The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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UAB Football Week 1 Press Conference Transcription
8/25/2023 3:18:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – With kickoff just six days away for the UAB football, Head Coach Trent Dilfer held his Week 1 press conference on Friday morning ahead of the North Carolina A&T game on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Protective Stadium.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
COACH DILFER:
Opening Statement:
"Well, I'm pumped! That's my opening statement. Fired up, obviously—it's been a fun journey since December 1st. A lot has changed in my life for the better, and I think hopefully for our team and our coaches. I've learned over my football life that regardless of what the season has for results, it's going to be a wild ride. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows in football, and the one consistent is that it's a journey of ebb and flows, so I've been trying to prep them for that and how to handle those moments emotionally, mentally and physically. Football is a steep climb, so we're prepped for that and excited for the battle ahead of us."
On Dilfer's excitement to get the season opener behind him:
"The hay will be in the barn for week one on Wednesday. We're still prepping hard, obviously, for our first opponent, and I'm super excited, but to me it's just the next day. I think we've taken an approach, at least I'm trying to, within the building that we have an opportunity each day to get better—significantly better—and I've taken that same approach. If you've been in my office, you'll see giant black letters that say 'growth,' and that's my word of the year. I'm trying to grow and get better every day too. I think Thursday will be a litmus test for how much we've grown, for sure, but it's not the defining moment of anything. We're just taking that '1-0 approach' every single day. I know that's coach speak…I try not to do coach speak, but that's one of the truths of coach speak. You've got to cast a vision as a leader, and that has to be number one. You've got to get your people buying into a vision, but as you spend more time together, that vision is a funnel, and it comes down to this very micro, 'what can we do today' approach so that one day, we can accomplish that vision. That was the talk this morning with the team…'now we're talking about the micros. Like, where the piece of trash that you pick up, so you train your eye to see the little things?' And that's the approach we're at right now."
On Dilfer's message to the fans:
"Yeah, I mean one thing is just the vibe. I've used that word a lot, but I think people resonate with that word…'how do you feel when you're around this program?' I think words are cheap. How you make people feel is important. I think we've treated the community very well as a team—over 600 hours of service our boys have put into this city. We've been out there and recognizable, and we want to make sure that the people of Birmingham understand that we want to be a sense of pride for them. I hope they feel that. I hope that would make them want to come out and support it. I do think the vibe of this stadium will do things for kids. A group is actively thinking of creative ways to make the experience better. Again, I've never been part of the experience, so I can't be the expert here. I've only experienced the spring ball setting. I haven't experienced a regular season setting. I think that naturally there should be an excitement around this team. We have some great players. We have all-conference type players…we have players that will be playing in the NFL one day. So…come watch them play, and then there should be an intrigue. There should be curiosity around what's going on. I think you're crazy not to be curious. If a high school coach can do this at the next level…if a couple of coordinators have never called a play in college football can do it…if we only have six returning starters coming back…if guys don't have a lot of experience can play at a high level. I mean you can be a skeptic, you can be an optimist, but you should be curious. And I think the curiosity alone should get you into the stadium. And, it's college football. I love Ted's opener, 'It's college football season.' I mean, it's the South, and it's college football season. It matters more. It's part of your life blood. You can still go to your Friday night game and come to the Thursday night game. You can still go to the little league game on Saturday, or whatever it is, but be at the Thursday night game, because there should be excitement. There should be a great vibe. You have a bunch of kids you can root for, and you should be curious as hell how this thing turns out."
On play calling:
"I'm shocked this hasn't been a bigger topic of conversation to be honest with you. It will be a collaboration. I think that's the easiest way to say it. But Mortensen and Ta'ufo'ou are the lead dogs. They will call the offense and defensive play calls as they see fit with my input. But that input starts during the week. The best way I've seen it done is you win with how you prepare, and as Mortensen and I have spent more time together, and Ta'ufo'ou and I have a long history together, and were spending a lot of time together, we think each other's thoughts. When we're thinking each other's thoughts, then it's a true collaboration in-game. I will call some plays; he will call some plays. I will call some coverages and fronts and blitzes; he will call some as well. I don't know what that ratio will be. I get labeled an offensive guy. I understand that, but I would argue that I know as much about defense as I do offense. The kicking game is a huge part of gameday operations. Yesterday, my day was dominated with these types of meetings, because we're trying to spend a lot of time together, so that we're thinking the same thoughts. I think my approach to this would be that it would be impossible for me to do what I did at Lipscomb and also be the CEO of this program in year one. And I have said this too, that I hired a guy that I thought was better than me offensively in Alex Mortensen, so I'm trusting that process. I think the world of him. I feel lucky to have him, to be honest with you, and will defer most play calling duties to him, but there will be a lot of collaboration as well."
UAB and North Carolina A&T kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday night. Season and single game tickets are still available by clicking here, while a special 2 for $23 ticket offer for the first game is available until Aug. 30. Click here to purchase your 2 for $23 ticket offer.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- The Blazers have won each of their last seven season openers dating back to 2014. UAB has shut out three of those opponents, included each of the last two years in which UAB outscored Jacksonville State and Alabama A&M by a combined score of 90-0.
