the individual matchups that we have to look at. We have to do the same thing and be good across the board."
On quarterback Tyler Johnston III:
"The good thing for us is he's pretty close to being healthy. Obviously, Dylan has done a great job for us. That's what we're working through right now of who it will be."
On running back Jermaine Brown Jr.:
"Jermaine is back as well, so it's good to have him back."
On Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas:
"Zac – obviously having Grayson Cash, David Acfalle, (Jarrion) Street and those having played with him –We feel like we kind of know him. We remember liking him in recruitment. We were kind of in that mix. First, he's a great runner. I don't think people understand that this guy is really like a running back. Our guys talk about him. He's the second-fastest guy on that team. First off, his speed jumps out. I think that surprises a lot of people they play. He runs the option really well. He's very accurate and a good decision maker. Any time you have a local guy, he's going to want to do well against us even though he's done well all year. Knowing him, his coaches from high school and how well he's been coached there as well, he's a really good player and a great competitior."
On being prepared from facing local athletes on other teams:
"I think to that point, any time you play against local folks, you want to do well. He's going to come into this game wanting to perform well. That's probably no different than he feels every game, but there may be a little something added for him, so we're going to have to be ready."
On being overlooked:
"I think App. State has earned that. I think if you're a competitor with what we've done the last few years, I'm not a big point spread guy, but that jumps out to you. I think for us, the challenge is there. We'll see how we respond."
On fan support:
"I think any time our guys see our folks there to support, it means a lot. We'd love to have them there. Like you said, that's a pretty easy trip and a great place to go. It would be a good Christmas present to have them there."
On staying focused:
"It's a business trip for us. We want to enjoy it, obviously. They got to go to the bowl suite yesterday and pick out these gifts. They got the new gear. There's a lot of great things, but I've seen them focused up to this point. Hopefully we can keep that when we get there."
On being more under the radar in contrast to a season ago:
"I think for us, we had this goal to be a champion again. The West champ was not the final goal, but it was a big deal. I think this is where we want to be every year. We want to be in the conversation. We want to be in the fight. Any time you're a competitor, you get motivated by a number of things. I think anything that motivates us to practice or work harder, we're looking for."
Junior Linebacker Kris Moll
On shifting focus from the conference championship to the bowl game:
"It's a little difficult because we had a tough loss in the championship game. It didn't go like we wanted it to, but it's also good for us that we have an extra game to redeem ourselves and show the world that wasn't us that game. This is a good team, so we have a great chance to show a lot of people otherwise."
On bowl distractions:
"We're going over there to play a game. We aren't going over there for a vacation or anything. We're going over there to win. We all know that and all should have the same goal. We can have our fun afterwards. We'll be up there already, so we're just going up there to win. I've told the team that I'm not going up there to lose. I'm going up there to win."
On motivation from being an underdog:
"It gives us a chip on our shoulder. We always have a chip on our shoulder every week. This is big time. We're not even ranked right now, but they're ranked, so this can give us a good name."
On the biggest challenge:
"Our biggest challenge is to stay disciplined on defense. They're a pretty good and disciplined team. They just wait until you mess up, and they're going to keep doing the same thing. We just have to stay disciplined."
Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman Colby Ragland
On having a week off:
"I think it was something that was well needed. Like you said, we've been going nonstop basically all year. You have an offseason, but if you're grinding and putting that work in, to have a week after a long season and a tough loss to reset your mind and body a little bit to flush out the soreness is very important. We all were grateful for it, and we took advantage of it."
On moving past the last game:
"In my opinion, I think everybody is ready. Even though the work is not done yet, it's only Tuesday. We still have a lot of time. As soon as the game was over, everybody was looking forward to the bowl game, who we were playing and how we can get that tough loss out of our minds. Like I said, it was tough, but I think that everybody is ready to go out there and compete. It's a top 25 team in the nation. They're Sun Belt champions two years in a row. We look at it as a challenge, but also a great opportunity as well."
On the importance of 10 wins:
"I think it's important because any time you can get a double-digit win season, it speaks volumes, especially at UAB. We did it last year. Seeing as though the program came back just a couple of years ago, I think it would mean a lot for us, but not just for us, for the community. To show that it wasn't a fluke last year and it's not going to be a fluke this year, this is something that we are setting the foundation for that we hope to continue every year."
On focusing on the game:
"Like I said, with us having a tough loss as well, a lot of us haven't been to New Orleans. Our coaches have been speaking about it as well since there will be a lot of distractions, but we have to stick together and know that we have just one common goal. That's to get win number 10 and to knock off a top-25 team."
On Appalachian State winning the same bowl a season ago:
"We respect them. We know that they won last year. They defeated Middle Tennessee, I think. Like I said, they're two-time Sun Belt champions. It's a great opportunity to go out there and show everybody who we are. We know we didn't do that in the conference championship."
