The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB to Face Marshall in 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship
12/14/2020 3:27:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Playing in its third straight Conference USA Championship Game, the UAB football team travels to Marshall on Friday night in hopes of capturing its second league title in program history. Kickoff in Huntington is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST on CBS Sports Network.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement:
"What a whirlwind it has been since the game on Saturday. We were all together on the conference call last week talking about what all we were going through and what all had happened. The big thing for us was with the guys that we put on the plane to go and the mindset that they had. It did not matter what happened. We were going to be positive. We were going to fight. We were going to be together. It is easy to say some of those things, but when you are really faced with true adversity, what do you do? That is what I am so proud of this group for. I think of this whole year all the things that they have fought through. I could not be more proud of them. I said this this morning, just the pure joy that I got to see out of those guys and the coaches when that game was over. We had one goal and that was to win the West. Now we have our ultimate goal to win the conference championship against a really, really good Marshall team. Coming off a tough loss like they had, we know that feeling. They got beat at home by Rice, so they are going to have something to prove. They have been great all year. They are talented all around. They are super well-coached. They are tough. We know we are playing a great team at their place. One of the hard things to do is to go on the road and win a championship. We were able to do that two years ago at Middle Tennessee. We have a bad taste in our mouth from last year's championship game at Florida Atlantic. Even though that was last year's team, that is something that has stuck with us all year. I am really looking forward to the challenge on a short week."
On preparing for the title game . . .
"I think the things that have happened to us this year, we have had some losses. We had a heartbreaking loss at Louisiana Tech that we thought we should have won and the Louisiana game where we led. I can't see anybody ever getting cocky or overconfident. I really can't. I promise you we are not. We know how games go sometimes. They have everything to prove now. They were bragged on and now everybody is talking about you after you lose. They are going to have a chip on their shoulder. We should have one on our shoulder with plenty to prove. As we get a big group of guys back today, let's see how we respond. Hopefully, we can keep that mindset of us against the world."
On testing this week . . .
"We lost a few guys at the end of the week. We should be getting almost the entire group back, so everybody else that was out, we should be getting back today. We will also get a small group back on Wednesday. Hopefully now our tests are good. We tested again yesterday, so here we go again. Our numbers were good but we did have a few at the very end of the week who will be out for this week."
On being mentioned for other head coaching jobs . . .
"It is a huge honor to be considered in that group of guys. I said this last year when a number of those SEC jobs called and were looking. I am really big on, and that is what brought me to UAB and Jacksonville State, somebody that really, really wants me. I really would not pursue any other job. This is my home. This is what we have built. I am not talking about that situation, per se. I think the biggest answer to the question is, if I am not doing the right job, they are never going to say my name. To me, that is, in my business, you have to be doing what you are supposed to to even be thought of and considered. If they are not putting our name out there, that means we aren't doing our job. Hopefully, that is indicative of the staff and players and that is a compliment to them. It is always good to be thought of and Auburn, what a great school and what great things they have done. It is a big honor. I know that is a long answer to a short question. It is an honor to be put up on there, always."
On facing Marshall . . .
"I have guys tell me that they watch us. I don't mean that arrogantly. I have a lot of guys say that they watch us all the time and watch what we do. Marshall is a team that I like to watch. They get lined up. They play really hard. They are physical. They are fundamental. They have great athletes over there but they play defense the way it should be played. I think, statistically, they are one of the leaders in the country in scoring defense. That tells you something. They do a really good job defensively with what Doc (Holliday) has done there and Coach Lambert is an excellent coach and an excellent defensive coach. They are just talented all around. I know that sounds like a coach statement, but they really are. If you look at their offensive line. Look at their skill guys and their running back. Offensively, they just have talent all around. I just talked about the quarterback. They have a top defense in the country. They have the people. They are well-coached. You can see why they were undefeated prior to last week."
On Marshall's starting quarterback Grant Wells . . .
"For him, from everything I have read, he was a big-time prospect who could have gone about anywhere he wanted to go and chose to stay at Marshall. That is what you want. That is how they see themselves. That is who we see ourselves as: a destination. He has got all the things you look for in a quarterback. He has a big, big arm. He is athletic. He can run. He can stay active. Minus what happened to him last week, he has had an unbelievable year. He has done a really good job. I am sure he will want to prove himself as well.
