UAB Football to Host Alabama A&M Thursday for 2022 Season Opener

Thursday, September 1

Protective Stadium

7 p.m.

UAB

Alabama A&M

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UAB Football to Host Alabama A&M Thursday for 2022 Season Opener

8/30/2022 6:07:00 PM | Football

2022 UAB Football Media Guide UAB Game Notes vs. Alabama A&M

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team opens the 2022 season this Thursday night, Sept. 1, at Protective Stadium against in-state foe Alabama A&M. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

The Blazers look to keep momentum going from ending the 2021 season with a win over No. 13 BYU in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. That win was the highest ranked victory in school history and UAB returns 17 starters from last year's squad.

Who: UAB (0-0) vs. Alabama A&M (0-0)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Thursday, Sept. 1 – 7 p.m.
Watch: CBS Sports Network
On The Call: Chris Lewis (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 2, 2017 – UAB, 38-7

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Bryant Vincent is making his collegiate head coaching debut on Thursday. Vincent was named UAB's interim head coach on June 27 following the retirement of Bill Clark on June 24. Clark was 49-26 in six seasons coaching the Blazers.
Vincent was the Offensive Coordinator at UAB in 2014, and again from 2018-2021. Since Vincent returned to the Southside in 2018, the Blazers are 35-15 overall which includes winning three Conference USA West division titles, two Conference USA Championships and two bowl games.
The Blazers have not lost a season opener since 2013 and are 6-0 during that span. UAB and Alabama A&M met in the 2017 season opener, UAB's first game back after missing the previous two seasons, and the Blazers came away with a 38-7 victory in front of a school-record crowd of 45,212 fans.
Dylan Hopkins was named UAB's starting quarterback and looks to follow up last season's successes with an even better year in 2022. Hopkins was 7-3 as the starter in 2021 and threw for 2,274 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He finished with the second highest single season completion percentage in school history (66.0%) and was the nation's eighth most efficient passer (166.6).
The backfield is stacked with talent, led by Doak Walker Award candidates DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr. These two are the only running back tandem in the nation who combined to rush for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021.
McBride tallied the third most single season rushing yards in school history with 1,371 to go along with 13 touchdowns, while Brown Jr. added 631 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, the Blazers are coming off a season in which they finished 16th nationally in total defense. It was the fourth straight year finishing top 20 in total defense and the Blazers look to get back into the top 10 where they ranked from 2018-2020.
The defense is loaded once again with veterans all over the field as UAB returns nine starters. Sixth-year seniors Will Boler, Grayson Cash and Kyle Harrell lead the way, while fellow senior and middle linebacker Noah Wilder enters the season with 228 career tackles.
Last week, the Blazers announced that they would be wearing a Jim Hilyer helmet decal all season long in memory of UAB's first head coach who passed away earlier this year. Hilyer was UAB's club coach in 1989-90, and also the coach when UAB transitioned into the NCAA in 1991. In four seasons, he posted an overall record of 28-12-2 for a winning percentage of 68.1%.
Along with the helmet sticker, all former players are invited to lead the Blazer Walk on Thursday beginning at 4:45 p.m. Additionally, there will be a moment of silence prior to kickoff and Hilyer's former players Pat Green and Walt Maddox, along with Hilyer's family, will serve as the honorary captains.
There will also be a recognition for Bill Clark at the beginning of halftime. One of the most influential figures in UAB Athletics history, Clark spent eight years and six seasons as UAB's head coach, while leading the resurrection of the program in 2015 and 2016. He was the 2018 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year and won CBS National Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2017.
The first 10,000 fans through the gates (which open at 5:30) will receive a rally towel on Thursday night. Fans are also encouraged to stay in their seats following the game for a fireworks show.

Tickets still remain for Thursday's game by clicking here. Season tickets start as low as $90 and are the most cost-effective way to watch the Blazers this season. Single game tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at the Bartow Arena box office on Wednesday or at the Protective Stadium box office on Thursday.