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

Since Smaug and his $.02 are missing (I presume he hooked up with a Hornets stepper and is probably dead in a Graymont motel room), I'll give my remote observations from watching on ESPN+ in Maryville, Missouri.

1. ESPN+ may be worse this year than last year. The production quality remains abysmal, as every different camera angle looked like a trip through time and video quality. One camera's color reminded me of those 1970s night shots from high school football games -- everything had an orange tint. The sound dropped out repeatedly. And it became obvious the announcers were also watching the Arizona State game in the second half, because one of them repeatedly called Alabama State Arizona State after halftime.

2. You can tell we are younger than the last two years. That's OK. One thing Bill Clark has taught me in his years at the helm is that (a) his teams learn from their mistakes and (b) his teams always overachieve on the field vs. what is expected on paper. Speaking of things Clark's teams have taught me...

3. We usually lose one game we are expected to win. This year, perhaps, that was Alabama State -- and we've finally got that monkey off our backs.

4. Vogel remains a beast. He will kick in the NFL.

5. Legion Field still looks pretty under the lights.

6. Watching at home when the game is that close and heart-wrenching is important, because I have access to unlimited gin during the game.

7. We are 1-0, and that's all that matters in the end.