09-06-2005, 09:36 AM
What ifs' haunt UAB after close loss to UT
Easy Writer by SCOTT ADAMSON
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD
Five or six years ago a 17-10 loss to No. 3 Tennessee — at Neyland Stadium — would be cause for celebration among UAB faithful.
"Hey," Blazer fans could crow. "We played a great team off their feet. We ALMOST won!"
The players would probably feel pretty good about themselves as well. Twenty-three point dogs from a mid-major conference falling just short against the once and future kings of the Southeastern Conference.
But UAB football has come a long way in five or six years. While Watson Brown and his troops are proud of Saturday's effort — as well they should be — there was no rejoicing in the locker room.The time for moral victories has long since passed.
"We came to win," Brown said after the near miss. "Would I have been surprised if they beat us good? No. But I'm not surprised we played them good, either. We're all disappointed right now and I mean that truly."
While a loss is a loss is a loss, this one was of the "quality loss" variety. But at the end of a beautiful afternoon in Knoxville, UAB had gone from a program few people outside of Alabama knew anything about to regulars on "Cheers." In other words, everyone knew their names.
Everyone suddenly knew that all this talk about Darrell Hackney being one of the best quarterbacks in the country wasn't simply hopeful chatter. And everyone finally realized this was not some never-was program that trotted out in front of 107,000 fans just to take a severe beating in exchange for a big payday.
The Blazers wanted to win. They came to win. And they put themselves in a position to win.
What if?
What if Dan Burks hadn't fumbled on the first UAB play from scrimmage?
What if the Blazers hadn't decided to use up a season's worth of penalties in one game?
What if Hackney hadn't thrown a floater that was intercepted deep in Tennessee territory?
What if Lance Rhodes had reeled in Hackney's fourth down missile — one that would've put UAB within a point of the third-ranked team in the country?
Of course, the Vols had their share of what ifs as well.
What if Phillip Fulmer had realized Rick Clausen should play quarterback from wire-to-wire, and what if UT receivers realized their hands were designed to catch passes, not drop them?
But none of that really matters two days after a season-opening victory for Tennessee and a season-opening statement from UAB.
For the winners, Saturday served as a wake-up call. Fulmer and his charges realize they'll have to play smarter and better if they want to win the 2005 SEC Championship.
And, it was a wake-up call for UAB's remaining opponents as well. If the Big Orange is as good as people say they are — and if the Blazers can come within a play of possibly forcing overtime against them — what's left to intimidate the Green and Gold?
The rest of the schedule consists of Troy, Jacksonville State, Rice, SMU, Marshall, Southern Miss, Memphis, UCF, UTEP and East Carolina.Five are at home. Five are one the road. All are winnable.
Before the Blazers left the field Saturday afternoon the Tennessee band actually played the UAB Fight Song — a tribute to a bunch of guys who had come to their house and very nearly made themselves right at home.
And UT defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona had this to say: "I believe UAB is better than most opponents."
If Mahelona is correct, then it won't be long before all the "What ifs" become "Why nots" for the football-playing Blazers.
Easy Writer by SCOTT ADAMSON
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD
Five or six years ago a 17-10 loss to No. 3 Tennessee — at Neyland Stadium — would be cause for celebration among UAB faithful.
"Hey," Blazer fans could crow. "We played a great team off their feet. We ALMOST won!"
The players would probably feel pretty good about themselves as well. Twenty-three point dogs from a mid-major conference falling just short against the once and future kings of the Southeastern Conference.
But UAB football has come a long way in five or six years. While Watson Brown and his troops are proud of Saturday's effort — as well they should be — there was no rejoicing in the locker room.The time for moral victories has long since passed.
"We came to win," Brown said after the near miss. "Would I have been surprised if they beat us good? No. But I'm not surprised we played them good, either. We're all disappointed right now and I mean that truly."
While a loss is a loss is a loss, this one was of the "quality loss" variety. But at the end of a beautiful afternoon in Knoxville, UAB had gone from a program few people outside of Alabama knew anything about to regulars on "Cheers." In other words, everyone knew their names.
Everyone suddenly knew that all this talk about Darrell Hackney being one of the best quarterbacks in the country wasn't simply hopeful chatter. And everyone finally realized this was not some never-was program that trotted out in front of 107,000 fans just to take a severe beating in exchange for a big payday.
The Blazers wanted to win. They came to win. And they put themselves in a position to win.
What if?
What if Dan Burks hadn't fumbled on the first UAB play from scrimmage?
What if the Blazers hadn't decided to use up a season's worth of penalties in one game?
What if Hackney hadn't thrown a floater that was intercepted deep in Tennessee territory?
What if Lance Rhodes had reeled in Hackney's fourth down missile — one that would've put UAB within a point of the third-ranked team in the country?
Of course, the Vols had their share of what ifs as well.
What if Phillip Fulmer had realized Rick Clausen should play quarterback from wire-to-wire, and what if UT receivers realized their hands were designed to catch passes, not drop them?
But none of that really matters two days after a season-opening victory for Tennessee and a season-opening statement from UAB.
For the winners, Saturday served as a wake-up call. Fulmer and his charges realize they'll have to play smarter and better if they want to win the 2005 SEC Championship.
And, it was a wake-up call for UAB's remaining opponents as well. If the Big Orange is as good as people say they are — and if the Blazers can come within a play of possibly forcing overtime against them — what's left to intimidate the Green and Gold?
The rest of the schedule consists of Troy, Jacksonville State, Rice, SMU, Marshall, Southern Miss, Memphis, UCF, UTEP and East Carolina.Five are at home. Five are one the road. All are winnable.
Before the Blazers left the field Saturday afternoon the Tennessee band actually played the UAB Fight Song — a tribute to a bunch of guys who had come to their house and very nearly made themselves right at home.
And UT defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona had this to say: "I believe UAB is better than most opponents."
If Mahelona is correct, then it won't be long before all the "What ifs" become "Why nots" for the football-playing Blazers.