"I think that is something that we constantly try to do defensively, change our looks up. That is the whole point. The old adage is, if you stay in the same foxhole long enough, you get blown up. We want to be simple enough that our guys get lined up with today's tempo with multiple formations, yet give you enough looks that they can't just lock in. Quarterbacks are so well schooled now coming out of high school. They are throwing the ball so much more that you have to give them different looks."
On having a championship expectation . . .
"I started that years ago. When you talk about championships, you can set yourself up for falling short. I do not believe that you can achieve those things if that is not your mindset. That has been our mindset since the day we walked in. I like the fact that that is what we expect. You can, sometimes, as a fan, have some unrealistic expectations. I don't want people to not be appreciative because of the amount of work that goes into doing what we do. That is the only thing that I can ask for is to be appreciative of what we have done. That is how we have tried to build it. I am a history guy, so three in a row has not been done. That is a big deal. This is the ultimate goal: to get this championship against a great team. You have to go on the road. They are great. They are coming off a loss. They had an extra few days to prepare for us. Backs are against the wall, so let's see what we do."
Quarterback Tyler Johnston III
On facing the No. 2 defense in the country at Marshall . . .
"Their defense is good. They have good players with their front line, linebackers, safeties and everything. It is just another team. That is how we have to think of them. We just have to keep working. This week is going to be a big week. It is a championship week. You don't go to the championship without knowing it is going to be a good team. It is what it is and we are going to be ready."
On unique aspects of the Marshall defense . . .
"The speed of getting to the ball. They are a great team that works together. Their linebackers and defensive line are really good. I feel like they all work together. When you have a defense that works together, that is what happens."
On how coach Bill Clark motivates the team . . .
"Coach Clark is a great coach and a great man. He keeps us positive. Going through this whole year, it has been kind of confusing in a way. We are going each week and then somebody cancels the game. He always keeps our minds ready to go week to week. We are still practicing. We are still positive and our attitudes are good. He always keeps us up."
Safety Grayson Cash
On facing Marshall's offensive attack . . .
"They have a lot of talent on offense. You see the points that they have put up. They have a lot of speed on offense. Watching film, that was one of the first things I noticed: speed running down the field on every play with their receivers. They have a good running back. Their quarterback is young, obviously. We know we have a challenge for us this week and we are going to be ready for them."
On coach Clark's name being mentioned for other head coaching jobs . . .
"We went through a little bit of that last year too. When we were playing FAU and (Lane) Kiffin was going to a different job. They were talking about Coach Clark too. We didn't know what was going to happen. It is good knowing that is our coach. That is who we play for. He is always in the talk for these jobs. We trust him. We know the job he does is going to get some recognition. It just shows what he has built here and what we have done. It makes the whole program look good, and obviously, what all he has done for us. We are happy that's our coach."
On missing fellow safeties against Rice . . .
"It spoke a lot about our young guys with (Will) Boler and (Jaylen) Key being out. It made me have to step up. I know I am not a young guy any more, but I have not played since earlier in the season. They went out, so I knew I was going to have to come back and step up. We really knew as a defensive backs room that it was going to be on us this game with a lot of our experience out. A lot of our younger guys did great all week in practice. You could tell Saturday that we were out there and ready to go. Our young guys did great and we were ready to go."
On the atmosphere in the locker room at Rice . . .
"It was electric. We got in there and everybody was screaming and dancing. We knew our backs were against the wall. Rice just came off a big win. We had our guys out. It was us against everybody. It was a great feeling after the win, especially with how it ended, coming down to the wire. We definitely enjoyed it after the game. That is over with now and we are ready for the next one."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- With a 21-16 victory at Rice last Saturday, UAB became the first team in Conference USA history to win the divisional title three years in a row. Both schools will be playing in the C-USA Championship Game for the third time, with each owning one title. Marshall won in 2014 and UAB took the crown in 2018. All three of UAB's championship game appearances have come on the road, and the Blazers were the first away team in C-USA history to win the league title back in 2018.
