The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Fall Camp Coverage: Practice No. 6
8/11/2020 2:44:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – With UAB football's season opener just 23 days away, the Blazers completed their sixth full day of fall camp on Tuesday morning at the Football Operations Center.
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
Opening Statement:
"We were in full pads. It was physical day. We went full pads yesterday. We kind of backed off from the physicality and worked on our throwing game. We worked two-minute situations yesterday at the end of practice. Today was short-yardage with the ball in the red zone. We changed the physicality form the down and distances. I thought we had a good day. I thought the offense came out and responded. Yesterday was more of a defensive day. I thought our offense came out and responded as we started putting it all together. We really just challenged them. Day six of camp is tough. It is tough this year. It was tough last year. Thank God we have this pavilion to get under and protect them. We had a little bit of cloud cover today. They are doing well. We haven't had any significant injuries. Just some guys with bumps and bruises and maybe some strains here and there, but we are really doing well. We are really pleased with that."
On having 100% negative tests…
"It shows that our protocols are working. We have asked these guys to mask up, here and away. We ask them to socially distance. All the things that we are all trying to do, like wash our hands. It was such a big deal for us. I felt like we all needed some positive news. It was good for our players to hear. Now, it's still an ongoing process. We have won right now, but we have to win today and win tomorrow. Our medical staff has done a great job. It's a constant. Every meeting for me, I sound like a broken record. It's safety. It's masks. It goes on and on and on, but that's what we have got to do to get to play this year. It was good to put some good news out there. Hopefully, it was good for people who follow us, or don't even follow us. There are some good things going on"
On the emotion of the current times . . .
"We try to block negativity out. In our little cocoon here, everything is going well for us. We are not in that world. They are so social media-cognizant. It is hard for them to block those things out. I just ask them to block negativity out and control what we can control. We don't know if we have all 12 games, but we have a good slate of games in there and those guys are still playing. We are trying to be as normal as we can."
On if other programs are communicating with UAB about COVID-19 . . .
"For us, it can be maddening. You have a guy who has the sniffles and we hold him out. Everybody is held to the same standards. We have gone the extra mile to try to prevent people from being around us. That was a decision I made early on, and our staff made. We are going to be extra cautious with the medical staff so we can keep playing. The guys have to do the right things when they leave us. We should be one of the leading schools, not just in our conference, but also in the country. We have world-class medicine here. There is a great relationship between me and the doctors and the medical community. It's communication between the medical staff, the trainers, my strength coach, our staff and coaches. They are so involved in our guys' lives. It is still hard to do what we are asking them to do with what is going on out there. We are trying to do everything we can do to play and stay safe."
On the #WeWantToPlay movement . . .
"It's funny to be in the middle of camp because it's hard. It can be drudgery. You question how much you love it. Granted, these are not three-a-days like we all used to have to do. It's long. It's tough. It's hot. For guys to be talking about how much they want to play, you can see that it's important to them. We have, and I would say probably everywhere, they have such good medical care for our kids. The tests, the checking, all of that. I read about the heart questions that are out there. If we had anybody that is COVID-positive or thinks they're COVID-positive, they go through a strenuous, multiple time cardio check. I think we have so many safety factors that are in place. It's good to hear from the kids. You hear from the coaches. When you hear from the players and they say they want to play, it means a lot."
Left Tackle Colby Ragland:
On the COVID-19 safety of playing offense line . . .
"In the back of your mind, you kind of worry about it. At the same time, we know what we are doing. We are wearing these masks everywhere. They have hand sanitizer everywhere. We social distance when we are not on the field. We make sure that we get in and out. We don't stay in the locker room. We don't congregate. That leaves your mind once you step on the field. Getting the test results back yesterday really helped. Now you have no worries. Now we are going out there and playing like normal."
On #WeWantToPlay . . .
"It gives you a sense that the players have a voice. At the end of the day, we want to play. I know it's kind of tough to not have as many fans there, but at the end of the day, it's those 22 guys on the field between the lines. If it was left up to our players, everyone would want to play. We are doing what we can on our end. We are just worried about what we control. It is exciting to know that we will have a season."
On changes affecting college football. . .
"Personally, I have deleted social media for this camp. It's a ritual that I do every year to stay locked in and focus on ball. I think speaking positively and knowing what we do on a daily basis helps. It starts with the coaches and goes to the equipment managers, trainers and players – everyone. We know how we have to go about our business. We are being positive."
The Blazers are set to open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against New Mexico State with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. UAB looks to win their third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020. UAB returns 18 total starters to a team that won the second most games (9) in program history a year ago.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
- On Sunday, UAB tested every single student-athlete and staff member inside the Football Operations Center for COVID-19. Of the 176 tests administered, every single test came back negative. Coach Clark released that news on Monday night.
