The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2017/...=hootsuite

Quote:UAB doesn't need SEC validation to prove anything to anyone, but nothing the Blazers have done to this moment has made people sit up and take notice the way beating Florida in the Swamp would. That's life in the shadow of the SEC when you share a home town with that 800-pound gorilla's league headquarters.

It has always bothered me that, even while we talk about not needing Alabama or Auburn, and how their programs don't define us, some still consider UAB football's biggest highlight to be a win over a middle-of-the-road LSU team in 2000, instead of much more important victories over the years against nationally ranked conference teams like East Carolina, TCU and Southern Miss.

Likewise, as much as I enjoyed our win over Bama in basketball in '93, that was a pretty meaningless game between a couple of mediocre teams. That game didn't compare to our NCAA tournament wins over Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky again or Iowa State, among many others.

I get it. I know where we live, and who we are compared to daily, and I want to beat the SEC as much as anyone. And admittedly, as weak as our football schedule has been this year, this may be the best team we will play all season, even if they are the fifth or sixth best team in the state of Florida, even if they are ranked 100th, even if they have lost five straight and have a losing record. But to quote Scarbinsky, "UAB doesn't need SEC validation to prove anything to anyone."

I agree bftb. There is validation among those who know the sport and then there is winning the hearts and minds of the locals who only know what the media feeds them.

I agree as well. Getting old bringing up 15 year old or 24 year old games.

The Iowa State victory in men's basketball was probably the best since the Kentucky tournament victory in 2004 (or whatever year it was)

The Southern Miss victory led by QB JP preventing them from going to the Sugar Bowl may have been our biggest game in the last few years.

Some of this year's football games have been pretty good as well but might not rank as high if you took out the return factor.

(11-17-2017 11:34 AM)bftb Wrote:  It has always bothered me that, even while we talk about not needing Alabama or Auburn, and how their programs don't define us, some still consider UAB football's biggest highlight to be a win over a middle-of-the-road LSU team in 2000, instead of much more important victories over the years against nationally ranked conference teams like East Carolina, TCU and Southern Miss.

The reality is that a win over LSU, and likewise a win this week over Florida, means more to the casual observer of college football, which is what most people in the country are. This game will also be more accessible and visible to the general public than most of our games this season have been.

It's similar to winning a bowl game, in terms of visibility for the program.

Regardless of the UAB @ Florida game results tomorrow, UAB has had a remarkable return season in 2017. A hazard is that UAB fans may now expect a similar result next season even though we may not be playing about half of the teams in this year's "Bottom Ten" teams. We are likely to be in a bowl game against a very challenging opponent that will test us severely. Finishing with a bowl game win will do more for UAB's national reputation than beating Florida in their terrible year.

I see a win today as a sure-fire lock for Bill Clark to win Coach of the Year.

(11-18-2017 11:27 AM)Grammar-Nazi Wrote:  I see a win today as a sure-fire lock for Bill Clark to win Coach of the Year.

Nationally or just for CUSA?

Nationally. He’s already nailed it for C-USA.


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(11-17-2017 12:45 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I agree bftb. There is validation among those who know the sport and then there is winning the hearts and minds of the locals who only know what the media feeds them.

That's loser talk. I prefer to think UAB can play with any team in the FBS. At least I expect UAB to make a game of any team in the division. If not then why not just drop to FCS.
AS someone that was in Gainesville, it meant a lot for the fans and the players to have a game against a power 5 team.

(11-19-2017 10:52 PM)pbt140 Wrote:  

(11-17-2017 12:45 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I agree bftb. There is validation among those who know the sport and then there is winning the hearts and minds of the locals who only know what the media feeds them.

That's loser talk. I prefer to think UAB can play with any team in the FBS. At least I expect UAB to make a game of any team in the division. If not then why not just drop to FCS.
AS someone that was in Gainesville, it meant a lot for the fans and the players to have a game against a power 5 team.

I think you totally missed my point, and went straight to the namecalling mode.

(11-19-2017 10:52 PM)pbt140 Wrote:  

(11-17-2017 12:45 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I agree bftb. There is validation among those who know the sport and then there is winning the hearts and minds of the locals who only know what the media feeds them.

That's loser talk. I prefer to think UAB can play with any team in the FBS. At least I expect UAB to make a game of any team in the division. If not then why not just drop to FCS.
AS someone that was in Gainesville, it meant a lot for the fans and the players to have a game against a power 5 team.

Within its athletic capabilities UAB DID make a game of it Saturday, and that is why UAB did not get "Mercerized" by Florida. Florida did not settle for FGs several times just to be generous. They would have loved to score TDs every time they had the ball, but UAB stopped them. Yes, Florida had a reduced squad, but 50 P5 level players is not a "chopped liver" team. Our defense adjusted to Florida's size and speed during the game, but fatigue was also a factor in the final result. I'm sure Randy Shannon is not bragging about this win.

If Clark stays and we continue to build the program up, for sure we will be at a level that we can beat anybody.

Anybody who thought a short handed UAB team could beat a short handed Florida team was just fooling themselves. There is no way our roster looks anywhere near what it will look like in 2 more years under Clark's direction. We took a lot of chances to try and get the best talent possible in here this year, and for the most part that did not work out for one reason or another.

Florida was the most talented team we were going to face this year.
Florida had the best defense we were going to face this year.
Florida was the toughest environment we were going to play in this year.

In a situation like this we would need to be +2, +3 in turnovers to have a real chance. Our passing game is just adequate at the moment, and we saw that if we don't run the ball well, our passing game isn't going to be able to carry us.

Things are eventually going to be much bigger and brighter for UAB. What we need to do is not lose sight of the fact that this season, in its entirety has been a giant win for UAB. How many of us had winning 7 games period this year, let alone in 10 games?

What it comes down to in planning a defense is the question - How many viable threats does an opponent bring to the game? For UAB it was one main RB and the QB. By being able to stack its defense against the RB and pressure the QB, Florida was able to keep UAB at bay most of the game. Remember when LSU had only Fornette and MS State had only Prescott? Neither team was able to win consistently against equal teams. As UAB elevates its roster with new recruits, its ability to diversify its offense will grow and make opposing defenses cover more threats.