The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Plays Final Game at Legion Field Friday Against Southern Miss
11/23/2020 1:11:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team plays its final game at Legion Field this Friday, Nov. 27, as the Blazers host rival Southern Miss at 11:30 a.m. CST on CBS Sports Network.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
· The Blazers (4-3, 2-1 C-USA) are playing their first game in nearly a month. Following its contest at Louisiana Tech on Oct. 31, UAB had a bye week and two straight cancelations due to COVID-19. Southern Miss enters the game at 2-7 overall and 1-4 in C-USA action.
· Despite the lengthy layoff, UAB still controls its own destiny for a chance to play in its third straight C-USA Championship game. The Blazers must win their remaining two games against Southern Miss and Rice to make a return trip to the title game.
· Along with it being the final home game at Historic Legion Field, it is also Senior Day and UAB's annual Salute to Service game. The original Salute to Service game was canceled on Nov. 14, but fans can still donate a $10 ticket to the Tickets for Troops initiative. That ticket will then be given to an active or retired member of the military.
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"This is a historic game for us, with it being the last home game at Legion Field. It is senior day for our guys. What a great group of guys who have represented our program so well. It is a conference game. With everything out there, it is just us getting back to playing, which is what we are all excited about. We are trying to get back to some normalcy. Our guys have handled it as well as they can. We have a COVID test that is out right now but our last round was all negative. We still have a few guys that will return later this week. We are waiting on them so we have been shorthanded. That is, in today's world, to be expected. I am obviously ready to get back to action. I am glad it is sooner than later with a Friday game as opposed to Saturday. It is early in the day. We are definitely looking forward to it."
On rescheduling canceled games . . .
"The two teams that we would have made up with had already scheduled games prior to our games getting canceled. Our game was canceled so late, so those two teams, North Texas and UTEP, had already rescheduled games that had been canceled. Some of the good things about us never having canceled a game turned into negative with the fact that they had already rescheduled. Right now, we will play this game and then turn around and play Rice two weeks from now."
On playing a final game at Legion Field . . .
"Growing up as a kid going to these games and coaching championship games there as a coach prior to even getting to UAB, I was in three state championship games there. I think, for us, it was us making this our home all the way back to 2014. We put ourselves over there training. Starting in January, we practiced over there. Obviously, since 2017, it has been so good to us. We feel like we have put the time and effort into it. Our fans have been so great. It is going to be bittersweet. We are all excited about the new stadium. Legion Field has been great to us and it definitely has a lot of memories for us."
On the impact that Legion Field has had on UAB football . . .
"It is everything to our program to have gotten us to where we are. That is what has really been neat about what has happened since The Return. Our fans have really embraced it. We did a lot of great things when we brought in a group to manage our day-to-day operations. It made it nicer and made it better. The city helped us so much with that. I will always be a huge fan of Legion Field. It has been so good to us. I do think it is time to turn the page and go to this new stadium. At the same time, I will forever be a fan of Legion Field."
Senior Linebacker Luke Brasher
On playing a final time at Legion Field . . .
"It is a little different. This is not the way that I wanted my senior year to go with COVID. I think that is what everyone could think for 2020 as well. Legion Field is such a historic place in Birmingham, Alabama and really, college football in general. Growing up, I went to some games there. My brother played in it when he was in high school. My dad played in it in high school. I never got to play in it in high school. I came here and we have been playing ever since in it. It is cool to see all the different things and all the different players who have played there. We get to be in the same locker room that all these great players have been in. It is a happy experience and kind of a sad experience to know that this is the last time we are playing in it. Knowing next year that the guys get a brand new stadium, I am very excited and happy for them as well."
On looking to close out Legion Field with a win . . .
"I am super, super excited about it. I am a big history guy. It is cool closing out my senior season at Legion Field. We took the visit to Protective Stadium the other day. It was super surreal, honestly, to look at all the different seats and see how much UAB has grown as a community. I talked to Coach Clark when we were walking out of the stadium and said, 'Are you going to put me in a certain seat?' He said they were going to put me on the 50 yard line so I can know all the calls and checks. That has been fun."
On tearing up during Friday's final game at Legion Field . . .
"I hope I won't because I feel like some people might question me. I am pretty emotional, but I am normally good at keeping it in. I promise you there will be some emotions flowing through my body. A lot of butterflies. It is the last time ever putting on the Green and Gold and being the home team. I am excited. This whole experience being at UAB has been such a thrill and such a joy. I am very thankful for the opportunity that I have been given since coming here. I will be emotional, but I think my parents will be more emotional, honestly. It will be fine and we will be good."
Right Tackle Sidney Wells
On playing a final time at Legion Field . . .
"Since I have been here, and as the games went on, I have learned the history. I know that Legion Field is forever something prestigious in UAB history. It is definitely going to be something big, going out with a bang in the last game there. It is definitely important."
On playing on Black Friday . . .
"Whenever you are playing football around Thanksgiving, you are doing something right. I am just going to be looking forward to the fellowship that we are going to be able to have and share. This is basically your family. You have family at home, but this is your extended family. That is something that I am looking forward to."
On having a three-week break between game weeks . . .
"As Coach Clark said, it has been tough. He keeps reminding us that each time we play, like the last two, that they are championship games. We win these and we will have a shot. Coach has been reminding us about how we carry ourselves in practice and what kind of energy we give. We can very well forge our own destiny. That has been keeping us motivated and keeping us locked in."
