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

(10-21-2023 06:53 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Something about not having the money to hire a proven commodity. I don't blame Herman for choosing FAU over us. Similar program, but I get to live in Boca and have Florida recruits in my backyard and no state income tax? Sign me up. Just about anyone else that was being discussed likely didn't have CFB coaching experience (whether it be unfamiliarity with the college game in general, or someone that had only been an assistant), or did have coaching experience but would've been a really depressing hire (Skip Holtz type coach). I just don't know who we could have realistically hired that would have had us in a much better position than we are now.

I don't know who you blame for our lack of resources, but there's blame to be put somewhere. Ingram? Birmingham in general? Watts? Our marketing dept? Our coaches for not succeeding at a higher level? All the above like you mentioned?

I don't think it's about resources, it's about incompetence or as Mixed suggests, outright sabotage. Per year, Dilfer's deal is slightly larger than what Herman got from FAU. For that $ we should have been able to land better than a celebrity high school coach. I also don't understand how part of Dilfer's salary went to assistants when his staff is much less experienced than our previous staff. So that means we're actually spending a lot more than we used to for really ****** assistant coaching.

(10-21-2023 07:24 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I liked going for it, just did not like the play call. Maybe he would have made the FG for 3 points. We would have still gotten murdered in the 3rd quarter just like we usually do and did all last season too.

The play calls were terrible. They completely abandoned what had been working for us up to that point.

3 run plays up the gut, the 2 4th downs and the 3rd down immediately before the last 4th down.

I think dilfer used some of the money to add a lot of analysts and support staff to the coaching staff that weren’t previously there.

(10-21-2023 07:26 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:53 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Something about not having the money to hire a proven commodity. I don't blame Herman for choosing FAU over us. Similar program, but I get to live in Boca and have Florida recruits in my backyard and no state income tax? Sign me up. Just about anyone else that was being discussed likely didn't have CFB coaching experience (whether it be unfamiliarity with the college game in general, or someone that had only been an assistant), or did have coaching experience but would've been a really depressing hire (Skip Holtz type coach). I just don't know who we could have realistically hired that would have had us in a much better position than we are now.

I don't know who you blame for our lack of resources, but there's blame to be put somewhere. Ingram? Birmingham in general? Watts? Our marketing dept? Our coaches for not succeeding at a higher level? All the above like you mentioned?

I don't think it's about resources, it's about incompetence or as Mixed suggests, outright sabotage. Per year, Dilfer's deal is slightly larger than what Herman got from FAU. For that $ we should have been able to land better than a celebrity high school coach. I also don't understand how part of Dilfer's salary went to assistants when his staff is much less experienced than our previous staff. So that means we're actually spending a lot more than we used to for really ****** assistant coaching.

It's at least partly about resources. If we could have thrown more money at Herman, there definitely would've been a better chance to persuade him to come here instead of FAU. I don't buy the sabotage bit.

I believe Dilfer's salary went to assistants so he could have a bigger coaching staff, not just pay them more, which I like. I feel like the coaching staff we have is quite a bit bigger than what we had with Clark. And from what I recall, many of the assistant coaches have some type of experience at the college level. The obvious one that doesn't is the DC, who I'm admittedly not sold on, like many others on here.

(10-21-2023 07:34 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:26 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:53 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Something about not having the money to hire a proven commodity. I don't blame Herman for choosing FAU over us. Similar program, but I get to live in Boca and have Florida recruits in my backyard and no state income tax? Sign me up. Just about anyone else that was being discussed likely didn't have CFB coaching experience (whether it be unfamiliarity with the college game in general, or someone that had only been an assistant), or did have coaching experience but would've been a really depressing hire (Skip Holtz type coach). I just don't know who we could have realistically hired that would have had us in a much better position than we are now.

I don't know who you blame for our lack of resources, but there's blame to be put somewhere. Ingram? Birmingham in general? Watts? Our marketing dept? Our coaches for not succeeding at a higher level? All the above like you mentioned?

I don't think it's about resources, it's about incompetence or as Mixed suggests, outright sabotage. Per year, Dilfer's deal is slightly larger than what Herman got from FAU. For that $ we should have been able to land better than a celebrity high school coach. I also don't understand how part of Dilfer's salary went to assistants when his staff is much less experienced than our previous staff. So that means we're actually spending a lot more than we used to for really ****** assistant coaching.

It's at least partly about resources. If we could have thrown more money at Herman, there definitely would've been a better chance to persuade him to come here instead of FAU. I don't buy the sabotage bit.