- Friday's matchup pairs two of the top defenses in the nation. The Blazers, who have finished Top 10 nationally each of the last two years, enter the contest ranked 15th nationally in total defense (316.5). Marshall currently ranks second nationally in total defense (253.9) and is the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, allowing just 11.4 points per game.
- The 2020 Ryan Conference USA Football Championship also features the two winningest teams in the league since UAB's return in 2017. The Blazers have a C-USA best 33 victories since the start of 2017, while Marshall is one game behind with 32 total victories.
Head Coach Bill Clark
Opening Statement:
"What a whirlwind it has been since the game on Saturday. We were all together on the conference call last week talking about what all we were going through and what all had happened. The big thing for us was with the guys that we put on the plane to go and the mindset that they had. It did not matter what happened. We were going to be positive. We were going to fight. We were going to be together. It is easy to say some of those things, but when you are really faced with true adversity, what do you do? That is what I am so proud of this group for. I think of this whole year all the things that they have fought through. I could not be more proud of them. I said this this morning, just the pure joy that I got to see out of those guys and the coaches when that game was over. We had one goal and that was to win the West. Now we have our ultimate goal to win the conference championship against a really, really good Marshall team. Coming off a tough loss like they had, we know that feeling. They got beat at home by Rice, so they are going to have something to prove. They have been great all year. They are talented all around. They are super well-coached. They are tough. We know we are playing a great team at their place. One of the hard things to do is to go on the road and win a championship. We were able to do that two years ago at Middle Tennessee. We have a bad taste in our mouth from last year's championship game at Florida Atlantic. Even though that was last year's team, that is something that has stuck with us all year. I am really looking forward to the challenge on a short week."
On preparing for the title game . . .
"I think the things that have happened to us this year, we have had some losses. We had a heartbreaking loss at Louisiana Tech that we thought we should have won and the Louisiana game where we led. I can't see anybody ever getting cocky or overconfident. I really can't. I promise you we are not. We know how games go sometimes. They have everything to prove now. They were bragged on and now everybody is talking about you after you lose. They are going to have a chip on their shoulder. We should have one on our shoulder with plenty to prove. As we get a big group of guys back today, let's see how we respond. Hopefully, we can keep that mindset of us against the world."
On testing this week . . .
"We lost a few guys at the end of the week. We should be getting almost the entire group back, so everybody else that was out, we should be getting back today. We will also get a small group back on Wednesday. Hopefully now our tests are good. We tested again yesterday, so here we go again. Our numbers were good but we did have a few at the very end of the week who will be out for this week."
On being mentioned for other head coaching jobs . . .
"It is a huge honor to be considered in that group of guys. I said this last year when a number of those SEC jobs called and were looking. I am really big on, and that is what brought me to UAB and Jacksonville State, somebody that really, really wants me. I really would not pursue any other job. This is my home. This is what we have built. I am not talking about that situation, per se. I think the biggest answer to the question is, if I am not doing the right job, they are never going to say my name. To me, that is, in my business, you have to be doing what you are supposed to to even be thought of and considered. If they are not putting our name out there, that means we aren't doing our job. Hopefully, that is indicative of the staff and players and that is a compliment to them. It is always good to be thought of and Auburn, what a great school and what great things they have done. It is a big honor. I know that is a long answer to a short question. It is an honor to be put up on there, always."
On facing Marshall . . .
"I have guys tell me that they watch us. I don't mean that arrogantly. I have a lot of guys say that they watch us all the time and watch what we do. Marshall is a team that I like to watch. They get lined up. They play really hard. They are physical. They are fundamental. They have great athletes over there but they play defense the way it should be played. I think, statistically, they are one of the leaders in the country in scoring defense. That tells you something. They do a really good job defensively with what Doc (Holliday) has done there and Coach Lambert is an excellent coach and an excellent defensive coach. They are just talented all around. I know that sounds like a coach statement, but they really are. If you look at their offensive line. Look at their skill guys and their running back. Offensively, they just have talent all around. I just talked about the quarterback. They have a top defense in the country. They have the people. They are well-coached. You can see why they were undefeated prior to last week."
