The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Fall Camp Coverage: Practice No. 12
8/18/2020 3:46:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Returning to full pads for the first time since last Saturday's scrimmage, the UAB football team held its 12th practice of fall camp on Tuesday at the Football Operations Center.
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"Today was practice No. 12. We have some guys who are banged up. No major injuries, but it's just this time of camp. Today was a full pad practice. Yesterday we were in helmets. I thought we did some good things. Like always, there are things that we have got to get better at. These are the times when people get to step up. If a guy is out with a sprained ankle or whatever that is, then another guy gets his opportunity. That's what we are looking for, as always. Who pushes through and who can find a spot right here, whether it's special teams or whatever. All in all, it was a pretty good day. There are just some things to clean up."
On CB Brontae Harris' return from injury . . .
"I think leadership is a great word with Brontae. He is like a coach on the field and we don't throw that term around. Coach Simpson who works with the corners really counts on him to mentor those young guys. We are trying to get him 100%. He's close. I know he wants to continue to get better and keep getting his footing back. He is back at practice full speed. Leadership-wise and all of the things that we want out of that are going well."
On Harris being the first player to voice #WeWantToPlay . . .
"He was one of the guys I mentioned that first day. We want positive messaging. For him, that's what it was. When you lose something, if you've ever had a season taken away from you because of an injury, you become appreciative. I tell our guys all the time that they are on a short window of time to get to play this game. I think that is kind of the world we are in. We're appreciative. I think that's what he was saying that day. I asked him if he is excited where we are, whether that's us getting to play, or our testing going so well. He said, 'Coach, I pray every day about it.' He is excited."
On construction at Protective Stadium . . .
"I got to go over there before we started camp. Mr. Gorrie, who is doing the construction on the project, gave me a tour. I got to see from up top. Then some of my guys came over and we had a virtual recruiting tour called Inferno. We got some really good drone footage. It's just unbelievable. Every time I go by and get to see it, it seems like it's getting better and better. I don't think that we are going to be able to put into words what that is going to do for our program. It's the next step. Every day, I get to see something new kind of like everybody else. When the pictures come up. I am very, very excited."
On an updated schedule . . .
"Conference-wise, we look really good. Like everybody else and kind of like a fan, I see the opponents that are working. Other than losing Old Dominion, I think we are good on everybody else. We are in the process of seeing what is out there. I told the kids, 'Don't get your hopes up,' because we know what we have and we feel good about those games. But, matching somebody up with our schedule and them having an opening with all the FCS schools dropping out like they have, it has made it a lot tougher. There are a few games out there. Almost everybody out there is trying to get a home game. It has made it challenging. We are looking at it, but we are excited about the ones we do have."
With the current schedule, the Blazers are set to open the season on Sept. 10 at Miami. However, UAB Administration is still actively looking to replace both of the home games that were lost earlier this month.
Click here to read about new gameday information at Legion Field, and also be sure to note UAB's ticket assurance program in case all six of the Blazer home games are not filled.
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:
- Carrying his momentum from spring practice into fall camp, redshirt junior offensive guard Matthew Trehern has established himself as a viable candidate for a starting position on the line. He is pushing for playing time with a veteran group that includes Colby Ragland, Sidney Wells, Andrew Smith Jr., Greg Fecanin and Jakoby Jones.
- The competition to replace last year's kicker Nick Vogel looks to be a very tight race between redshirt sophomore Wilson Beaverstock and redshirt freshman Matthew Quinn. Both kickers split 10 reps today during special teams and combined to go 10-for-10. Beaverstock's long came from 49 and Quinn's from 46.
- As UAB continues to help stop the spread of COVID-19, it was announced that there will be no Blazer Village, Blazer Walk or tailgating at Legion Field this season. Click here for a full rundown of information regarding UAB gameday at Legion Field.
Head Coach Bill Clark:
Opening Statement:
"Today was practice No. 12. We have some guys who are banged up. No major injuries, but it's just this time of camp. Today was a full pad practice. Yesterday we were in helmets. I thought we did some good things. Like always, there are things that we have got to get better at. These are the times when people get to step up. If a guy is out with a sprained ankle or whatever that is, then another guy gets his opportunity. That's what we are looking for, as always. Who pushes through and who can find a spot right here, whether it's special teams or whatever. All in all, it was a pretty good day. There are just some things to clean up."
On CB Brontae Harris' return from injury . . .
"I think leadership is a great word with Brontae. He is like a coach on the field and we don't throw that term around. Coach Simpson who works with the corners really counts on him to mentor those young guys. We are trying to get him 100%. He's close. I know he wants to continue to get better and keep getting his footing back. He is back at practice full speed. Leadership-wise and all of the things that we want out of that are going well."
On Harris being the first player to voice #WeWantToPlay . . .
"He was one of the guys I mentioned that first day. We want positive messaging. For him, that's what it was. When you lose something, if you've ever had a season taken away from you because of an injury, you become appreciative. I tell our guys all the time that they are on a short window of time to get to play this game. I think that is kind of the world we are in. We're appreciative. I think that's what he was saying that day. I asked him if he is excited where we are, whether that's us getting to play, or our testing going so well. He said, 'Coach, I pray every day about it.' He is excited."
On construction at Protective Stadium . . .
"I got to go over there before we started camp. Mr. Gorrie, who is doing the construction on the project, gave me a tour. I got to see from up top. Then some of my guys came over and we had a virtual recruiting tour called Inferno. We got some really good drone footage. It's just unbelievable. Every time I go by and get to see it, it seems like it's getting better and better. I don't think that we are going to be able to put into words what that is going to do for our program. It's the next step. Every day, I get to see something new kind of like everybody else. When the pictures come up. I am very, very excited."
On an updated schedule . . .
"Conference-wise, we look really good. Like everybody else and kind of like a fan, I see the opponents that are working. Other than losing Old Dominion, I think we are good on everybody else. We are in the process of seeing what is out there. I told the kids, 'Don't get your hopes up,' because we know what we have and we feel good about those games. But, matching somebody up with our schedule and them having an opening with all the FCS schools dropping out like they have, it has made it a lot tougher. There are a few games out there. Almost everybody out there is trying to get a home game. It has made it challenging. We are looking at it, but we are excited about the ones we do have."
With the current schedule, the Blazers are set to open the season on Sept. 10 at Miami. However, UAB Administration is still actively looking to replace both of the home games that were lost earlier this month.
Click here to read about new gameday information at Legion Field, and also be sure to note UAB's ticket assurance program in case all six of the Blazer home games are not filled.
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
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