- With news swirling around about the uncertainty of the 2020 season, Coach Clark has constantly reminded his team that the Blazers will control what they can control. Last Friday, Conference USA announced their plan to move forward with the season, playing an 8+4 model, featuring eight C-USA games and four non-conference games. UAB will look to fill one non-conference game and one conference game.
- On the field, Clark pointed to the offense having a bounce back day on Tuesday. The Blazers have been in full pads each of the last two days and said the defense had the better day on Monday, but it was good to see the offense respond today. Clark is also extremely happy with the team's depth, stating it might be the deepest team he has had at UAB.
Opening Statement:
"We were in full pads. It was physical day. We went full pads yesterday. We kind of backed off from the physicality and worked on our throwing game. We worked two-minute situations yesterday at the end of practice. Today was short-yardage with the ball in the red zone. We changed the physicality form the down and distances. I thought we had a good day. I thought the offense came out and responded. Yesterday was more of a defensive day. I thought our offense came out and responded as we started putting it all together. We really just challenged them. Day six of camp is tough. It is tough this year. It was tough last year. Thank God we have this pavilion to get under and protect them. We had a little bit of cloud cover today. They are doing well. We haven't had any significant injuries. Just some guys with bumps and bruises and maybe some strains here and there, but we are really doing well. We are really pleased with that."
On having 100% negative tests…
"It shows that our protocols are working. We have asked these guys to mask up, here and away. We ask them to socially distance. All the things that we are all trying to do, like wash our hands. It was such a big deal for us. I felt like we all needed some positive news. It was good for our players to hear. Now, it's still an ongoing process. We have won right now, but we have to win today and win tomorrow. Our medical staff has done a great job. It's a constant. Every meeting for me, I sound like a broken record. It's safety. It's masks. It goes on and on and on, but that's what we have got to do to get to play this year. It was good to put some good news out there. Hopefully, it was good for people who follow us, or don't even follow us. There are some good things going on"
On the emotion of the current times . . .
"We try to block negativity out. In our little cocoon here, everything is going well for us. We are not in that world. They are so social media-cognizant. It is hard for them to block those things out. I just ask them to block negativity out and control what we can control. We don't know if we have all 12 games, but we have a good slate of games in there and those guys are still playing. We are trying to be as normal as we can."
On if other programs are communicating with UAB about COVID-19 . . .
"For us, it can be maddening. You have a guy who has the sniffles and we hold him out. Everybody is held to the same standards. We have gone the extra mile to try to prevent people from being around us. That was a decision I made early on, and our staff made. We are going to be extra cautious with the medical staff so we can keep playing. The guys have to do the right things when they leave us. We should be one of the leading schools, not just in our conference, but also in the country. We have world-class medicine here. There is a great relationship between me and the doctors and the medical community. It's communication between the medical staff, the trainers, my strength coach, our staff and coaches. They are so involved in our guys' lives. It is still hard to do what we are asking them to do with what is going on out there. We are trying to do everything we can do to play and stay safe."
On the #WeWantToPlay movement . . .
"It's funny to be in the middle of camp because it's hard. It can be drudgery. You question how much you love it. Granted, these are not three-a-days like we all used to have to do. It's long. It's tough. It's hot. For guys to be talking about how much they want to play, you can see that it's important to them. We have, and I would say probably everywhere, they have such good medical care for our kids. The tests, the checking, all of that. I read about the heart questions that are out there. If we had anybody that is COVID-positive or thinks they're COVID-positive, they go through a strenuous, multiple time cardio check. I think we have so many safety factors that are in place. It's good to hear from the kids. You hear from the coaches. When you hear from the players and they say they want to play, it means a lot."
Left Tackle Colby Ragland:
On the COVID-19 safety of playing offense line . . .
"In the back of your mind, you kind of worry about it. At the same time, we know what we are doing. We are wearing these masks everywhere. They have hand sanitizer everywhere. We social distance when we are not on the field. We make sure that we get in and out. We don't stay in the locker room. We don't congregate. That leaves your mind once you step on the field. Getting the test results back yesterday really helped. Now you have no worries. Now we are going out there and playing like normal."
On #WeWantToPlay . . .
"It gives you a sense that the players have a voice. At the end of the day, we want to play. I know it's kind of tough to not have as many fans there, but at the end of the day, it's those 22 guys on the field between the lines. If it was left up to our players, everyone would want to play. We are doing what we can on our end. We are just worried about what we control. It is exciting to know that we will have a season."
On changes affecting college football. . .
"Personally, I have deleted social media for this camp. It's a ritual that I do every year to stay locked in and focus on ball. I think speaking positively and knowing what we do on a daily basis helps. It starts with the coaches and goes to the equipment managers, trainers and players – everyone. We know how we have to go about our business. We are being positive."
The Blazers are set to open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against New Mexico State with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. UAB looks to win their third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020. UAB returns 18 total starters to a team that won the second most games (9) in program history a year ago.
Season tickets for 2020 are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
Players Mentioned
OL
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