The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Football Travels to Army on Saturday
10/7/2024 2:34:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football begins a two-game road swing this Saturday, Oct. 12, with an AAC contest at Army. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
HEAD COACH TRENT DILFER:
Opening Statement:
"I don't have a lot to say. I think the theme of our failures has been too much talk and not enough action. Words are cheap, actions speak louder than words, and it's something we've taken very seriously really for a while now, but really since the game, when you're humiliated like that you have to take a close look in the mirror. It starts with the person in the mirror. With that, there's not a lot to say except we have to do a lot better and not just say more things."
On the temperature of the building after the loss on Saturday:
"I think the biggest thing was, in those moments, and I've been a part of some pretty low moments. That was one, fourth quarter of the game, all I was thinking about was, "how do you address your team after something like that?" I told them, "I've let you down. I have not prepared you as well as I wanted to. So if you're looking for someone to blame, blame me." My biggest fear was the finger pointing game in fighting. I think when people are hurt, like we were hurt like that, human nature is to be mean and to direct the blame somewhere else, and I told them, "if you need a place to direct it, direct it right at me. Don't make the mistake of directing it at each other." Our issue is not our 'want to.' We have people that really want to do it well. Our issue is our 'how to,' and obviously that starts with me. I have done a poor job, as the record shows, knowing how to turn this team into a winning team. That was the posture and again last night as we met, really throughout the day and last night, it was kind of a continuation of that theme of 'I have to do a better job of preparing the coaches and players to do the things it takes to win.'"
On balancing watching film from a loss like Saturday's and the well-being of the players and coaches:
"It's a 'both." The primary concern was our people. That's just who I am, right or wrong. My priority concern was, 'how are my people doing emotionally?' But then at the same time, you have to use the tape, and really it's not just Saturday's tape, it's looking at what had been habitual things that have hurt us, and asking why is it not like that Tuesday through Friday. Because there is no evidence during the week that would make us think what's happening on Saturday would be consistent. I've been around football where your preparation is terrible and you know that gameday is going to be rough. I've had really smart people come in and watch practices and nobody has told me that we are not preparing the right way. So something is happening on gameday that's forcing our players to not play to their potential and our coaches not to coach to their potential and that's kind of what I am trying to figure out as it comes to the tape. So it's not just one game, it's what's happening really in the span of our time together that has not allowed us to play as we prepare."
Coach Dilfer on whether he would remember how Saturday's loss felt or having a 'fresh start' in the next game:
"I think it's always better to flush. I think if you carry over big wins too much, complacency can be dangerous. You carry over devastating defeats too much, confidence and negativity can come out. Your confidence can be shaken and negativity can come out. I've just always believed that the flush method is the best method. I don't think you can deny that when you're humiliated, I mean humiliation is an interesting thing and I have dug into it because I have experienced it. It's a scary deal because when you're humiliated, you feel naked. All your flaws are out there, everybody has an opportunity to chime in on them, it's deserving, so everything you get you probably deserve. But there's a byproduct of humiliation that can be really powerful in a good way and that's humility. I know personally, humility has been something in my life that God has worked really hard on over my 52 years. When you go through it, it stinks, it's painful, it's lonely, you know you have that sick feeling in your stomach. But as you get older you realize that something good could come out of it, too. My point being is that I think that is a lesson I think we all could learn, and when there is a humility to how you approach life, maybe that's something that can unlock us, too, and help us be our best."
Coach Dilfer on the similarities and differences between Army and Navy:
"They create the same conflicts. Without getting 'x-o geeky,' they create the same conflicts. I don't want to say (Army's) quarterback runner is better than Navy's. Navy's dude is, that guy is freakish, but they're different. (Army's) guy is Cam Newton, (Navy's) guy is Lamar Jackson. Does that make sense? (They are) both equally awesome but attack you differently. (Army's) guy is what you want every one of your football players to be on your team. He is gnarly, he is tough, he is a glass eater, he is fiery. Every time he carries the ball in the 'C' gap, if you go to the sideline as he's doing it, you can almost see the gasps with the anticipation of what could happen. He's running over, destroying defenders that are bigger than him, supposedly more aggressive than him. This is a game where you as a defender really have to decide before the game starts: "are you willing to take this on all day long?"
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- The Blazers (1-4, 0-2 AAC) go up against an Army team that currently owns the nation's longest active winning streak at nine games. The Black Knights (5-0, 4-0 AAC) are one of three teams in the country who have not trailed in a game this season (along with Texas and Indiana) as Army has scored a touchdown on its opening drive in all five games this year. Army has the nation's No. 1 rushing offense (361.2/game) and has the league's leading rusher in Bryson Daily who averages 120.4 rushing yards per game and has 10 touchdowns.