I believe Dilfer's salary went to assistants so he could have a bigger coaching staff, not just pay them more, which I like. I feel like the coaching staff we have is quite a bit bigger than what we had with Clark. And from what I recall, many of the assistant coaches have some type of experience at the college level. The obvious one that doesn't is the DC, who I'm admittedly not sold on, like many others on here.

Clark didn't need all of the analysts and big coaching staff. He coached 1985 football.

Which right now, I admittedly would take in a heartbeat lol

(10-21-2023 07:36 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:34 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:26 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:53 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Something about not having the money to hire a proven commodity. I don't blame Herman for choosing FAU over us. Similar program, but I get to live in Boca and have Florida recruits in my backyard and no state income tax? Sign me up. Just about anyone else that was being discussed likely didn't have CFB coaching experience (whether it be unfamiliarity with the college game in general, or someone that had only been an assistant), or did have coaching experience but would've been a really depressing hire (Skip Holtz type coach). I just don't know who we could have realistically hired that would have had us in a much better position than we are now.

I don't know who you blame for our lack of resources, but there's blame to be put somewhere. Ingram? Birmingham in general? Watts? Our marketing dept? Our coaches for not succeeding at a higher level? All the above like you mentioned?

I don't think it's about resources, it's about incompetence or as Mixed suggests, outright sabotage. Per year, Dilfer's deal is slightly larger than what Herman got from FAU. For that $ we should have been able to land better than a celebrity high school coach. I also don't understand how part of Dilfer's salary went to assistants when his staff is much less experienced than our previous staff. So that means we're actually spending a lot more than we used to for really ****** assistant coaching.

It's at least partly about resources. If we could have thrown more money at Herman, there definitely would've been a better chance to persuade him to come here instead of FAU. I don't buy the sabotage bit.

I believe Dilfer's salary went to assistants so he could have a bigger coaching staff, not just pay them more, which I like. I feel like the coaching staff we have is quite a bit bigger than what we had with Clark. And from what I recall, many of the assistant coaches have some type of experience at the college level. The obvious one that doesn't is the DC, who I'm admittedly not sold on, like many others on here.

Clark didn't need all of the analysts and big coaching staff. He coached 1985 football.

Which right now, I admittedly would take in a heartbeat lol

That type of football worked because of the type of teams we played lol. Notice when we played a team worth a damn in the regular season, we were shut down.

(10-21-2023 07:37 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:36 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:34 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 07:26 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:53 PM)Frank Grimes Wrote:  Something about not having the money to hire a proven commodity. I don't blame Herman for choosing FAU over us. Similar program, but I get to live in Boca and have Florida recruits in my backyard and no state income tax? Sign me up. Just about anyone else that was being discussed likely didn't have CFB coaching experience (whether it be unfamiliarity with the college game in general, or someone that had only been an assistant), or did have coaching experience but would've been a really depressing hire (Skip Holtz type coach). I just don't know who we could have realistically hired that would have had us in a much better position than we are now.

I don't know who you blame for our lack of resources, but there's blame to be put somewhere. Ingram? Birmingham in general? Watts? Our marketing dept? Our coaches for not succeeding at a higher level? All the above like you mentioned?

I don't think it's about resources, it's about incompetence or as Mixed suggests, outright sabotage. Per year, Dilfer's deal is slightly larger than what Herman got from FAU. For that $ we should have been able to land better than a celebrity high school coach. I also don't understand how part of Dilfer's salary went to assistants when his staff is much less experienced than our previous staff. So that means we're actually spending a lot more than we used to for really ****** assistant coaching.

It's at least partly about resources. If we could have thrown more money at Herman, there definitely would've been a better chance to persuade him to come here instead of FAU. I don't buy the sabotage bit.

I believe Dilfer's salary went to assistants so he could have a bigger coaching staff, not just pay them more, which I like. I feel like the coaching staff we have is quite a bit bigger than what we had with Clark. And from what I recall, many of the assistant coaches have some type of experience at the college level. The obvious one that doesn't is the DC, who I'm admittedly not sold on, like many others on here.

Clark didn't need all of the analysts and big coaching staff. He coached 1985 football.

Which right now, I admittedly would take in a heartbeat lol

That type of football worked because of the type of teams we played lol. Notice when we played a team worth a damn in the regular season, we were shut down.

