Hey Guys. CCU Alum here.
Thought I would share my weekly write-up on the game. Feel free to check out our board too.
http://www.coastalfans.com
Thoughts on last week’s game:
We have a better FBS record than Alabama, Notre Dame, Michigan, The Real USC, etc.
Ok, back to reality: Our running game impressed me with our lack of a passing threat. Our lack of passing was disturbing. Our defense was good overall. How we left their only weapon on offense wide open a majority of the game is mind boggling. Our punter has a pretty damn good leg.
Famous Alumni:
PGA golfer Graeme McDowell, Sam Hunt, and Roddy White.
Preview:
UAB is in Conference USA where they were picked to finish in last place in the West Division. They had no players named to the Preseason All-Conference Team (they only do one team).
UAB football was shut down in December of 2014 because they needed $50 million to keep the program competitive. Six months after the news broke, UAB fans, the community and the Birmingham business area raised $43 million!
On Offense they obviously do not have any returning players from last year since this is the first season for them in 3 years. Their leading rusher is a freshman, Spencer Brown. Their QB is a redshirt transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast. Their two leading receivers are redshirt Juniors as well.
On Defense their leader is redshirt Senior, Tevin Crews.
On Special Teams one of their leading WRs, Andre Wilson also returns punts and kicks. Their kicker is a redshirt Sophomore.
Injuries: N/A
Out for the season: N/A
Past History with the team and Conference:
This is the first time that we are playing UAB and anyone in Conference USA.
Common Opponents from last year:
They didn’t have football last year so…
Statistical Breakdown (I will try and shorten this area up):
On offense they are the polar opposite of UMass. They run the ball and run it often and very successfully. They average just under 300 yards/game on the ground and only 165 yards through the air. Their QB has a 135 efficiency rating and has not thrown an INT yet. Their WRs have not done much. Their leading WR only averages 35.5 yards/game. Their leading rusher is a freshman who averages just fewer than 100 a game.
On defense they are pretty stout. They give up about 102 on the ground and 177 in the air. They are led by Tevin Crews. He has 4 TFLs and a sack this year to go with 22 tackles.
On Special Teams their punter averages 45.2 yards/game with a long of 56 and 3 kicks over 50 yards. Their FG kicker is 2/2 with both kicks being between 40-49 yards.
Offensive Player of the Game:
Last week I went with Osh saying he would get 13 carries, 105 yds 2 TDs. He has 17 carries for 149 and 2TDs.
This week I am going with Osh again. I think that our QBs have to pass the game to win, but I think Osh has the best game. 17 carries, 101yds and 1 TD
Defensive Player of the Game:
Last week I went with Shane Johnson saying: I think the Sr LB has double digit tackles and a TFL. It has to go to Tarron Jackson who had 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 1 forced fumble and a sack.. Honorary Mention goes to Fitz Watley who had 11 tackles.
This week I am going with the Fitz. I think the DLine needs to have a huge game for us to have a chance, but I think Fitz has the best stats of the game with another double digit tackle game.
Special Teams Player of the Game: I am going with the punt coverage team. Will we be able to hold teams to next to nothing on returns this year? Doubtful, but I think they get off to a good start. I think I nailed that since UMass averaged 1.3 yards/return.
This week I am going with the punt coverage team again. To have a chance we are going to need a similar performance.
Random (I will try and shorten this area up too):
For those of you that don’t know what I do, I work with computers. People call me who are having issues with software and I fix their problems. I have been wondering lately if there is something else I have a passion for. I thought about sports, but my fear is that it will become a job and I will not enjoy it anymore. That’s what happened to me when I was in the PGM Program at CCU. It became a job. I stopped having fun playing. After breaking my wrist twice and probably not being good enough to pass the PAT, I didn’t touch a golf club for 3 years…until I was living with my brother and he needed help learning how to play. Now I have fun when I play. You’re probably asking where the hell I am going with this. I am a HUGE weather nerd. With Hurricane Harvey and Irma hitting the US lately, I realized that I really enjoy learning about weather so much so that I did not pay one ounce of attention to sports for the past 2 weeks basically. I usually listen to ESPN Chicago during the day while working, but I had TWC muted on the TV all day long. I wish I had figured this out earlier in my life. Maybe I could have been the next Ed Piotrowski haha! Aside from that, I hope that everyone was ok during Irma. We were really spared seeing what it did to Florida.
Prediction:
I think that UAB is our first actual FBS game. Yea UMass is FBS, but they are not that far removed from the FCS ranks.
UAB Blazers 27 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 13
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Why Coastal Carolina Game Could Define 2017 Season for UAB Football
Why Coastal Carolina Game Could Define 2017 Season for UAB Football 