- Thursday's game pairs two former NFL Pro Bowlers against each other and both will be making their collegiate head coaching debuts. Dilfer spent the previous four years coaching high school at Lipscomb Academy and compiled an overall record of 44-10, including a 26-1 record in the final two years and back-to-back State Championships. North Carolina A&T Coach Vincent Brown is a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the New England Patriots and was most recently the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at William & Mary.
- Jermaine Brown Jr. headlines the returning players and leads a running back room that is one of the deepest UAB has ever had. Brown Jr. has 2,275 career rushing yards and 3,476 all-purpose yards. He is coming of a career best 948 rushing yards in 2022 and another good season will etch Brown's name into the record book in multiple statistical categories.
COACH DILFER:
Opening Statement:
"Well, I'm pumped! That's my opening statement. Fired up, obviously—it's been a fun journey since December 1st. A lot has changed in my life for the better, and I think hopefully for our team and our coaches. I've learned over my football life that regardless of what the season has for results, it's going to be a wild ride. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows in football, and the one consistent is that it's a journey of ebb and flows, so I've been trying to prep them for that and how to handle those moments emotionally, mentally and physically. Football is a steep climb, so we're prepped for that and excited for the battle ahead of us."
On Dilfer's excitement to get the season opener behind him:
"The hay will be in the barn for week one on Wednesday. We're still prepping hard, obviously, for our first opponent, and I'm super excited, but to me it's just the next day. I think we've taken an approach, at least I'm trying to, within the building that we have an opportunity each day to get better—significantly better—and I've taken that same approach. If you've been in my office, you'll see giant black letters that say 'growth,' and that's my word of the year. I'm trying to grow and get better every day too. I think Thursday will be a litmus test for how much we've grown, for sure, but it's not the defining moment of anything. We're just taking that '1-0 approach' every single day. I know that's coach speak…I try not to do coach speak, but that's one of the truths of coach speak. You've got to cast a vision as a leader, and that has to be number one. You've got to get your people buying into a vision, but as you spend more time together, that vision is a funnel, and it comes down to this very micro, 'what can we do today' approach so that one day, we can accomplish that vision. That was the talk this morning with the team…'now we're talking about the micros. Like, where the piece of trash that you pick up, so you train your eye to see the little things?' And that's the approach we're at right now."
On Dilfer's message to the fans:
"Yeah, I mean one thing is just the vibe. I've used that word a lot, but I think people resonate with that word…'how do you feel when you're around this program?' I think words are cheap. How you make people feel is important. I think we've treated the community very well as a team—over 600 hours of service our boys have put into this city. We've been out there and recognizable, and we want to make sure that the people of Birmingham understand that we want to be a sense of pride for them. I hope they feel that. I hope that would make them want to come out and support it. I do think the vibe of this stadium will do things for kids. A group is actively thinking of creative ways to make the experience better. Again, I've never been part of the experience, so I can't be the expert here. I've only experienced the spring ball setting. I haven't experienced a regular season setting. I think that naturally there should be an excitement around this team. We have some great players. We have all-conference type players…we have players that will be playing in the NFL one day. So…come watch them play, and then there should be an intrigue. There should be curiosity around what's going on. I think you're crazy not to be curious. If a high school coach can do this at the next level…if a couple of coordinators have never called a play in college football can do it…if we only have six returning starters coming back…if guys don't have a lot of experience can play at a high level. I mean you can be a skeptic, you can be an optimist, but you should be curious. And I think the curiosity alone should get you into the stadium. And, it's college football. I love Ted's opener, 'It's college football season.' I mean, it's the South, and it's college football season. It matters more. It's part of your life blood. You can still go to your Friday night game and come to the Thursday night game. You can still go to the little league game on Saturday, or whatever it is, but be at the Thursday night game, because there should be excitement. There should be a great vibe. You have a bunch of kids you can root for, and you should be curious as hell how this thing turns out."
On play calling:
"I'm shocked this hasn't been a bigger topic of conversation to be honest with you. It will be a collaboration. I think that's the easiest way to say it. But Mortensen and Ta'ufo'ou are the lead dogs. They will call the offense and defensive play calls as they see fit with my input. But that input starts during the week. The best way I've seen it done is you win with how you prepare, and as Mortensen and I have spent more time together, and Ta'ufo'ou and I have a long history together, and were spending a lot of time together, we think each other's thoughts. When we're thinking each other's thoughts, then it's a true collaboration in-game. I will call some plays; he will call some plays. I will call some coverages and fronts and blitzes; he will call some as well. I don't know what that ratio will be. I get labeled an offensive guy. I understand that, but I would argue that I know as much about defense as I do offense. The kicking game is a huge part of gameday operations. Yesterday, my day was dominated with these types of meetings, because we're trying to spend a lot of time together, so that we're thinking the same thoughts. I think my approach to this would be that it would be impossible for me to do what I did at Lipscomb and also be the CEO of this program in year one. And I have said this too, that I hired a guy that I thought was better than me offensively in Alex Mortensen, so I'm trusting that process. I think the world of him. I feel lucky to have him, to be honest with you, and will defer most play calling duties to him, but there will be a lot of collaboration as well."
UAB and North Carolina A&T kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday night. Season and single game tickets are still available by clicking here, while a special 2 for $23 ticket offer for the first game is available until Aug. 30. Click here to purchase your 2 for $23 ticket offer.
Players Mentioned
RB
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