On Marshall's starting quarterback Grant Wells . . .
"For him, from everything I have read, he was a big-time prospect who could have gone about anywhere he wanted to go and chose to stay at Marshall. That is what you want. That is how they see themselves. That is who we see ourselves as: a destination. He has got all the things you look for in a quarterback. He has a big, big arm. He is athletic. He can run. He can stay active. Minus what happened to him last week, he has had an unbelievable year. He has done a really good job. I am sure he will want to prove himself as well.
"I think that is something that we constantly try to do defensively, change our looks up. That is the whole point. The old adage is, if you stay in the same foxhole long enough, you get blown up. We want to be simple enough that our guys get lined up with today's tempo with multiple formations, yet give you enough looks that they can't just lock in. Quarterbacks are so well schooled now coming out of high school. They are throwing the ball so much more that you have to give them different looks."
On having a championship expectation . . .
"I started that years ago. When you talk about championships, you can set yourself up for falling short. I do not believe that you can achieve those things if that is not your mindset. That has been our mindset since the day we walked in. I like the fact that that is what we expect. You can, sometimes, as a fan, have some unrealistic expectations. I don't want people to not be appreciative because of the amount of work that goes into doing what we do. That is the only thing that I can ask for is to be appreciative of what we have done. That is how we have tried to build it. I am a history guy, so three in a row has not been done. That is a big deal. This is the ultimate goal: to get this championship against a great team. You have to go on the road. They are great. They are coming off a loss. They had an extra few days to prepare for us. Backs are against the wall, so let's see what we do."
Quarterback Tyler Johnston III
On facing the No. 2 defense in the country at Marshall . . .
"Their defense is good. They have good players with their front line, linebackers, safeties and everything. It is just another team. That is how we have to think of them. We just have to keep working. This week is going to be a big week. It is a championship week. You don't go to the championship without knowing it is going to be a good team. It is what it is and we are going to be ready."
On unique aspects of the Marshall defense . . .
"The speed of getting to the ball. They are a great team that works together. Their linebackers and defensive line are really good. I feel like they all work together. When you have a defense that works together, that is what happens."
On how coach Bill Clark motivates the team . . .
"Coach Clark is a great coach and a great man. He keeps us positive. Going through this whole year, it has been kind of confusing in a way. We are going each week and then somebody cancels the game. He always keeps our minds ready to go week to week. We are still practicing. We are still positive and our attitudes are good. He always keeps us up."
Safety Grayson Cash
On facing Marshall's offensive attack . . .
"They have a lot of talent on offense. You see the points that they have put up. They have a lot of speed on offense. Watching film, that was one of the first things I noticed: speed running down the field on every play with their receivers. They have a good running back. Their quarterback is young, obviously. We know we have a challenge for us this week and we are going to be ready for them."
On coach Clark's name being mentioned for other head coaching jobs . . .
"We went through a little bit of that last year too. When we were playing FAU and (Lane) Kiffin was going to a different job. They were talking about Coach Clark too. We didn't know what was going to happen. It is good knowing that is our coach. That is who we play for. He is always in the talk for these jobs. We trust him. We know the job he does is going to get some recognition. It just shows what he has built here and what we have done. It makes the whole program look good, and obviously, what all he has done for us. We are happy that's our coach."
On missing fellow safeties against Rice . . .
"It spoke a lot about our young guys with (Will) Boler and (Jaylen) Key being out. It made me have to step up. I know I am not a young guy any more, but I have not played since earlier in the season. They went out, so I knew I was going to have to come back and step up. We really knew as a defensive backs room that it was going to be on us this game with a lot of our experience out. A lot of our younger guys did great all week in practice. You could tell Saturday that we were out there and ready to go. Our young guys did great and we were ready to go."
On the atmosphere in the locker room at Rice . . .
"It was electric. We got in there and everybody was screaming and dancing. We knew our backs were against the wall. Rice just came off a big win. We had our guys out. It was us against everybody. It was a great feeling after the win, especially with how it ended, coming down to the wire. We definitely enjoyed it after the game. That is over with now and we are ready for the next one."
Players Mentioned
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