- Sophomore Amare Thomas hauled in the longest touchdown reception of his career with a 73-yarder against Tulane last week. Thomas has 19 catches for 220 yards three touchdowns this year. In 17 career games, Thomas has 72 career receptions and is already just 21 catches away from cracking UAB's top 10 for career receptions.
- Sophomore Jonah Delange is one of six kickers in the nation with a minimum of nine attempts who has not missed yet this season. Delange is a perfect 9-of-9 on field goals and has also made all 11 of his PATs. He is 4-of-4 from 20-29 yards, 3-of-3 from 30-39 and 2-of-2 from 40-49.
HEAD COACH TRENT DILFER:
Opening Statement:
"I don't have a lot to say. I think the theme of our failures has been too much talk and not enough action. Words are cheap, actions speak louder than words, and it's something we've taken very seriously really for a while now, but really since the game, when you're humiliated like that you have to take a close look in the mirror. It starts with the person in the mirror. With that, there's not a lot to say except we have to do a lot better and not just say more things."
On the temperature of the building after the loss on Saturday:
"I think the biggest thing was, in those moments, and I've been a part of some pretty low moments. That was one, fourth quarter of the game, all I was thinking about was, "how do you address your team after something like that?" I told them, "I've let you down. I have not prepared you as well as I wanted to. So if you're looking for someone to blame, blame me." My biggest fear was the finger pointing game in fighting. I think when people are hurt, like we were hurt like that, human nature is to be mean and to direct the blame somewhere else, and I told them, "if you need a place to direct it, direct it right at me. Don't make the mistake of directing it at each other." Our issue is not our 'want to.' We have people that really want to do it well. Our issue is our 'how to,' and obviously that starts with me. I have done a poor job, as the record shows, knowing how to turn this team into a winning team. That was the posture and again last night as we met, really throughout the day and last night, it was kind of a continuation of that theme of 'I have to do a better job of preparing the coaches and players to do the things it takes to win.'"
On balancing watching film from a loss like Saturday's and the well-being of the players and coaches:
"It's a 'both." The primary concern was our people. That's just who I am, right or wrong. My priority concern was, 'how are my people doing emotionally?' But then at the same time, you have to use the tape, and really it's not just Saturday's tape, it's looking at what had been habitual things that have hurt us, and asking why is it not like that Tuesday through Friday. Because there is no evidence during the week that would make us think what's happening on Saturday would be consistent. I've been around football where your preparation is terrible and you know that gameday is going to be rough. I've had really smart people come in and watch practices and nobody has told me that we are not preparing the right way. So something is happening on gameday that's forcing our players to not play to their potential and our coaches not to coach to their potential and that's kind of what I am trying to figure out as it comes to the tape. So it's not just one game, it's what's happening really in the span of our time together that has not allowed us to play as we prepare."
Coach Dilfer on whether he would remember how Saturday's loss felt or having a 'fresh start' in the next game:
"I think it's always better to flush. I think if you carry over big wins too much, complacency can be dangerous. You carry over devastating defeats too much, confidence and negativity can come out. Your confidence can be shaken and negativity can come out. I've just always believed that the flush method is the best method. I don't think you can deny that when you're humiliated, I mean humiliation is an interesting thing and I have dug into it because I have experienced it. It's a scary deal because when you're humiliated, you feel naked. All your flaws are out there, everybody has an opportunity to chime in on them, it's deserving, so everything you get you probably deserve. But there's a byproduct of humiliation that can be really powerful in a good way and that's humility. I know personally, humility has been something in my life that God has worked really hard on over my 52 years. When you go through it, it stinks, it's painful, it's lonely, you know you have that sick feeling in your stomach. But as you get older you realize that something good could come out of it, too. My point being is that I think that is a lesson I think we all could learn, and when there is a humility to how you approach life, maybe that's something that can unlock us, too, and help us be our best."
Coach Dilfer on the similarities and differences between Army and Navy:
"They create the same conflicts. Without getting 'x-o geeky,' they create the same conflicts. I don't want to say (Army's) quarterback runner is better than Navy's. Navy's dude is, that guy is freakish, but they're different. (Army's) guy is Cam Newton, (Navy's) guy is Lamar Jackson. Does that make sense? (They are) both equally awesome but attack you differently. (Army's) guy is what you want every one of your football players to be on your team. He is gnarly, he is tough, he is a glass eater, he is fiery. Every time he carries the ball in the 'C' gap, if you go to the sideline as he's doing it, you can almost see the gasps with the anticipation of what could happen. He's running over, destroying defenders that are bigger than him, supposedly more aggressive than him. This is a game where you as a defender really have to decide before the game starts: "are you willing to take this on all day long?"
Players Mentioned
PK
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WR
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