The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Travels to Middle Tennessee for Sunday Afternoon Contest
11/30/2020 12:07:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team travels North to Murfreesboro this Sunday, Dec. 6, to face Middle Tennessee in a game that was added to the schedule by Conference USA due to recent cancelations for both teams.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
Opening Statement:
"We were just praying for a game. We were open to whatever. If you asked us what we would rather have, of course we would rather have a home game. It is what it is. We are thankful to have a game. We have to get a fourth game to get into contention to win the West, so this is a big deal for us. Speaking on Middle Tennessee first, I have a tremendous amount of respect for their program. Our mind always goes back to 2018 and the two games we had to go up there and play. One game didn't go the way we wanted and one game could not have been any better for us. Those are our memories. I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Stockstill. If you look at them from game one to where they are now, it is like a totally different team with how they feel like they are playing. I think they are getting a lot better every week. They have gotten to play a lot of games, which has allowed them to get a lot better. We know it is going to be a huge challenge. We had a team meeting yesterday with our guys and, going into that meeting, they did not know what I was going to say with all the stuff that has been going on. They are very thankful to get to play this game. We still have all our opportunities in front of us. We are thankful and ready to get going on this one. We had a lot of preparation on those other games that we lost, so that was tough. As we always say, that is behind us and it is what it is. We are moving forward."
On the team's reaction to a game being added . . .
"They were very excited. As a coach, you feel like your guys are going to be a certain way. To see it, feel it and hear it, I think they were very relieved. We put in so much work all the way back to when we started getting our guys back. It has been a tough year mentally. As I have said many times, we went in there with our eyes wide open to all the problems and potentials. It is really just great that we can find a way to get a game in."
On the administration's help scheduling a game . . .
"That is what it is. It is a teamwork effort between our administration, us and the conference. There is always a balancing act that goes on for all of us. The thing that is good about it is we communicate, whether it is where we are in testing or where we are in what we need. We just knew we needed a game. Obviously, we would have loved to have a home game. Our seniors did not get that. The most important thing for them is to get a game in. I appreciate those guys and the work they put in to get this game and make it happen."
On the team's work ethic after games being canceled . . .
"We have not dropped off. I have not seen any of that. They have great attitudes. Coaching goes into keeping our guys uplifted and in good spirits. That is why we talk so much about communication and trust. Our guys trust that we are telling them the facts. They have to trust that we are going to try to get them in a game, and the best game available. That all goes together. I have not seen any drop off from our guys. The volume of work that went into getting ready for each one of these games, and then they get canceled, is sickening. As we say, it is what it is."
On game-planning for an opponent on short notice . . .
"You hit the ground running. Coach Stockstill and I both talked yesterday. It was just a maybe. The big question I had for him, and one he had for me, was, 'Is this a game that we can count on you playing barring some emergency?' He said 'Oh yeah. We are definitely up for it.' That is what I wanted to hear when I walked into the team to say that I have talked to their head coach. They are wanting to play. They are looking for a game. They want a game. That gives our guys a lot of confidence. The key in all this preparation, really, is that both teams are on the same foot. They found out about us and we found out about them at the same time. We will both be doing the same thing together and getting ready for each other."
Quarterback Tyler Johnston III
On keeping intensity up through a changing schedule . . .
"It never stops. It is the season. Every week, we are bringing the level up. The only time we put our heads down is right when they tell us that we are not having a game that week. We will go in the next week ready to go. It is exciting to hear that we have a game on Sunday."
On the team's reaction to an added game . . .
"He told us we were going to play yesterday and everybody was excited just to be playing again. We were trying to pick up a game and we had no clue if we are actually going to play or not. When he told us it was for sure yesterday, it was good to hear. We are playing on a Sunday and we are ready to play again."
On playing at Middle Tennessee for the first time since the 2018 conference title game . . .
"It is going to feel good. They are a tough team. You watch film on them from this weekend and they are a great team. The defense plays hard and the offense is good too. We just have to play our game. I am excited to get back up there. It is just another game."
Wide Receiver Myron Mitchell
On playing the first game in over a month . . .
"It was a good feeling knowing that we put the work in. It is another week of work. Nothing different. Once we got that information, we were all ready to go. We are ready to get back to work."
On preparation for Sunday's game . . .
"Coming into the season, we knew there were going to be some difficulties. We were kind of prepared for whatever. Being a month without having a game and finding out you do actually get to play, that is exciting, It will make practice 10 times more fun that we actually have a game coming up this Sunday."
On conditioning in between games . . .
"I feel like we will be on point because nothing really changed around the facility. It was just the games getting canceled. We always had practice, even when we knew the games were canceled. We were still making sure that we were on top of everything that we needed to be on top of. Now, it is really just letting go and showing everyone how hard we really have been working."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- The Blazers (4-3, 2-1 C-USA) have had three straight games canceled, and when UAB takes the field against the Blue Raiders on Sunday it will have been 36 days since its last game. The Blue Raiders (3-6, 2-4 C-USA) had their game against Florida Atlantic canceled last week and was also unable to play against Charlotte on Nov. 7.
