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

(10-03-2021 08:14 AM)NewTimes Wrote:  A perspective:

- watching the game on TV
- know little about UAB wins/losses, triumps/defeats
- following the Liberty program

The Willis factor - he's a unique talent that can win a game by his physical skills and his will to win. In his 2 years at LU, he's only lost to NC State and Syracuse. He's simply an exceptional player with outstanding stats being mentioned as a Heisman candidate and a 1st round NFL pick.

Viewing the game on TV - the announcers were the Chamber of Commerce for UAB Saturday night. The positive presentation about the program, the narrative of how FB was stopped and resurrected resulting in an outstanding stadium, was a huge benefit for your program. Recruits will see it and it will benefit UAB.

Attendance - 37k seats sold is strong. On TV, the stadium looked 2/3+ full. It looked impressive and much was said about how the area around the stadium was being revitalized.

Concessions - be patient. It was a totally new operation and there are going to be kinks to work out and expect delays. Monitor for signs of improvement with future home games. If there are still long lines next year, then complain.

3-3 at halftime and rain - That was a terrible first half for both teams. Dropped balls, lots of penalties, poor execution. 3-3 says it all. And when LU came out and scored 3 TD's beginning the 2nd half, momentum had shifted to LU.

LU defense - most of the hoopla around LU begins with Freeze and Willis. When teams play LU, the story line is usually "Hugh Freeze and the Liberty Flames'. Freeze, like him or hate, is a very good coach with all his warts and dimples. The LU defense gets little notice with Willis. And it is better than most fan realize. The LU defensive coordinator has been very good this year making half time adjustments.

LU vs. G5 schools. If LU was a patsy with a poor winning percentage in it's 3 years of FB play, losses then should be considered dreadful. But all SBC and C-USA teams LU has played the past 2 years have been defeated. LU is a strong G5 team.

The indy factor - LU uses these games as rehearsals for conference affiliation. LU plays with an edge from years of being snubbed from FBS invites. Even in this game, UAB was a 2+ point favorite to win. That's bulletin board material to push kids they are not being respected to play harder.

Lastly - even though Willis was too much to handle, the TV perception about the UAB return to FB, new stadium, downtown revitalization, and the UAB HC standing by the team the two inactive years, was a much more impactful storyline than the loss. Of course fans want the win. And the perception on Saturday night was just as important.