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My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
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BlazeOn Offline
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Post: #1
Exclamation My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
Let me preface this by saying first that my thoughts are worth exactly what you're paying for them (maybe less). And second, I fully support Bill Clark. Clark is the best thing ever to happen for UAB Football and it is no stretch to say that football at UAB wouldn't exist without him.

1. Probably more than most fans, I appreciate good defense. Football scores should not look like basketball scores. When I coached I was a defensive minded coach. I like defense. I believe in the adage "defense wins championships". In C-USA the gap between the number one team and the number seven or eight team is often not that big. There is a good deal of talent parity. I've felt for years that a team that prioritized defense would have an advantage in the conference. In the early 2000s under Watson Brown, UAB had some very good defenses. UAB was winning 6-7 games a year (in an 11 game season), becoming bowl eligible, but not getting bowl invitations (fewer bowls then). Brown made a decision to begin prioritizing offense in an effort to become more attractive to bowls. The key choice was where to put the best athletes; at that time UAB did not have enough athletes to excel at both offense and defense. He chose offense. The result was that UAB got its first bowl invite and had a first round draft pick at wide receiver. But the defense suffered. The wins eventually declined and Brown went elsewhere. Then came Neil Callaway and Garrick McGee. Neither prioritized defense and neither was very successful.

Having firmly stated my case for defense, it is my belief that for UAB Football to take the next step, to become the Boise of the South as some have said, that step must be on offense. I'll save my analysis of what I see as the problems of the offense and simply say that the offense isn't very good. Most fans will probably agree. If we know the offense isn't good, Bill Clark knows the offense isn't good. The questions are then: How big of a problem does he see it being? What is his analysis of the problem? What is his sense of urgency about fixing it? What is he willing to do about it? Is he willing to make a philosophical change? Is he willing to make staff changes? Does he see it as necessary to make any changes?

2. In order to take that next big step, the other area where UAB must improve is in recruiting. Success or failure on the field ultimately comes down to players. I've heard coaches say for years, "It's about the Jimmys and Joes not the Xs and Os." There is no doubt that recruiting is much better than it used to be, but it is not good enough to be at that aspirational Boise level or to finish in the top four or five in that aspirational (for some) conference the AAC. In this year's small recruiting class, so far, UAB has signed one player rated in the top 50 in Alabama per 247sports and no players rated in the top 50 by Rivals. Last year UAB signed two players in the top 50 per both 247 and Rivals. Kids are leaving the state to play a thousand miles or even two thousand miles away. Kids are leaving the state to play at lower tier SEC schools where they will never win a championship and may never even go to a bowl game. We aren't going to get all of these kids, but we've got to find a way to get more of them. This year, we finished in the top 3, 4, or 5 for some highly rated players, but in recruiting "if you ain't first you're last". Some how, some way, we must find a way to sign these kids. Some how, some way, we must find a way to improve recruiting. Some will no doubt respond with comments about the new stadium. That is an overly simplistic answer. The stadium may be a variable but it is only one variable among many.
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2019 01:49 PM by BlazeOn.)
12-29-2019 01:47 PM
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UABFRENCHY Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
until we send players in the nfl every year ,,,they will go somewhere else because they all think they gone make it to the league like the guy who went to TN
We are doing very well on recruting juco
Lesion field hurt us , local media hurt us
12-29-2019 02:20 PM
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Big Dee Offline
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Post: #3
RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
I would like to see guys play their right positions for a start.
12-29-2019 02:20 PM
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HiddenDragon Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
Football is in a good place. Clark lost 300 seniors last year and still won 9 games. We beat the teams we were suppose to beat and lost to teams that were suppose to beat us. Next year's team should be more cohesive and better than this year's team.

The one thing that needs to improve is team discipline. It has sucked for the last three years now.
12-29-2019 04:35 PM
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MAN4UAB Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
I will be interested in seeing how well the OL executes the run block schemes. In 2017 and 2018, we had a run scheme that helped Spencer Brown get to a point where it was anticipated that he would break Pat Green’s long held career rushing record early in 2019. Some of us speculated that he would forego his senior year anticipating that the junior season would be as good as the first two.

Some of us also were looking forward to seeing Johnston III get a full season as the starter. We were salivating for the vertical game that his strong arm and our fleet receivers would provide our offense. We had seen flashes of that potential in the T A&M and the Boca Bowl games.

It didn’t happen. All I know is that the game plan that got us 6 wins in 2014, 8 wins and a bowl game in 2017, 11 wins with both a conference championship and a bowl win over the MAC champion got us 9 wins in 2019 with a western division championship and a bowl game. To me, those are pretty good accomplishments.

Maybe we forgot at the end of 2018 that 2019 would be a rebuilding year after losing so many seniors.
12-29-2019 04:50 PM
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randy22263 Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 04:35 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Football is in a good place. Clark lost 300 seniors last year and still won 9 games. We beat the teams we were suppose to beat and lost to teams that were suppose to beat us. Next year's team should be more cohesive and better than this year's team.

The one thing that needs to improve is team discipline. It has sucked for the last three years now.

