The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Visits Tulane For Week 4 Non-Conference Matchup
9/20/2021 3:14:00β―PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM β The UAB football team heads to New Orleans this Saturday night, Sept. 25, to play a non-conference game at Tulane. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST on ESPN+.
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:Β
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Opening Statement:
"Well obviously It was great to get (a win) on the road. First conference game and we got a road win. I am real proud of these guys. I think the question was what's going to happen on Monday? We came in here on Monday of last week and it was tough day to be here. Every one of us had to look ourselves in the mirror and say what are we going to do to get better? Individually and as a team, I think it started with practice Monday and I think we had a great week of practice. As we always say, we have to be better on the road. We got a great start with a big takeaway from Swoopes and got a touchdown early from there. It is kind of one of those things you know you look up and you got a big lead over a quality opponent at halftime. You kind of don't know what to do, but we are proud of our guys. They stay focused throughout and it was just really a great team win. You know now we go on the road again. Counting last year, I think this about six straight so I think our guys understands what it takes. This morning after a good bad ugly film, this will be one of the best teams we'll see all year. You know irrelevant to the score from Ole Miss which is probably one of the best teams in the country. You got Oklahoma and they got the huge win here in Birmingham here at home. Coach Fritz does a terrific job up there. They are sound across the board. They're physical and they are very diverse offensively. Obviously, they have been scoring a lot of points against a lot of great folks and then defensively played really hard physically. I mean it when I said this will be one of the best teams we'll see all year."
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On interacting with Tulane as they relocated in B'hamβ¦
"Once it happened they decided to relocate here. It was whatever we could do to help out. Obviously they had to find a place to work out and you know Legion Field was great to them. We didn't really know what was going to happen as far as their home game. It's a big deal for them to get back home. So they are going to be cranked up to play us on Saturday night. I am really proud of our folks for being hospitable and take care of those folks and giving them a place to practice and stay."
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On current quarterback situationβ¦
"There is no doubt we have to look at the game. You have to go off of what happened in games and practices. So that is why we are playing two guys. We can adjust if we need to adjust. If one guy has the hot hand then that's how we are going to go with it."
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Tight End Gerrit Prince:
On impact of the Tight End positionβ¦
"I mean it is really exciting. Over the past couple years, our role in the offense has really increased. It is exciting as a player and I'm excited to be put in positions to be able to help my team execute and win the games. Yeah we still have to block. We still have to be physical. It is a good feeling to be able to help the team out."
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On how exciting it will be to play at Protective Stadiumβ¦
"Yeah I'm super excited. We can't look too far ahead. We've got to handle the task at hand, but again it is something we have been thinking about for a while knowing that the stadium is coming we're super excited. We're excited to play in front of all the Birmingham fans and all the UAB faithful. We're just looking forward to being able to put a product out there and just make everybody proud."
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On dealing with going to New Orleans after Hurricane Idaβ¦
"We know they (Tulane) haven't play a home game yet. So we know they are excited to play at home. We don't know how many fans are going to be there. We don't know what shape everything will be in, but we're ready for anything. We've just got to go play our game and that's what we're focused on."
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Outside Linebacker Alex Wright:
On the impact of the Defense vs. North Texasβ¦
"We've been the team that has put a big stamp and emphasis on defense. We looked at everybody and everything we decided to take advantage of it. We came in with mindset that defense is going to put the stamp on this game. We know the offense is going to do their thing. We know they are going to do what they have to do to score so now it is on the defense to get the ball. We came in with the mindset that defense is going to win this game and that's what we did."
Β
On confidence level after win against North Texasβ¦
"After the Georgia game everybody on the defense was down. Everybody's confidence level wasn't as high as it was. So we went out there at North Texas to prove who we were and what we've done the past couple years. We finally started to see the confidence level improve quarter by quarter. We said that this is the defense UAB is profound to be. Everybody knows who this defense is and we started to play like it. So the more that got done the more confidence everyone starts to build. When that starts to build that's when everyone comes together."
Β
On having seven shutout quarters this seasonβ¦
"I feel like it is a focus. That's just how we are as a defense. We are just getting out there. Our mindset is effort and swarming to the ball and just playing good defense. It's just a hunger mindset that we are going to get the ball. That's our thing and that's what we're going to do. That's what have proven to do and that's what we're going to keep doing and that's what we do day by day and practice by practice."
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:Β
- UAB is coming off a 40-6 victory over North Texas and improved its record to 2-1 overall. Tulane fell to 1-2 after a 61-21 loss at No. 16 Ole Miss. This is the 11th all-time meeting between UAB and Tulane with the series tied at 5-5.