I know it's been said, but I don't understand how our defense is this bad. We have some quality returnees on that side of the ball but the entire unit has regressed. That's the most alarming thing, imo. I still have hope for Dilfer because he's a competitor and he expects better. He's going to have to show he's willing to make some tough choices when it comes to this staff, though.

(10-21-2023 06:16 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I grew up going to Bama games and being squeezed out by 400 lb. mouth-breathers.

Look, I will take all opportunities to sht on Alabama whenever possible but if we're going to stoop to the level of saying we'd rather NOT have the place packed out I don't even know what we're doing here anymore

(10-21-2023 05:51 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 05:28 PM)BlazersCPA Wrote:  Clark’s last 2 games in 2021 had 21k and 19k and that was a team that went 8-4. Today we had 20K for a 2-5 team. McGee last game in 2013 had 9k, I think the comparisons to 2013 are a little premature.

Unless 15,000 people were standing in the concourse all day there is no way there were 20,000 people in attendance given the camera angles shown on TV today

I know my comments are probably not appreciated, but I've been a UAB fan since the first season of the basketball team in 1978. I've also been to two games this year. Pulled off the interstate on my way from Baton Rouge to visit my family in Birmingham since it was kick-off time for the NC A&T game as I reached downtown. I also made the trip to Tulane from my home in BR to support the team. So, I should have some right to comment as a fan. The lack of fan support at the games is hurting the team and destroying any chance of UAB ever being considered for the ACC, PAC 2 or whatever. If a team has a lack of talent, the odds are against them or they don't come into a game with a winning attitude, they will usually play way above their ability to win for the fans. They can't do that with no one in the stands. Today there was great weather, a nice new stadium, easy parking, UAB was playing a team with a good record, a rivalry game was initiated again, a national ESPN audience could check the game out and there appeared to be literally hundreds of fans in the empty stands. Jacksonville State on a Tuesday night packs their stadium for television. Even with a losing record, Ga Tech appeared to have a decent crowd when I flipped to the game every now and then today. If you guys are within 100 miles of Birmingham and aren't going to the games, shame on you. You have zero excuses. I would think most of the alumni live around Birmingham. I'm not an alumnus and don't live in town, so don't know what efforts are being made to change the lack of fan support. Birmingham blew lots of opportunities to have a NFL team back in the 60's and 70's due to lack of fan support when league games were played there. The Bulls were one of only two WHA teams not invited to join the NHL when the leagues merged due to questionable fan support. Don't let your team down and miss out on potential future opportunities in a Power 5. Show the team, the administration, the coaching staff and everyone else that you care.

(10-21-2023 08:22 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:16 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I grew up going to Bama games and being squeezed out by 400 lb. mouth-breathers.

Look, I will take all opportunities to sht on Alabama whenever possible but if we're going to stoop to the level of saying we'd rather NOT have the place packed out I don't even know what we're doing here anymore

There is no way to pack it out with a G-5 team when the whole state has UA or AU engrained into their DNA at birth. I wish more people would give it a try. It's a very nice gameday experience..........much better than a lot of venues.

(10-21-2023 08:49 PM)Ramblin Wreck Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 05:51 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 05:28 PM)BlazersCPA Wrote:  Clark’s last 2 games in 2021 had 21k and 19k and that was a team that went 8-4. Today we had 20K for a 2-5 team. McGee last game in 2013 had 9k, I think the comparisons to 2013 are a little premature.

Unless 15,000 people were standing in the concourse all day there is no way there were 20,000 people in attendance given the camera angles shown on TV today

I know my comments are probably not appreciated, but I've been a UAB fan since the first season of the basketball team in 1978. I've also been to two games this year. Pulled off the interstate on my way from Baton Rouge to visit my family in Birmingham since it was kick-off time for the NC A&T game as I reached downtown. I also made the trip to Tulane from my home in BR to support the team. So, I should have some right to comment as a fan. The lack of fan support at the games is hurting the team and destroying any chance of UAB ever being considered for the ACC, PAC 2 or whatever. If a team has a lack of talent, the odds are against them or they don't come into a game with a winning attitude, they will usually play way above their ability to win for the fans. They can't do that with no one in the stands. Today there was great weather, a nice new stadium, easy parking, UAB was playing a team with a good record, a rivalry game was initiated again, a national ESPN audience could check the game out and there appeared to be literally hundreds of fans in the empty stands. Jacksonville State on a Tuesday night packs their stadium for television. Even with a losing record, Ga Tech appeared to have a decent crowd when I flipped to the game every now and then today. If you guys are within 100 miles of Birmingham and aren't going to the games, shame on you. You have zero excuses. I would think most of the alumni live around Birmingham. I'm not an alumnus and don't live in town, so don't know what efforts are being made to change the lack of fan support. Birmingham blew lots of opportunities to have a NFL team back in the 60's and 70's due to lack of fan support when league games were played there. The Bulls were one of only two WHA teams not invited to join the NHL when the leagues merged due to questionable fan support. Don't let your team down and miss out on potential future opportunities in a Power 5. Show the team, the administration, the coaching staff and everyone else that you care.

