The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Fall Camp Coverage: Practice No. 8
8/13/2020 5:17:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – As the UAB football team continues marching towards the 2020 season, the Blazers conducted their eighth practice of fall camp on Thursday morning at the Football Operations Center.
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"It was a good physical practice for us today. We are getting ready for a big scrimmage on Saturday. We will back off tomorrow. We did a lot of situations. We did ball on the 12 going in. We did one play from the six. We did third downs, 8, 6, 4, 2. There are a lot of different scenarios that we are putting our team through right now. It was a very physical practice. The big deal for us is can we always be physical and still protect each other. That's the name of the game. We talk about locking up on the running back and yet staying off the ground. Those are the kind of things that we went through today. There is a lot of good competition going on at our place right now. Obviously, we got the news about New Mexico State. It is very disappointing. The governor had reached out to them a few weeks ago, so we knew that was a fluid situation. We were hoping that we were going to be able to get it in, but we are actively pursuing trying to find another team right now. We are on that. There is a lot of good news from Conference USA about where we are and where we are headed. We are excited about that and looking forward to playing the teams on our schedule. Hopefully, we will pick up a few more. Practice has gone well so far for our guys."
On the questions surrounding COVID-19 and myocarditis . . .
"Months ago, we had started getting information before there was even a thought that there might be some heart issues. We have three tests that we do already. We have been doing these for months. Once again, I feel like we are ahead of the curve. We kind of laughed because we heard that some SEC schools started doing it. We had already been doing it. I told our players today, 'Isn't it great to know that you are at a place that is ahead of the curve and doing those things just to be extra safe?' The things that I love that we have access to, if we have any questions, we go get an MRI right then. Whether its heart or eye, we have our own optometry department. This is not a UAB commercial, but it's just facts. We were already ahead of that process. Anybody for us that had it, or were even quarantined, we tested them if they had symptoms. We are testing all those folks. Once again, they had a really good call. I think they got some really good information from the medical folks that is going to allow us to go forward. It is good to know that we were on the front end of that."
On scheduling regionally . . .
"We are looking at all options. I think the thing for all of us, is whether it was a home game or a road game. I think a lot of people are wanting home games. For us, we sure don't want to trade a home game for a road game when we have already got all of our road games filled. We did lose the Old Dominion game. There is already talk within our conference about playing a team twice. We are already talking about filling that one slot. They talked about it last night. I won't divulge who it is yet because it's not concrete. We are looking. The New Mexico State game, based on their circumstances in their state, we thought it could be a possibility. But they were saying that they wanted to play, so we were going business as usual until we heard differently."
On playing a game before traveling to Miami . . .
"I hate to say this, but we just want to play games. I hate to say it because I don't want it to look like we don't want to play an opener. Worst case scenario, if it comes to that, they would be our opener. We are their opener. The fact that we were planning on that and how we are working means we would like to play one if possible. Again, the worst case scenario is that they will be our opener. We are theirs. The biggest improvement, according to old coach talk, is from that first game to the second. We were excited about getting one under our belt. Of course, you have the other thought that they get to see it and we don't see them. With a new offensive coordinator, I sure would like to know what they (Miami) are doing. That is a big unknown even though coach (Rhett) Lashlee is someone who I actually know. You don't know exactly what he is doing at his place. When you get to see that first film, that is an advantage that they would have over is. It's kind of a give and take. Once again, we are trying to fill it. We want a home game."
On having gone through seasons without competition games before . . .
"We talk to players all the time about adversity. I think it reveals your character. It tells you who you are and what you're made of. From a place that really had to go through adversity, you do learn what you're made of. You just have to always try to put a smile on your face when it is hard to do. You have to think positively when you have negativity around you. That's just like having to give these guys this news today. I always start with what we are thankful for. We are thankful that we are here getting to play. I am thankful that we had zero positive cases with 176 people tested last Sunday. I am looking for the positive in what we are doing and what we have going on. There is a reality to live with, but we are looking at the positive and that is what we are going to use. That would be my advice to them. Find a way to find the good in a negative situation."
Cornerback TD Marshall
On the cancellation of the New Mexico State game . . .
"I was shocked, but because of what is going on in today's world, I didn't think that it wouldn't happen. We just have to prepare for whoever wants to play us in that first week. If not, we will treat it as another week to get ready for Miami."
On staying positive as a senior . . .
"We play a big role in it. We are basically a player-driven team. As a senior, we typically give everybody the confidence and energy that they need to keep going on, especially now. With fall camp going on, we are keeping the energy up and keeping everybody positive. We are doing what we have to do as leaders."
On having an AD and head coach stand behind playing the season . . .
"It shows that they have a lot of confidence in us. They can schedule whatever and we have confidence in our coaching staff to put us in the right situations to come out with a win."
On the depth on the defensive side of the ball . . .
"The younger guys have stepped up on the defensive line to take up for our loss of Garrett (Marino). The linebackers look better than ever. Being able to replace those people was really big for us. Having Brontae (Harris) back, the secondary has gotten deeper and smarter. You will be able to tell the difference in the first game."
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
- UAB learned on Thursday morning that New Mexico State has postponed all fall sports. The Blazers are actively looking to replace their season opener, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 against the Aggies.
