I will eat crow first. No way in hell did I thiink it would be this bad and it isn't even over yet.
Even with a couple of calls going the other way, it had no impact on the game.
3rd Qtr was a mystery.
How about some chicken instead?
No need to eat crow, 'vine'.
There's no shame or apology needed because you see the good side of your team.
I'm usually a guy that gets down quickly on my teams ... I am from Philly, after all ... and am one of the first people out on the ledge, but this doesn't concern me all too much.
Tulsa has a very good team. They were supposed to win. They did. I was just hoping that the score would be about a ten point difference or so. Twenty-three points is a little difficult to swallow, but I'm sure the players AND coaches feel exactly tha same way.
I just wouldn't want to be one of the players having to practice next week. I have a gut feeling that tackling drills are in order for the defensive players and kick coverage teams, and ball handling and control drills for the offensive players.
We'll see what the rest of the season looks like soon enough. For once, I'm being patient.
im like 89. were supposed to lose, and we did. i would have loved for it to have been closer.
the 3rd quarter...i think we got away from the run/pass option and tried to be a little more conservative, which hurt us. in the 4th, when we got back to the 1st half play calling things went really well (except for the 2 fumbles).
overall, the offense was better then i expected. the D was non-existent, but i cant say if that reflects bad defense or the tulsa offense.
if we lose next week, i'll still be standing in knoxville, cheering on the blazers
vine, the game was better than the score. We are better than last year.
I am encouraged by this day's game. We knew we still had defensive issues and we are right. The fact remains though, even with the defense giving up the "big plays", we were ahead at the half. Our conditioning will get better as the new FACILITIES have their long range effects. We had two problems in the second half, we slowed down due to fatigue, and we couldn't rotate fresh talent in because we are still severely short of numbers in top grade players. A number of the "suits"( to use a business term) are not yet "ready for prime time" play.
We are tremendously improved over this time last year. We will look back in November and see how much UAB has improved from right now. As far as I know right now, we had no serious injuries to any key players. I hope that continues to be the case. Tenn. and So. Car. had better bring their "A" game when they face us in coming weeks. All Webb needs is a major infusion of confidence and I saw some of it today. He just needs to play within himself and not try to do too much (I think that led to his fumbles) by himself. He is not used to the quality of help he has around him now, but he will learn.
No need to eat crow.
The game was ALLOT closer than the score indicated.
Two horrible calls cost us points both ways. TD called back and Tulsa was given a catch that was no catch that led to a TD.
The missed tackles can be corrected.
The defense was a TON better against the run. We even had a goal line stand. WOW.
Fumbles can be corrected. Webb needs to quit carring the ball like a loaf of bread and tuck it in.
Bottom line.
UAB is improved offensively & defensively.
We are not as far from ASLUT as the score indicated. Two horribly bad calls, three fumbles, and some missed tackles kept the game from going to the last play.
The mistakes we saw can all be corrected. By no means am I saying we will all of a sudden have a defense, I am saying that we are still looking at 4-6 wins with a lean to 4.
I recall last season after a far worse first game against Michigan State (This Tulsa team was a little better than Michigan State IMHO) a majority predicted we would get blown out by FSU yet we led most of the game.
Let's let them go to work in practice and see if we can get win #1 in Bocca Saturday.................
Chocking down the last of the feathers and have come to a couple of conclusions
My thoughts about a week ago were
I do feel the defense will show better than most expect.
Momentum, turnovers, and refs factor into the outcome, but all things being equal
56 -45
UAB 1-0
I did pick the Tulsa score, but it is a good thing I don't bet.
Something broke down in execution on the offense in the 3rd qtr. Interesting situation and I am sure the coaches have it figured out.
One potential problem from last yr is cured. The o-line kicked arse. Of course you have 3 o-line coaches in Callaway, Helton, and Friend, but that is huge for any success this year.