Not gonna happen with a losing team. Not in this town. UAB has two options in the G5: win big and have good (not great) crowds or lose and have an empty stadium. Playing a G5 schedule UAB needs to win 9+ games a year, every year, to have more than 15,000 real bodies in the seats. That's because for most of this market the G5 doesn't exist or is seen as little different from the FCS.

Right now UAB has the worst FBS team in the state of Alabama. That is ample reason for an empty stadium and is wholly the fault of UAB administration.

(10-21-2023 08:51 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 08:22 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:16 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I grew up going to Bama games and being squeezed out by 400 lb. mouth-breathers.

Look, I will take all opportunities to sht on Alabama whenever possible but if we're going to stoop to the level of saying we'd rather NOT have the place packed out I don't even know what we're doing here anymore

There is no way to pack it out with a G-5 team when the whole state has UA or AU engrained into their DNA at birth. I wish more people would give it a try. It's a very nice gameday experience..........much better than a lot of venues.

Don't blame it on the number of Alabama and Auburn t shirt fans. UAB has 22,000 students and a huge number of alumni that live in the area. Those are the people that need to be primarily attending the games. You aren't going to ever have a large number of t shirt fans. If a decent percentage of the students and alumni with their families show up, 30,000 actual butts in seats shouldn't be hard to achieve. Once the city sees that the students and alumni care to attend, then maybe you will begin to get a few of the t shirt fans. Obviously performance, recruiting and the caliber of coaches showing interest in UAB will improve with more students and alumni in the stands creating an atmosphere that is not embarrassing.

Play somebody, beat somebody. Fans will come. We’ve got future schedules loaded with Ga state, USA, Troy, UConn, ULM that will not draw a fly nor have any movement in interest to beat those types of teams.

It’s the same thing in hoops. You know we don’t even draw when we play Memphis in Hoops anymore, because we have no shot at an-large bid after poor noncon showings prior to that conference matchup.

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)UABFAN23 Wrote:  Play somebody, beat somebody. Fans will come. We’ve got future schedules loaded with Ga state, USA, Troy, UConn, ULM that will not draw a fly nor have any movement in interest to beat those types of teams.

Show up so they will win. Show up so bigger teams will want to schedule UAB. Don't use the "if I weren't so fat I would exercise" mentality.

I'm not sure why I care so much, but I do. I'll bail on this topic and leave it to you regulars. Cheers.

(10-21-2023 10:01 PM)Ramblin Wreck Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:55 PM)UABFAN23 Wrote:  Play somebody, beat somebody. Fans will come. We’ve got future schedules loaded with Ga state, USA, Troy, UConn, ULM that will not draw a fly nor have any movement in interest to beat those types of teams.

Show up so they will win. Show up so bigger teams will want to schedule UAB. Don't use the "if I weren't so fat I would exercise" mentality.

I’ve tried for years to tell people the reason we can’t get high major Home games in hoops isn’t because they are scared to play us. It’s because our atmosphere sucks and it isn’t much of a challenge to play in such an energy-less atmosphere. If we don’t care about our own program to show up no matter what, why would they throw us a bone?

When UCF capitalized on bounce house being a thing. They started adding home games vs Mizzou and Pitt.

We’ve had people on here for years saying “show up for UAB, and not the opponent”. People still don’t get what that means.

The atmosphere is what the fans make it. Those that we do have show up, sit on their hands and expect to be coached on how to act during a football game.

Pretending that the AAC is currently a superior football league to the Sunbelt has ran some folks off after we got swept a few weeks ago, too.

(10-21-2023 09:53 PM)Ramblin Wreck Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 08:51 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 08:22 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:16 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I grew up going to Bama games and being squeezed out by 400 lb. mouth-breathers.