- After practicing on Wednesday in just shells, the Blazers returned to full pads on Thursday. UAB will play its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday at Legion Field.
- As a reminder, there have been changes to what UAB Football gameday will look like. Click here for a full information guide on what you need to know about Blazer gamedays.
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"It was a good physical practice for us today. We are getting ready for a big scrimmage on Saturday. We will back off tomorrow. We did a lot of situations. We did ball on the 12 going in. We did one play from the six. We did third downs, 8, 6, 4, 2. There are a lot of different scenarios that we are putting our team through right now. It was a very physical practice. The big deal for us is can we always be physical and still protect each other. That's the name of the game. We talk about locking up on the running back and yet staying off the ground. Those are the kind of things that we went through today. There is a lot of good competition going on at our place right now. Obviously, we got the news about New Mexico State. It is very disappointing. The governor had reached out to them a few weeks ago, so we knew that was a fluid situation. We were hoping that we were going to be able to get it in, but we are actively pursuing trying to find another team right now. We are on that. There is a lot of good news from Conference USA about where we are and where we are headed. We are excited about that and looking forward to playing the teams on our schedule. Hopefully, we will pick up a few more. Practice has gone well so far for our guys."
On the questions surrounding COVID-19 and myocarditis . . .
"Months ago, we had started getting information before there was even a thought that there might be some heart issues. We have three tests that we do already. We have been doing these for months. Once again, I feel like we are ahead of the curve. We kind of laughed because we heard that some SEC schools started doing it. We had already been doing it. I told our players today, 'Isn't it great to know that you are at a place that is ahead of the curve and doing those things just to be extra safe?' The things that I love that we have access to, if we have any questions, we go get an MRI right then. Whether its heart or eye, we have our own optometry department. This is not a UAB commercial, but it's just facts. We were already ahead of that process. Anybody for us that had it, or were even quarantined, we tested them if they had symptoms. We are testing all those folks. Once again, they had a really good call. I think they got some really good information from the medical folks that is going to allow us to go forward. It is good to know that we were on the front end of that."
On scheduling regionally . . .
"We are looking at all options. I think the thing for all of us, is whether it was a home game or a road game. I think a lot of people are wanting home games. For us, we sure don't want to trade a home game for a road game when we have already got all of our road games filled. We did lose the Old Dominion game. There is already talk within our conference about playing a team twice. We are already talking about filling that one slot. They talked about it last night. I won't divulge who it is yet because it's not concrete. We are looking. The New Mexico State game, based on their circumstances in their state, we thought it could be a possibility. But they were saying that they wanted to play, so we were going business as usual until we heard differently."
On playing a game before traveling to Miami . . .
"I hate to say this, but we just want to play games. I hate to say it because I don't want it to look like we don't want to play an opener. Worst case scenario, if it comes to that, they would be our opener. We are their opener. The fact that we were planning on that and how we are working means we would like to play one if possible. Again, the worst case scenario is that they will be our opener. We are theirs. The biggest improvement, according to old coach talk, is from that first game to the second. We were excited about getting one under our belt. Of course, you have the other thought that they get to see it and we don't see them. With a new offensive coordinator, I sure would like to know what they (Miami) are doing. That is a big unknown even though coach (Rhett) Lashlee is someone who I actually know. You don't know exactly what he is doing at his place. When you get to see that first film, that is an advantage that they would have over is. It's kind of a give and take. Once again, we are trying to fill it. We want a home game."
On having gone through seasons without competition games before . . .
"We talk to players all the time about adversity. I think it reveals your character. It tells you who you are and what you're made of. From a place that really had to go through adversity, you do learn what you're made of. You just have to always try to put a smile on your face when it is hard to do. You have to think positively when you have negativity around you. That's just like having to give these guys this news today. I always start with what we are thankful for. We are thankful that we are here getting to play. I am thankful that we had zero positive cases with 176 people tested last Sunday. I am looking for the positive in what we are doing and what we have going on. There is a reality to live with, but we are looking at the positive and that is what we are going to use. That would be my advice to them. Find a way to find the good in a negative situation."
Cornerback TD Marshall
On the cancellation of the New Mexico State game . . .
"I was shocked, but because of what is going on in today's world, I didn't think that it wouldn't happen. We just have to prepare for whoever wants to play us in that first week. If not, we will treat it as another week to get ready for Miami."
On staying positive as a senior . . .
"We play a big role in it. We are basically a player-driven team. As a senior, we typically give everybody the confidence and energy that they need to keep going on, especially now. With fall camp going on, we are keeping the energy up and keeping everybody positive. We are doing what we have to do as leaders."
On having an AD and head coach stand behind playing the season . . .
"It shows that they have a lot of confidence in us. They can schedule whatever and we have confidence in our coaching staff to put us in the right situations to come out with a win."
On the depth on the defensive side of the ball . . .
"The younger guys have stepped up on the defensive line to take up for our loss of Garrett (Marino). The linebackers look better than ever. Being able to replace those people was really big for us. Having Brontae (Harris) back, the secondary has gotten deeper and smarter. You will be able to tell the difference in the first game."
Players Mentioned
CB
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