The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hosts North Texas on Saturday for Salute to Service
11/9/2020 1:59:00β―PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM β The UAB football team returns to Legion Field this Saturday, Nov. 14, to host North Texas for its annual Salute to Service game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Stadium.
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
HEAD COACH BILL CLARK:
Opening Statement:
"For us, it was an open date. Open dates in football can be used and needed. I thought we had a really good week last week. We tried to get a bunch of guys healed up. We worked on multiple opponents. With the crazy times we are in, it was interesting to see how many games got canceled last week. We have done well and hopefully we have a bunch of guys healed up from being bruised and bumped. Hopefully, we have a lot of guys healed up and ready to go have a good week. This is a Salute to Service week. That means a lot to me; to honor our veterans and everybody who is in the military, present and past. I know we are doing some neat things with the game. It is obviously a big deal. It is a huge conference game for us. We are controlling our own fate. North Texas probably feels really good after how they played in their last game against Middle Tennessee. They have one of the top offenses in the country. They are going to be bringing a good team. They probably felt like they were starting to hit their stride last week before they got their game canceled. We know it is going to be a tough game. All our conference games are that way. It is a big game for us."
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On moving forward after a pair of close losses . . .
"We played two good teams. We lost the way we lost. We could sit here and talk about how we lost the last game. I am not going to debate that. That is water under the bridge. We are about one game at a time. We talked on Sunday after LA Tech that we control our own fate, as sick as we are. How that game ended, we didn't agree with. We have to go. We have to go with what we have got. What we got is that our fate is controlled by us. Nobody wants to lose, for sure not us. We have to move forward."
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On the Dallas Morning News' report of COVID-19 issues at North Texas . . .
"That was kind of news to me. We were hearing Friday that they were coming no matter what and headed in the right direction. I don't think we talked to them yesterday, but in talking to their people, they felt that they were full go on being here. I don't know how accurate (the report) was. I don't think that was an official report. We will know more in the next day or so as their tests come back. We are planning on them being here."
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On facing two North Texas quarterbacks . . .
"They are both very talented. They have one who is a thrower but can absolutely fly. And then you have another one with probably as big of an arm as you will see, but still is an athlete. It is a lot of the same type stuff. Coach Littrell is wanting them to run the ball. They are running the ball better than I have seen them the past few years. Even though they have been good at throwing, their run game has gotten better, or they have focused on it more. They are tough. You look at the yards they're putting up and the number of points they are putting up. It is pretty prolific right now. It is going to be a tough task."
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On UAB's quarterback reps . . .
"It goes back to where we were before. Now that (Tyler Johnston III) is well, we can make choices during the week and see who is the best. We used last week and having both of them available for the game really opens up our options."
Β
On the UAB running game . . .
"That is what we have always said. We are balanced. Balance, for us, is what are they deciding to stop. We always have to be able to run the ball. I think our running game has picked up so much. We want to be balanced. In our pass game, we have a bunch of good receivers. We want to be able to do both. To do both efficiently and effectively makes us the best."
Β
Defensive End Alex Wright
On bouncing back as a defense . . .
"As a defense, we hold ourselves to a very high standard. We have to be accountable with everything we do. Coming off those two losses, it just fuels us. We do not hold our heads down. We look at the greater and positive side of things. We don't look at the negative side at all. It is just fueling our gas tank for us to get ready for conference play. We are going to show what we can do."
Β
On facing North Texas' two quarterbacks . . .
"Especially with this kind of quarterback that can, like Coach Clark said, just fly, we have to be controlled rushers and disciplined rushers at that. We have to keep him in the pocket as best we can. We have to keep pressure on the pocket and make sure that he doesn't throw the passes that he needs to complete. We can help our secondary out as much as we need to."
Β
On the bye week . . .
"It was very beneficial. Everybody is getting their legs back under them. We are getting our minds right and making sure we are perfecting our craft. We are practicing and making sure we are playing like we know how to play. We have been practicing mentally this past week. It should show off in the next game, especially with the practices that we will have this week. Our mental game has picked up tremendously since last week. We will see Saturday."
Β
Colby Ragland
On the four remaining regular season games . . .
"I think it is going to be huge because we control our own destiny. We still have a chance to make it back to the conference championship for the third year in a row. We know what is at stake. Yes, we are coming off two losses, but we did have a great bye week last week getting our bodies back. We are making sure we focus on all the little details that caused us to lose those past two games. This week, we want to be huge. I am excited to get back to playing. This our third bye week and I am ready to finish this season strong."
Β
On maintaining almost a full scheduleβ¦
"It has been a blessing because a lot of schools have had to cancel multiple games. They have had to reschedule games. So far this year, we have been able to maintain almost a full schedule. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with all the coaches and players. It is everybody making sure that we are all on the same page. Knowing no matter the circumstances, we are ready. It is on everybody. We are making sure we are ready and staying focused and locked in on what we are doing. When you can do that, you get a sense of ease, especially in times like this when there are a lot of crazy things going on. You see multiple programs have to postpone or forfeit multiple games. I think it is just a blessing."
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- With four regular season games remaining, the Blazers (4-3, 2-1 C-USA) control their own destiny for securing their third straight C-USA championship game appearance. UAB is in first place in the West standings, and winning out against North Texas, UTEP, Southern Miss and Rice would have them back in the title game.