300? Wow. Really was one hell of a coaching job!
12-29-2019 06:41 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
I am convinced that FBHC Clark's success at UAB is due in large part to the program getting its first new FB facility in its almost 30 year history and the stability provided by relatively recent financial investments made by local business contributors. (I don't believe Bartow, Hill, Hilyer and Young ever thought it would take almost 3 decades to build our first new FB facility.) What does Clark want to build next in order to continue the program's growth? In the eyes of current teen age recruits, the FOB will soon be "old news" if it isn't already. The best of them are being courted by programs constantly renewing present facilities and building new ones. (EX: Bama recently announced a $5 million upgrade in its athletic nutrition facility) UAB must compete with its better contemporaries or face "back sliding" toward where we used to be.
12-29-2019 07:18 PM
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UAB Schnauzer Offline
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Post: #8
RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 07:18 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I am convinced that FBHC Clark's success at UAB is due in large part to the program getting its first new FB facility in its almost 30 year history and the stability provided by relatively recent financial investments made by local business contributors. (I don't believe Bartow, Hill, Hilyer and Young ever thought it would take almost 3 decades to build our first new FB facility.) What does Clark want to build next in order to continue the program's growth? In the eyes of current teen age recruits, the FOB will soon be "old news" if it isn't already. The best of them are being courted by programs constantly renewing present facilities and building new ones. (EX: Bama recently announced a $5 million upgrade in its athletic nutrition facility) UAB must compete with its better contemporaries or face "back sliding" toward where we used to be.

its called a stadium and construction is currently underway
12-29-2019 07:40 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 07:40 PM)UAB Schnauzer Wrote:  
(12-29-2019 07:18 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  I am convinced that FBHC Clark's success at UAB is due in large part to the program getting its first new FB facility in its almost 30 year history and the stability provided by relatively recent financial investments made by local business contributors. (I don't believe Bartow, Hill, Hilyer and Young ever thought it would take almost 3 decades to build our first new FB facility.) What does Clark want to build next in order to continue the program's growth? In the eyes of current teen age recruits, the FOB will soon be "old news" if it isn't already. The best of them are being courted by programs constantly renewing present facilities and building new ones. (EX: Bama recently announced a $5 million upgrade in its athletic nutrition facility) UAB must compete with its better contemporaries or face "back sliding" toward where we used to be.

its called a stadium and construction is currently underway

The new BJCC stadium is not a UAB built facility & UAB will pay substantial rent to use it. I was asking what FBHC Clark wants to build at UAB to continue the FB program's growth and development into the coming decade.
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2019 07:56 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
12-29-2019 07:52 PM
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jcduncan13 Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
Once we start playing in the new stadium 2021 recruiting will greatly improve. Offense...needs to be fixed this offseason.
12-29-2019 08:04 PM
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B'ham Blazer Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
What kid would want to play in this offense? There is a reason we have a hard time recruiting to that side of the ball.
12-29-2019 08:20 PM
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HiddenDragon Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 06:41 PM)randy22263 Wrote:  
(12-29-2019 04:35 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Football is in a good place. Clark lost 300 seniors last year and still won 9 games. We beat the teams we were suppose to beat and lost to teams that were suppose to beat us. Next year's team should be more cohesive and better than this year's team.

The one thing that needs to improve is team discipline. It has sucked for the last three years now.

300? Wow. Really was one hell of a coaching job!

Ikr.....

In all seriousness though this team did overachieved this season. Yes there are definitely some improvements that needs to happen but honestly how can anyone be too upset with a 9-5 record in a rebuilding year?
12-29-2019 08:46 PM
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HiddenDragon Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 08:04 PM)jcduncan13 Wrote:  Once we start playing in the new stadium 2021 recruiting will greatly improve. Offense...needs to be fixed this offseason.

We're getting three stars right now. Is the new stadium going to start getting us some four star recruits?
12-29-2019 08:48 PM
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jcduncan13 Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 08:48 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  
(12-29-2019 08:04 PM)jcduncan13 Wrote:  Once we start playing in the new stadium 2021 recruiting will greatly improve. Offense...needs to be fixed this offseason.

We're getting three stars right now. Is the new stadium going to start getting us some four star recruits?

Yes and it will especially help with getting more local recruits.
12-29-2019 09:08 PM
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BlazinBham Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
The thing about recruiting locally is that you actually need to visit the schools and meet with the kids and coaches. Visit em weekly if rules permit. we filled half of this class with jucos. Only one signee resides within 50 miles of Birmingham. Have to at least try, besides an email to a head coach extending an offer and then never getting back in touch.
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2019 09:46 PM by BlazinBham.)
12-29-2019 09:44 PM
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mobileblazer Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 09:44 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  The thing about recruiting locally is that you actually need to visit the schools and meet with the kids and coaches. Visit em weekly if rules permit. we filled half of this class with jucos. Only one signee resides within 50 miles of Birmingham. Have to at least try, besides an email to a head coach extending an offer and then never getting back in touch.

I’ll print this out & drop off at Coach’s office in the morning, since I’m on vacation. Maybe you could be our new recruiting coordinator? ?
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2019 10:36 PM by mobileblazer.)
12-29-2019 10:01 PM
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BlazinBham Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
Good, we’ll visit every school in Alabama between Montgomery and Huntsville prior to the start of spring ball. Rules permitting.
(This post was last modified: 12-29-2019 10:34 PM by BlazinBham.)
12-29-2019 10:27 PM
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mobileblazer Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
(12-29-2019 10:27 PM)BlazinBham Wrote:  Good, we’ll visit every school in Alabama between Montgomery and Huntsville prior to the start of spring ball.

That’s really comforting to know that some idiot fan thinks he/she knows more about in state recruiting than our coach.
12-29-2019 10:35 PM
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BlazinBham Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
It’s not a matter of knowing, it’s a matter of trying.
12-29-2019 10:50 PM
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C-Finder Offline
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RE: My Current Thoughts on UAB Football
We need to pool our money together for a helicopter so HCBC can reach the recruitsCOGS
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12-29-2019 11:08 PM
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