On what to prepare for the most:
"To be honest, I wouldn't say anything scares me, but we have a healthy respect for the fact they have a great defense and have been putting up a lot of points. We have to take care of the football. We didn't score an offensive touchdown in the conference championship, and that's not acceptable. That's not what we as a unit want to do. That's not who we want to show everybody that we are. Just knowing that we have to go out there and play to our standard. We have to score points."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- The Blazers will be playing in their third-consecutive bowl game since returning to action in 2017. UAB won its first bowl game in program history last year, which was a 37-13 victory over Northern Illinois in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl. A win would over No. 20 Appalachian State would also give UAB its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2011.
- Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. needs 67 yards to become the third player in program history to have 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. He enters the game with 47 catches for 933 yards and five touchdowns. If Watkins Jr. accomplishes that feat, he would join the likes of Roddy White and Derrick Ingram as the only players at UAB to do so.
- UAB's ninth ranked defense will be tested by Appalachian State's offense that ranks ninth nationally in scoring at 39.4 points per game and averages 435.5 yards per contest. Darrynton Evans is Sun Belt's second leading rusher with 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns, while quarterback and Hewitt-Trussville product Zac Thomas has thrown for 2,576 yards and 26 touchdowns.
HEAD COACH BILL CLARK
Opening statement:
"I think following the conference championship game, we were glad to get back to work. We needed some time off, so it was really good to give those guys a few days off as our coaches were recruiting. We came back and started practicing on Saturday. It's amazing to see what a few days off did. Playing 13 games, obviously takes a toll. We feel like we're getting everybody pretty much well. Obviously, there are going to be some things that you won't fix till after the season, but I'm excited for these guys to get their legs back under them. We've had good practices. We know Appalachian State. What a great program. I was thinking the other day that it reminds me kind of how I felt when I was at Prattville those last few years when you plug in different people. Some coaches stay, some coaches leave. Coach Clark just got the interim tag lifted off. I think he's been a part of that program for the last four years. What a great job they've done. Consistency – they're good on both sides of the ball and special teams. Their quarterback is a local guy who's really a great player. They have the running backs leading the conference in rushing. You don't know which side of the ball they're better at. Offensively or defensively, they're great on both sides of the ball. It's a huge challenge for us. We're excited about going to New Orleans and a new setting for us. I think they do a great job in everything I've heard about in how they run their bowl. We'll be leaving in the morning to go down there and are really excited about our opportunity."
On having to take on Appalachian State's normal role as a giant killer:
"It's almost like it's flipped for us if you look at them being a top-25 team and what they've done beating South Carolina, North Carolina and winning their division and conference again. I think for us, it's also a chance for us to preview next year's team. I was sitting there yesterday and asked the seniors to raise their hands, and it's a small number of guys. We want to see what our group does next year. Obviously, we'll get a few guys back that have been injured. We're really excited about our recruits. I think this has kind of been a preview of next year's team with us going up against a top-25 team. It's a huge deal for us. What a great job done in that program through the years."
On using previous bowl experience to help prepare:
"It's been different for us because we lost so many of those guys. The conference championship game was so new for most of our team. A lot of them hadn't been in that setting last year, but I think you learn from all of those instances. I use the Bahamas Bowl as an example. We were happy to be there. I kind of felt that way last week. Nobody has any expectations for you, then all of a sudden you do something that nobody and just breathe. Really, when you've got something to prove – we had something to prove last year. Now we have something to prove this week. I think that's the best place to be as a team. We'll see how it works. They have a new coach, and he's going to be out to prove something as well. I think for us, having been in those bowls, I think how you travel, watch the itinerary and things that the bowl asks of you helps, no doubt."
On balancing bowl preparation with the early signing period:
"I think for us, if we can survive signing guys in the Bahamas, there's nothing we can't do. At that time, the faxes had pretty much gone out. We were still emailing. Obviously now, they can take pictures and send them. It's a lot easier, but making it through that was really great preparation for anything we have moving forward. We've learned how to handle this early signing day. We load up on that plane at 9 and want all of that behind us when we get on the plane. I think that past experience has helped us."
On the importance of getting a 10th win:
"I think anything we do – as I said, this is next year's team that's going to be mostly playing. We still have a few of those seniors we'll want to play well for. I think anything that propels us to a great offseason – there are going to be high expectations for next year's team with all these returners. I think it starts with this game."
On the challenges of facing Appalachian State:
"It's not just a program that's good. They are good. They're really good on offense. The things they do -they're a big stretch team that they've been running for years. They're so well coached up front. Their quarterback is truly a great player. Their running back is truly a great player. Defensively, they're really good. I think besides this history, they've got a really good team. That's the individual matchups that we have to look at. We have to do the same thing and be good across the board."
On quarterback Tyler Johnston III:
"The good thing for us is he's pretty close to being healthy. Obviously, Dylan has done a great job for us. That's what we're working through right now of who it will be."
On running back Jermaine Brown Jr.:
"Jermaine is back as well, so it's good to have him back."
On Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas:
"Zac – obviously having Grayson Cash, David Acfalle, (Jarrion) Street and those having played with him –We feel like we kind of know him. We remember liking him in recruitment. We were kind of in that mix. First, he's a great runner. I don't think people understand that this guy is really like a running back. Our guys talk about him. He's the second-fastest guy on that team. First off, his speed jumps out. I think that surprises a lot of people they play. He runs the option really well. He's very accurate and a good decision maker. Any time you have a local guy, he's going to want to do well against us even though he's done well all year. Knowing him, his coaches from high school and how well he's been coached there as well, he's a really good player and a great competitior."
On being prepared from facing local athletes on other teams:
"I think to that point, any time you play against local folks, you want to do well. He's going to come into this game wanting to perform well. That's probably no different than he feels every game, but there may be a little something added for him, so we're going to have to be ready."
On being overlooked:
"I think App. State has earned that. I think if you're a competitor with what we've done the last few years, I'm not a big point spread guy, but that jumps out to you. I think for us, the challenge is there. We'll see how we respond."
On fan support:
"I think any time our guys see our folks there to support, it means a lot. We'd love to have them there. Like you said, that's a pretty easy trip and a great place to go. It would be a good Christmas present to have them there."
On staying focused:
"It's a business trip for us. We want to enjoy it, obviously. They got to go to the bowl suite yesterday and pick out these gifts. They got the new gear. There's a lot of great things, but I've seen them focused up to this point. Hopefully we can keep that when we get there."
On being more under the radar in contrast to a season ago:
"I think for us, we had this goal to be a champion again. The West champ was not the final goal, but it was a big deal. I think this is where we want to be every year. We want to be in the conversation. We want to be in the fight. Any time you're a competitor, you get motivated by a number of things. I think anything that motivates us to practice or work harder, we're looking for."
Junior Linebacker Kris Moll
On shifting focus from the conference championship to the bowl game:
"It's a little difficult because we had a tough loss in the championship game. It didn't go like we wanted it to, but it's also good for us that we have an extra game to redeem ourselves and show the world that wasn't us that game. This is a good team, so we have a great chance to show a lot of people otherwise."
On bowl distractions:
"We're going over there to play a game. We aren't going over there for a vacation or anything. We're going over there to win. We all know that and all should have the same goal. We can have our fun afterwards. We'll be up there already, so we're just going up there to win. I've told the team that I'm not going up there to lose. I'm going up there to win."
On motivation from being an underdog:
"It gives us a chip on our shoulder. We always have a chip on our shoulder every week. This is big time. We're not even ranked right now, but they're ranked, so this can give us a good name."
On the biggest challenge:
"Our biggest challenge is to stay disciplined on defense. They're a pretty good and disciplined team. They just wait until you mess up, and they're going to keep doing the same thing. We just have to stay disciplined."
Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman Colby Ragland
On having a week off:
"I think it was something that was well needed. Like you said, we've been going nonstop basically all year. You have an offseason, but if you're grinding and putting that work in, to have a week after a long season and a tough loss to reset your mind and body a little bit to flush out the soreness is very important. We all were grateful for it, and we took advantage of it."
On moving past the last game:
"In my opinion, I think everybody is ready. Even though the work is not done yet, it's only Tuesday. We still have a lot of time. As soon as the game was over, everybody was looking forward to the bowl game, who we were playing and how we can get that tough loss out of our minds. Like I said, it was tough, but I think that everybody is ready to go out there and compete. It's a top 25 team in the nation. They're Sun Belt champions two years in a row. We look at it as a challenge, but also a great opportunity as well."
On the importance of 10 wins:
"I think it's important because any time you can get a double-digit win season, it speaks volumes, especially at UAB. We did it last year. Seeing as though the program came back just a couple of years ago, I think it would mean a lot for us, but not just for us, for the community. To show that it wasn't a fluke last year and it's not going to be a fluke this year, this is something that we are setting the foundation for that we hope to continue every year."
On focusing on the game:
"Like I said, with us having a tough loss as well, a lot of us haven't been to New Orleans. Our coaches have been speaking about it as well since there will be a lot of distractions, but we have to stick together and know that we have just one common goal. That's to get win number 10 and to knock off a top-25 team."
On Appalachian State winning the same bowl a season ago:
"We respect them. We know that they won last year. They defeated Middle Tennessee, I think. Like I said, they're two-time Sun Belt champions. It's a great opportunity to go out there and show everybody who we are. We know we didn't do that in the conference championship."
On what to prepare for the most:
"To be honest, I wouldn't say anything scares me, but we have a healthy respect for the fact they have a great defense and have been putting up a lot of points. We have to take care of the football. We didn't score an offensive touchdown in the conference championship, and that's not acceptable. That's not what we as a unit want to do. That's not who we want to show everybody that we are. Just knowing that we have to go out there and play to our standard. We have to score points."
Players Mentioned
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