The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Travels to Tulsa for Final Game of 2025 Season
11/24/2025 2:20:00 PM | Football
UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram Opening Statement:
"Saturday was a very sad day for UAB Football and for UAB Athletics, and before Coach Mortensen comes up, I just want to thank him, his staff, and the team for how they handled very difficult circumstances. We recognize the gravity of what happened Saturday morning and did very seriously consider not playing the game, and that was not an easy decision. But it was only after we knew the injured players were stable, and after Coach was able to have very honest and caring conversations with our team, that we felt comfortable with the game going on, but only if the team wanted to play. And we wanted the team to understand that it was okay if they didn't feel comfortable playing. I really appreciate the sensitivity Coach Mortensen and his staff showed in supporting the players in their decisions. I want to thank our staff and trainers who were on site and responded so quickly. I also want to thank Student Counseling Services for engaging with the team throughout the weekend and for their continued support. While Coach and the team prepare for the game this week, we will not lose sight of our top priority — and that is the mental and physical wellbeing of our student athletes. Coach Mortensen, I want to thank you again for your leadership and care for the team."
Coach Mortensen's Opening Statement:
"I also want to thank the team in Student Counseling Services. The way they really care about these young men and care for them is so important and has really been incredibly helpful. On behalf of the whole team, Mark and I also want to recognize the staff, trainers, first responders and medical professionals who showed great professionalism throughout. We're really grateful for them. The last thing I will say about the incident is that I have had the opportunity to sit with our injured players and their families. And they are okay with me telling you that they have left the hospital and are recovering. They appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. I continue to ask for you and everyone involved to respect their privacy as they deal with what happened. I know there are still questions about the incident, but that is all I will say about that at this time. The police investigation is still ongoing, so out of respect for that and the legal process — as well as respect for the privacy of those most affected — I am not going to go into any greater detail of the incident or individuals involved right now.
This has been a very difficult couple days for a lot of players. They have a tremendous love for each other – that was very evident. I am not going to go into a lot of detail about our time together and our meetings, but I really love this team and the group of guys we have. In terms of the game and the football, it pales small in comparison to some of the things that have been going on. I thought our guys fought really hard in the game and fought tough. They played for each other. I thought that was the biggest thing, they wanted to play for each other on Saturday. I thought that was evident in their effort, playing against a very, very good team that at one time was getting top 25 votes and came in here with two losses and the fifth-best offense in the country. In terms of the technical football part of it, we were able to keep this game tight up to the half. It was a one-score game [at halftime], a testament to the will and toughness of our guys. I think that game is probably tied or we have a lead if we – one, capitalize on our opportunities that we had, which we had them – and also, if we don't give the game away in certain aspects and particularly the couple of turnovers were really hurtful at certain points. But our guys fought really hard for 60 minutes and [I'm] really, really pleased with them and love them very much.
Moving onto the next game, we're playing Tulsa on the road. They have a new staff, they have a little bit of life, they're coming off a big win against Army. They beat Oklahoma State this year ,and they have some other notable wins. They're a very good team under Trey Lamb. We know we have a challenge to go on the road and play them at their place as they're capturing some momentum. This is an opportunity for our seniors to have their last collegiate game, and I know a lot of the guys not in that position want to help send them out the right way. What's most important to us is the well-being of our student-athletes, our players, and we're going to make sure they have every opportunity this week to get the counseling services they need. We're going to make sure they have every opportunity to step away if they want to step away, if they choose not to play in the game. If they don't want to practice or if they need to just get out of here for a little bit, we're going to give them every opportunity to do that each time we meet and make sure that door is wide, wide open."
Coach Mortensen on his message to his players for the importance of the upcoming game at Tulsa:
"This goes back to when everything happened prior to the Memphis game. The first thing it's about them [the players], them playing for each other, them playing for the guy to the left and the right of them. I do think the ones that do choose to play, if they're comfortable playing, representing the program, the university in a manner with class and effort and toughness that shows well. I think those things are important. And some of them do have goals beyond this year, to continue their career. Part of our job as coaches is to help these guys reach their individual goals, too, and to help encourage them to have the best game they can, so it helps them on their individual journey, too. So those will be some of the things we talk about if guys are comfortable playing in the game."
Coach Mortensen on coaching Iverson Hooks:
"Iverson Hooks is a very, very, very good football player. And he's got a great background. He's played some quarterback in high school, and I think it shows up in the way he plays the game. He's a really savvy player. He's got really good instincts. He makes good decisions when you give him choices in routes. Even last week, we gave him the chance to throw a double-pass –it was covered –he made a great decision not to throw it. He's a really good real-time decision maker. He's a good athlete, he's quick, he's fast, and he's very competitive. He's a guy that, a lot of the time, when the moment gets bigger, he does not shrink. He's really been a joy to coach. And he's been through a lot, too. When you go back through some of the injuries he's had, going back to high school, all the way through some of his early years here. I know it's been hard for him. It's been hard for him, and it's been emotionally difficult for him. I've really taken a lot of joy in seeing him have the kind of success he's had here lately."
Coach Mortensen on building momentum for next year with the upcoming game at Tulsa:
"Every game is important to us. If it's a game we're going to play, we want to win, every one of them. But this is a game that's an opportunity to create some momentum going into the offseason for the future of the program. Playing on the road, playing a conference opponent. If guys are prepared and want to play in the game, we'll be excited to try and go take that on. You talk about the future of the program, I do believe that there's really good leadership here at the university. I think we have the resources, the geography. Everything is in place for this to be a really healthy program, and I really believe that. We're still recruiting, and that's a message we've given to recruits too –whatever decision the school makes here in the coming weeks or months, that they can have a lot of confidence that this program can be incredibly successful, whether it's facilities, whether it's resources, support. After the Memphis game, I can't tell you how many people reached out wanting to help and support this program. Some people you'd be surprised that don't have prior affiliation here, that want to help and support [the program]. So, I think the future, whatever the results of this game are, I think the future can and will be bright here, but we do want to use the game to help create some momentum going forward."
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- UAB heads to Tulsa for the third time in program history and first time since 2011, still looking for its first road win against the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa leads the all-time series 4-1, winning the first four matchups from 2007 to 2012. UAB snapped Tulsa's win streak with a 59-21 win at Protective Stadium last season, the first meeting since both teams joined the American Conference. A high-scoring series, the five games average 72.6 points scored between the teams.
- Iverson Hooks made history on Saturday, becoming the first player in UAB history to notch multiple 10+ reception games in a single season. With 10 receptions against South Florida and 11 receptions against Memphis earlier this season, Hooks is just the third player to record multiple 10+ reception games in a UAB career. Hooks's 10 receptions give him 67 receptions on the season, the fourth most ever in a UAB season, just four receptions behind fourth place. Hooks has totaled 881 receiving yards this season, the seventh most in a UAB season. Hooks ranks in the top 20 nationally in receptions per game (12th, 6.09) and receiving yards (18th, 881).
- Isaiah Jacobs and Solomon Beebe both found the end zone versus South Florida, marking the first time this season that UAB rushed for multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games. Jacobs, a Tulsa native, also rushed for one of UAB's scores against North Texas, marking the first time in his career he's scored in consecutive games. Beebe, along with his rushing touchdown, tallied 91 kickoff return yards against South Florida. Beebe's 600 kickoff return yards this season are the seventh most in a single UAB season.