Look, I will take all opportunities to sht on Alabama whenever possible but if we're going to stoop to the level of saying we'd rather NOT have the place packed out I don't even know what we're doing here anymore

There is no way to pack it out with a G-5 team when the whole state has UA or AU engrained into their DNA at birth. I wish more people would give it a try. It's a very nice gameday experience..........much better than a lot of venues.

Don't blame it on the number of Alabama and Auburn t shirt fans. UAB has 22,000 students and a huge number of alumni that live in the area. Those are the people that need to be primarily attending the games. You aren't going to ever have a large number of t shirt fans. If a decent percentage of the students and alumni with their families show up, 30,000 actual butts in seats shouldn't be hard to achieve. Once the city sees that the students and alumni care to attend, then maybe you will begin to get a few of the t shirt fans. Obviously performance, recruiting and the caliber of coaches showing interest in UAB will improve with more students and alumni in the stands creating an atmosphere that is not embarrassing.

Blaming it on the fans, students, and alumni is a cop out and is ridiculous. If UAB wants loyalty and enthusiasm from its constituents like Georgia Tech and Alabama and Auburn, it's up to UAB to do what it takes to generate it

(10-21-2023 10:16 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 09:53 PM)Ramblin Wreck Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 08:51 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 08:22 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 06:16 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  I grew up going to Bama games and being squeezed out by 400 lb. mouth-breathers.

Look, I will take all opportunities to sht on Alabama whenever possible but if we're going to stoop to the level of saying we'd rather NOT have the place packed out I don't even know what we're doing here anymore

There is no way to pack it out with a G-5 team when the whole state has UA or AU engrained into their DNA at birth. I wish more people would give it a try. It's a very nice gameday experience..........much better than a lot of venues.

Don't blame it on the number of Alabama and Auburn t shirt fans. UAB has 22,000 students and a huge number of alumni that live in the area. Those are the people that need to be primarily attending the games. You aren't going to ever have a large number of t shirt fans. If a decent percentage of the students and alumni with their families show up, 30,000 actual butts in seats shouldn't be hard to achieve. Once the city sees that the students and alumni care to attend, then maybe you will begin to get a few of the t shirt fans. Obviously performance, recruiting and the caliber of coaches showing interest in UAB will improve with more students and alumni in the stands creating an atmosphere that is not embarrassing.

Blaming it on the fans, students, and alumni is a cop out and is ridiculous. If UAB wants loyalty and enthusiasm from its constituents like Georgia Tech and Alabama and Auburn, it's up to UAB to do what it takes to generate it

I disagree. If UAB fans, students and alumni want better attendance, media attention and so forth they have to play their part and show up.

Well, like a blind squirrel finding that elusive acorn, I actually saw an excellent post on FB that expresses my feelings about the Dilfer hire pretty well:

Quote:Tommy Kidwell

You have a program on the way up. About to get an influx of cash with new TV contracts and you hire a guy that has NO experience on the college level.
Then that guy goes and hires a DC from high school and an OC that no experience calling plays in game situations and this is what you get.
Mark Ingram is totally out of his league and him not being able to sell this program with the things it had going for it to at the very least a young up and coming coordinator is unacceptable.

Very well said, Tommy. Mark Ingram has completely ****** over this fan base.

Hey UAB fans, those drops you're feeling on your heads right now ain't rain.

The atmosphere of college games starts with the student section. Best use of money may be free pizzas and a chance at a halftime 30 yard field goal kick or a half court basketball shot for $1,000.

And yes, an upgrade of football assistant coaches.

(10-21-2023 02:42 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  I know feelings are raw right now. I feel you, I turned the game off after the third quarter myself.

I saw someone on social media referring to our coach as DiLLLLLLfer and it reminded me of what i posted on here earlier in the year: This staff is going to need time to learn.

We were a thin team with some serious question marks before the season started, and injuries have only exasperated that. Yes this staff has made some mistakes. Yes, Coach Dilfer has made some mistakes, and he would be the first to say that he has, but there is no reason to give up on him or the team. There is room to grow, and the schedule sets up for us to end the season stringing a couple of wins together if the team just keeps fighting and improving.

Go Blazers!

I stayed at the game until the end to watch two Memphis players bring out the trophy.

If anyone doubts Coach Dilfer's desire to compete and win, then you have not been paying attention.

Can he get it done? Time will tell. He needs at least 2-3 more recruiting classes to build the program to being competitive.

This is not Conference USA. It will take time.

Turnovers killed us yesterday, but this team if full of fighters.

Go Blazers!