- UAB needs to win on Sunday to remain in contention for its third straight C-USA Championship Game appearance. The Blazers are scheduled to play at Rice the following week, but the Owls have only been able to play three games this year.
- The game at Middle Tennessee kicks at 1:30 p.m. CST and tickets are available by clicking here or calling 615-898-5261. Middle Tennessee is allowing 7,000 fans into Floyd Stadium.
Opening Statement:
"We were just praying for a game. We were open to whatever. If you asked us what we would rather have, of course we would rather have a home game. It is what it is. We are thankful to have a game. We have to get a fourth game to get into contention to win the West, so this is a big deal for us. Speaking on Middle Tennessee first, I have a tremendous amount of respect for their program. Our mind always goes back to 2018 and the two games we had to go up there and play. One game didn't go the way we wanted and one game could not have been any better for us. Those are our memories. I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Stockstill. If you look at them from game one to where they are now, it is like a totally different team with how they feel like they are playing. I think they are getting a lot better every week. They have gotten to play a lot of games, which has allowed them to get a lot better. We know it is going to be a huge challenge. We had a team meeting yesterday with our guys and, going into that meeting, they did not know what I was going to say with all the stuff that has been going on. They are very thankful to get to play this game. We still have all our opportunities in front of us. We are thankful and ready to get going on this one. We had a lot of preparation on those other games that we lost, so that was tough. As we always say, that is behind us and it is what it is. We are moving forward."
On the team's reaction to a game being added . . .
"They were very excited. As a coach, you feel like your guys are going to be a certain way. To see it, feel it and hear it, I think they were very relieved. We put in so much work all the way back to when we started getting our guys back. It has been a tough year mentally. As I have said many times, we went in there with our eyes wide open to all the problems and potentials. It is really just great that we can find a way to get a game in."
On the administration's help scheduling a game . . .
"That is what it is. It is a teamwork effort between our administration, us and the conference. There is always a balancing act that goes on for all of us. The thing that is good about it is we communicate, whether it is where we are in testing or where we are in what we need. We just knew we needed a game. Obviously, we would have loved to have a home game. Our seniors did not get that. The most important thing for them is to get a game in. I appreciate those guys and the work they put in to get this game and make it happen."
On the team's work ethic after games being canceled . . .
"We have not dropped off. I have not seen any of that. They have great attitudes. Coaching goes into keeping our guys uplifted and in good spirits. That is why we talk so much about communication and trust. Our guys trust that we are telling them the facts. They have to trust that we are going to try to get them in a game, and the best game available. That all goes together. I have not seen any drop off from our guys. The volume of work that went into getting ready for each one of these games, and then they get canceled, is sickening. As we say, it is what it is."
On game-planning for an opponent on short notice . . .
"You hit the ground running. Coach Stockstill and I both talked yesterday. It was just a maybe. The big question I had for him, and one he had for me, was, 'Is this a game that we can count on you playing barring some emergency?' He said 'Oh yeah. We are definitely up for it.' That is what I wanted to hear when I walked into the team to say that I have talked to their head coach. They are wanting to play. They are looking for a game. They want a game. That gives our guys a lot of confidence. The key in all this preparation, really, is that both teams are on the same foot. They found out about us and we found out about them at the same time. We will both be doing the same thing together and getting ready for each other."
Quarterback Tyler Johnston III
On keeping intensity up through a changing schedule . . .
"It never stops. It is the season. Every week, we are bringing the level up. The only time we put our heads down is right when they tell us that we are not having a game that week. We will go in the next week ready to go. It is exciting to hear that we have a game on Sunday."
On the team's reaction to an added game . . .
"He told us we were going to play yesterday and everybody was excited just to be playing again. We were trying to pick up a game and we had no clue if we are actually going to play or not. When he told us it was for sure yesterday, it was good to hear. We are playing on a Sunday and we are ready to play again."
On playing at Middle Tennessee for the first time since the 2018 conference title game . . .
"It is going to feel good. They are a tough team. You watch film on them from this weekend and they are a great team. The defense plays hard and the offense is good too. We just have to play our game. I am excited to get back up there. It is just another game."
Wide Receiver Myron Mitchell
On playing the first game in over a month . . .
"It was a good feeling knowing that we put the work in. It is another week of work. Nothing different. Once we got that information, we were all ready to go. We are ready to get back to work."
On preparation for Sunday's game . . .
"Coming into the season, we knew there were going to be some difficulties. We were kind of prepared for whatever. Being a month without having a game and finding out you do actually get to play, that is exciting, It will make practice 10 times more fun that we actually have a game coming up this Sunday."
On conditioning in between games . . .
"I feel like we will be on point because nothing really changed around the facility. It was just the games getting canceled. We always had practice, even when we knew the games were canceled. We were still making sure that we were on top of everything that we needed to be on top of. Now, it is really just letting go and showing everyone how hard we really have been working."
Players Mentioned
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