Β - Gerrit Prince was named the Conference USA Player of the Week for his performance at North Texas where he had three catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Prince had touchdown receptions of 42 and 61 yards to mark the third career multi-touchdown game of his career. With seven catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns this season, Prince is leading the nation with an average of 29.14 yards per catch.
Β - Dating back to last season, this Saturday marks UAB's seventh consecutive game on the road. The Blazers ended last season with three straight road games and opened this year with four straight. The Blazers reveal their brand new stadium in two weeks, Oct. 2, vs. Liberty. Tickets are available by clicking here.Β
Β
Opening Statement:
"Well obviously It was great to get (a win) on the road. First conference game and we got a road win. I am real proud of these guys. I think the question was what's going to happen on Monday? We came in here on Monday of last week and it was tough day to be here. Every one of us had to look ourselves in the mirror and say what are we going to do to get better? Individually and as a team, I think it started with practice Monday and I think we had a great week of practice. As we always say, we have to be better on the road. We got a great start with a big takeaway from Swoopes and got a touchdown early from there. It is kind of one of those things you know you look up and you got a big lead over a quality opponent at halftime. You kind of don't know what to do, but we are proud of our guys. They stay focused throughout and it was just really a great team win. You know now we go on the road again. Counting last year, I think this about six straight so I think our guys understands what it takes. This morning after a good bad ugly film, this will be one of the best teams we'll see all year. You know irrelevant to the score from Ole Miss which is probably one of the best teams in the country. You got Oklahoma and they got the huge win here in Birmingham here at home. Coach Fritz does a terrific job up there. They are sound across the board. They're physical and they are very diverse offensively. Obviously, they have been scoring a lot of points against a lot of great folks and then defensively played really hard physically. I mean it when I said this will be one of the best teams we'll see all year."
Β
On interacting with Tulane as they relocated in B'hamβ¦
"Once it happened they decided to relocate here. It was whatever we could do to help out. Obviously they had to find a place to work out and you know Legion Field was great to them. We didn't really know what was going to happen as far as their home game. It's a big deal for them to get back home. So they are going to be cranked up to play us on Saturday night. I am really proud of our folks for being hospitable and take care of those folks and giving them a place to practice and stay."
Β
On current quarterback situationβ¦
"There is no doubt we have to look at the game. You have to go off of what happened in games and practices. So that is why we are playing two guys. We can adjust if we need to adjust. If one guy has the hot hand then that's how we are going to go with it."
Β
Tight End Gerrit Prince:
On impact of the Tight End positionβ¦
"I mean it is really exciting. Over the past couple years, our role in the offense has really increased. It is exciting as a player and I'm excited to be put in positions to be able to help my team execute and win the games. Yeah we still have to block. We still have to be physical. It is a good feeling to be able to help the team out."
Β
On how exciting it will be to play at Protective Stadiumβ¦
"Yeah I'm super excited. We can't look too far ahead. We've got to handle the task at hand, but again it is something we have been thinking about for a while knowing that the stadium is coming we're super excited. We're excited to play in front of all the Birmingham fans and all the UAB faithful. We're just looking forward to being able to put a product out there and just make everybody proud."
Β
On dealing with going to New Orleans after Hurricane Idaβ¦
"We know they (Tulane) haven't play a home game yet. So we know they are excited to play at home. We don't know how many fans are going to be there. We don't know what shape everything will be in, but we're ready for anything. We've just got to go play our game and that's what we're focused on."
Β
Outside Linebacker Alex Wright:
On the impact of the Defense vs. North Texasβ¦
"We've been the team that has put a big stamp and emphasis on defense. We looked at everybody and everything we decided to take advantage of it. We came in with mindset that defense is going to put the stamp on this game. We know the offense is going to do their thing. We know they are going to do what they have to do to score so now it is on the defense to get the ball. We came in with the mindset that defense is going to win this game and that's what we did."
Β
On confidence level after win against North Texasβ¦
"After the Georgia game everybody on the defense was down. Everybody's confidence level wasn't as high as it was. So we went out there at North Texas to prove who we were and what we've done the past couple years. We finally started to see the confidence level improve quarter by quarter. We said that this is the defense UAB is profound to be. Everybody knows who this defense is and we started to play like it. So the more that got done the more confidence everyone starts to build. When that starts to build that's when everyone comes together."
Β
On having seven shutout quarters this seasonβ¦
"I feel like it is a focus. That's just how we are as a defense. We are just getting out there. Our mindset is effort and swarming to the ball and just playing good defense. It's just a hunger mindset that we are going to get the ball. That's our thing and that's what we're going to do. That's what have proven to do and that's what we're going to keep doing and that's what we do day by day and practice by practice."
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Players Mentioned
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