Β - North Texas enters the game with the nation's second ranked offense, but also ranks last nationally in total defense. UNT's offense averages 593.6 yards per game, but allows 549.4 yards per game on defense. UAB is coming off a game in which the Blazers had 485 yards of total offense against Louisiana Tech, including a season-high 338 rushing yards.
Β - UAB will honor active and retired military members and front line workers this Saturday with its annual Salute to Service game. Fans can take part in Tickets for Troops by donating a $10 ticket which will be given to an active or retired military member by clicking here. Fans can also purchase a game ticket and receive a UAB camo beanie for $25 by clicking here.
HEAD COACH BILL CLARK:
Opening Statement:
"For us, it was an open date. Open dates in football can be used and needed. I thought we had a really good week last week. We tried to get a bunch of guys healed up. We worked on multiple opponents. With the crazy times we are in, it was interesting to see how many games got canceled last week. We have done well and hopefully we have a bunch of guys healed up from being bruised and bumped. Hopefully, we have a lot of guys healed up and ready to go have a good week. This is a Salute to Service week. That means a lot to me; to honor our veterans and everybody who is in the military, present and past. I know we are doing some neat things with the game. It is obviously a big deal. It is a huge conference game for us. We are controlling our own fate. North Texas probably feels really good after how they played in their last game against Middle Tennessee. They have one of the top offenses in the country. They are going to be bringing a good team. They probably felt like they were starting to hit their stride last week before they got their game canceled. We know it is going to be a tough game. All our conference games are that way. It is a big game for us."
Β
On moving forward after a pair of close losses . . .
"We played two good teams. We lost the way we lost. We could sit here and talk about how we lost the last game. I am not going to debate that. That is water under the bridge. We are about one game at a time. We talked on Sunday after LA Tech that we control our own fate, as sick as we are. How that game ended, we didn't agree with. We have to go. We have to go with what we have got. What we got is that our fate is controlled by us. Nobody wants to lose, for sure not us. We have to move forward."
Β
On the Dallas Morning News' report of COVID-19 issues at North Texas . . .
"That was kind of news to me. We were hearing Friday that they were coming no matter what and headed in the right direction. I don't think we talked to them yesterday, but in talking to their people, they felt that they were full go on being here. I don't know how accurate (the report) was. I don't think that was an official report. We will know more in the next day or so as their tests come back. We are planning on them being here."
Β
On facing two North Texas quarterbacks . . .
"They are both very talented. They have one who is a thrower but can absolutely fly. And then you have another one with probably as big of an arm as you will see, but still is an athlete. It is a lot of the same type stuff. Coach Littrell is wanting them to run the ball. They are running the ball better than I have seen them the past few years. Even though they have been good at throwing, their run game has gotten better, or they have focused on it more. They are tough. You look at the yards they're putting up and the number of points they are putting up. It is pretty prolific right now. It is going to be a tough task."
Β
On UAB's quarterback reps . . .
"It goes back to where we were before. Now that (Tyler Johnston III) is well, we can make choices during the week and see who is the best. We used last week and having both of them available for the game really opens up our options."
Β
On the UAB running game . . .
"That is what we have always said. We are balanced. Balance, for us, is what are they deciding to stop. We always have to be able to run the ball. I think our running game has picked up so much. We want to be balanced. In our pass game, we have a bunch of good receivers. We want to be able to do both. To do both efficiently and effectively makes us the best."
Β
Defensive End Alex Wright
On bouncing back as a defense . . .
"As a defense, we hold ourselves to a very high standard. We have to be accountable with everything we do. Coming off those two losses, it just fuels us. We do not hold our heads down. We look at the greater and positive side of things. We don't look at the negative side at all. It is just fueling our gas tank for us to get ready for conference play. We are going to show what we can do."
Β
On facing North Texas' two quarterbacks . . .
"Especially with this kind of quarterback that can, like Coach Clark said, just fly, we have to be controlled rushers and disciplined rushers at that. We have to keep him in the pocket as best we can. We have to keep pressure on the pocket and make sure that he doesn't throw the passes that he needs to complete. We can help our secondary out as much as we need to."
Β
On the bye week . . .
"It was very beneficial. Everybody is getting their legs back under them. We are getting our minds right and making sure we are perfecting our craft. We are practicing and making sure we are playing like we know how to play. We have been practicing mentally this past week. It should show off in the next game, especially with the practices that we will have this week. Our mental game has picked up tremendously since last week. We will see Saturday."
Β
Colby Ragland
On the four remaining regular season games . . .
"I think it is going to be huge because we control our own destiny. We still have a chance to make it back to the conference championship for the third year in a row. We know what is at stake. Yes, we are coming off two losses, but we did have a great bye week last week getting our bodies back. We are making sure we focus on all the little details that caused us to lose those past two games. This week, we want to be huge. I am excited to get back to playing. This our third bye week and I am ready to finish this season strong."
Β
On maintaining almost a full scheduleβ¦
"It has been a blessing because a lot of schools have had to cancel multiple games. They have had to reschedule games. So far this year, we have been able to maintain almost a full schedule. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with all the coaches and players. It is everybody making sure that we are all on the same page. Knowing no matter the circumstances, we are ready. It is on everybody. We are making sure we are ready and staying focused and locked in on what we are doing. When you can do that, you get a sense of ease, especially in times like this when there are a lot of crazy things going on. You see multiple programs have to postpone or forfeit multiple games. I think it is just a blessing."
Β
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, June 10
Tuesday, June 09
Tuesday, June 09
Monday, June 08
