The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
South Alabama Game Hitting Home for UAB Coaches and Players
9/12/2019 11:51:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – If a 2-0 start and an unblemished 13-0 record at home isn't enough motivation, next Saturday's first-ever matchup against South Alabama at Legion Field hits home for a quarter of the UAB football team.
When the Blazers and Jags line up across from each other next Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2:30 p.m., there will be 25 UAB coaches, staff and players who have either coached there or are from the Mobile area. To break it down, 12 coaches and 13 players to be exact.
This will be the first time head coach Bill Clark has squared off with the team he helped build from the ground up. Clark was the defensive coordinator at South Alabama from 2008-12 and helped launch the program into their first season in 2009.
Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent had two stints at South Alabama, most recently spending three years at USA from 2015-17.
The list continues throughout the UAB coaching staff, and for the players, there are numerous Blazers who are eager to face the Jags.
Take for example center Lee Dufour. After the program disband in 2014, Dufour (a native of Satsuma, Ala. located just outside of Mobile), transferred to South for one semester and went through spring practice before transferring back to UAB in 2015 for the return of UAB football.
The Johnston brothers, Tyler and Thomas, along with tight end Hayden Pittman and kicker Matt Quinn all attended Spanish Fort High School. They are four of 12 UAB players from the Mobile area.
For defensive lineman Fish McWilliams, a Pensacola, Fla., native, he will be competing against his first cousin, Rocel, who is a senior defensive end for the Jags.
Next Saturday will be filled with more than just the regular emotions that a college football game naturally brings. For UAB, meeting South Alabama brings a unique sense of familiarity, despite it being the first meeting between the two programs.
Coaches:
Head Coach Bill Clark – South Alabama Defensive Coordinator (2008-12)
Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent – South Alabama Tight Ends/Quarterbacks Coach (2011-13); Offensive Coordinator (2015-17)
Offensive Line Coach Richard Owens – South Alabama Offensive Line/Tight Ends Coach (2015-17)
Defensive Backs Coach Blake Shrader – South Alabama Defensive Graduate Assistant (2010-12)
Cornerbacks Coach Jay Simpson – Played at South Alabama from 2008-10, Quality Control Coach (2014-15)
Wide Receivers Coach Larry Smith – South Alabama Offensive Assistant (2012)
Director of Operations Tyler Cook – South Alabama Defensive Graduate Assistant (2009-12)
Strength and Conditioning Coach Lyle Henley – CEO of The Athlete Factory located in Spanish Fort (2004-2015)
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Cam Blankenship – Played at South Alabama in 2015 after the program was shut down and started 11 games for USA
Student Assistant Brady Vincent – South Alabama Student Assistant (2016-17)
Offensive Graduate Assistant Taylor Dupuis – South Alabama Student Assistant (2015-17)
Offensive Volunteer Assistant Billy Harris – From Spanish Fort, Ala. - Brother Sam played at South Alabama (2014-18)
Players:
Center Lee Dufour – Played at South Alabama in Spring 2015 – From Satsuma, Ala. (Saraland HS)
Quaterback Tyler Johnston III – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Outside Linebacker Thomas Johnston – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS
Tight End Hayden Pittman – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Placekicker Matthew Quinn – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Offensive Lineman Chris Tucker – From Mobile, Ala. (Baker HS)
Wide Receiver Samario Rudolph – From Mobile, Ala. (Cottage Hill Christian HS)
Wide Receiver Jermaine Brown Jr. – From Mobile, Ala. (St. Luke's Episcopal)
Running Back Josh Pruitt – From Mobile, Ala. (Baker HS)
Safety Sawyer Brady – From Mobile, Ala. (McGill Toolen HS)
Offensive Lineman Matthew Trehern – From Saraland, Ala. (Saraland HS)
Placekicker Wilson Beaverstock – From Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul's Episcopal)
Defensive Lineman Fish McWilliams – First Cousin currently plays at South Alabama
When the Blazers and Jags line up across from each other next Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2:30 p.m., there will be 25 UAB coaches, staff and players who have either coached there or are from the Mobile area. To break it down, 12 coaches and 13 players to be exact.
This will be the first time head coach Bill Clark has squared off with the team he helped build from the ground up. Clark was the defensive coordinator at South Alabama from 2008-12 and helped launch the program into their first season in 2009.
Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent had two stints at South Alabama, most recently spending three years at USA from 2015-17.
The list continues throughout the UAB coaching staff, and for the players, there are numerous Blazers who are eager to face the Jags.
Take for example center Lee Dufour. After the program disband in 2014, Dufour (a native of Satsuma, Ala. located just outside of Mobile), transferred to South for one semester and went through spring practice before transferring back to UAB in 2015 for the return of UAB football.
The Johnston brothers, Tyler and Thomas, along with tight end Hayden Pittman and kicker Matt Quinn all attended Spanish Fort High School. They are four of 12 UAB players from the Mobile area.
For defensive lineman Fish McWilliams, a Pensacola, Fla., native, he will be competing against his first cousin, Rocel, who is a senior defensive end for the Jags.
Next Saturday will be filled with more than just the regular emotions that a college football game naturally brings. For UAB, meeting South Alabama brings a unique sense of familiarity, despite it being the first meeting between the two programs.
Coaches:
Head Coach Bill Clark – South Alabama Defensive Coordinator (2008-12)
Offensive Coordinator Bryant Vincent – South Alabama Tight Ends/Quarterbacks Coach (2011-13); Offensive Coordinator (2015-17)
Offensive Line Coach Richard Owens – South Alabama Offensive Line/Tight Ends Coach (2015-17)
Defensive Backs Coach Blake Shrader – South Alabama Defensive Graduate Assistant (2010-12)
Cornerbacks Coach Jay Simpson – Played at South Alabama from 2008-10, Quality Control Coach (2014-15)
Wide Receivers Coach Larry Smith – South Alabama Offensive Assistant (2012)
Director of Operations Tyler Cook – South Alabama Defensive Graduate Assistant (2009-12)
Strength and Conditioning Coach Lyle Henley – CEO of The Athlete Factory located in Spanish Fort (2004-2015)
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Cam Blankenship – Played at South Alabama in 2015 after the program was shut down and started 11 games for USA
Student Assistant Brady Vincent – South Alabama Student Assistant (2016-17)
Offensive Graduate Assistant Taylor Dupuis – South Alabama Student Assistant (2015-17)
Offensive Volunteer Assistant Billy Harris – From Spanish Fort, Ala. - Brother Sam played at South Alabama (2014-18)
Players:
Center Lee Dufour – Played at South Alabama in Spring 2015 – From Satsuma, Ala. (Saraland HS)
Quaterback Tyler Johnston III – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Outside Linebacker Thomas Johnston – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS
Tight End Hayden Pittman – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Placekicker Matthew Quinn – From Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS)
Offensive Lineman Chris Tucker – From Mobile, Ala. (Baker HS)
Wide Receiver Samario Rudolph – From Mobile, Ala. (Cottage Hill Christian HS)
Wide Receiver Jermaine Brown Jr. – From Mobile, Ala. (St. Luke's Episcopal)
Running Back Josh Pruitt – From Mobile, Ala. (Baker HS)
Safety Sawyer Brady – From Mobile, Ala. (McGill Toolen HS)
Offensive Lineman Matthew Trehern – From Saraland, Ala. (Saraland HS)
Placekicker Wilson Beaverstock – From Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul's Episcopal)
Defensive Lineman Fish McWilliams – First Cousin currently plays at South Alabama
Players Mentioned
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