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‘The Proof is in the pudding’: UAB Football unveils new facility
The view out of UAB Football Head Coach Bill Clark’s office overlooks the Legacy Pavilion and another outdoor practice field
- Jack Ryan, Sports Editor
#TheReturn of UAB Football comes full circle as the team’s facility receives a much-needed upgrade.
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Blazers kick off #TheReturn with Green and Gold Scrimmage
An estimated 4,500 people, including nearly 2,000 students, attended the game at the BBVA Compass soccer complex. Photo by Baili Grace BighamJack Ryan - Contributor
jackryan@uab.edu
On Monday, Aug. 29, the first day of classes for the fall semester, the UAB football team took to the field for its first official scrimmage game after the program was cut on Dec. 2, 2014.
After what has been a long and shaky road, support for the program was seen in full force on Monday. UAB administration dubbed it a “historic day” for UAB, which began with the official groundbreaking of the new football operations facility at 9 a.m. At 7 p.m. the first official scrimmage of the year kicked off. An estimated 4,500 people, including nearly 2,000 students, attended the game at the BBVA Compass soccer complex.
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Legion lockdown
UAB Football defeats SSU in the first game of the season
Christopher Booz
Sports Reporter
haiti101@uab.edu
Once again, the rows at Legion Field were filled with green, gold and cheers of Blazer pride. Kicking off into the season, UAB Blazers enter another year with the reacquired football program, defeating the Savannah State Tigers 52-0, on Thursday August 30.
The Blazers dominated through their offensive rushing and passing game, complemented by a strong defense. The Blazers dominated through their offensive rushing and passing game, complemented by a strong defense. Coming back from a record-setting 8-5 season in its first year, the Blazers wasted no time to show up and show out. UAB scored on a 34-yard interception return and rushed for four touchdowns.
A.J. Erdely was 22-of-28 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Within the first quarter, UAB scored only a few minutes into the game after SSU elected to differ the toss, which gave UAB first possession. On the opening drive, UAB totaled 70 yards on this possession, Spencer Brown had 41 yards on five carries and scored the first touchdown. The Tigers attempted a comeback just for 26 totals yards and a punt. On their very next possession, they forced two turnovers, one fumble and an interception.
In the second quarter, Blazer offense showed a slight regress but not the same goes for the defense. Linebacker Chris Woolbright had a pick-six midway through the quarter and corner Brontae Harris received his second career interception on a dropped pass.
The Blazers continued with a 19-yard run from Brown, a 12-yard pass from Erdely to Kendall Parham and a 14-yard catch by Andre Wilson for a touchdown. In the same quarter, the quarterback completed 8-of-10 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown before halftime. Returning to the field, UAB defense held Tigers to several more stops and scored twice on wide receiver Lisa’s 11-yard touchdown catch on the Blazers’ opening possession of the second half and another score by kicker Nick Vogel on a 23-yard field goal.
Lisa had four catches for 36 yards on the drive and Vogel shook the crowd booting the ball through the end zone, which led to no returns throughout the whole game. The Tigers began the final quarter punting to the Blazers, who drove 70 yards and capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown from Lucious Stanley.
The game was out of reach, third-string quarterback Tyler Johnston III was sent in to close for the final scoring drives that ended with Stanley’s touchdown run and a six-yard touchdown run from James Noble III.
Next, UAB will go up against Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Saturday, September 8, at 6 p.m. -
The boys are back in town: UAB Footballs returns with a win
Place kicker Nick Vogel (19), a redshirt sophomore, kicks a 45-yard field goal to give UAB a 10-7 lead over Alabama A&M.
- Will Harris: Assistant Sports Editor
The long-awaited return of UAB football came to an end Saturday. In front of a school record 45,212 fans, the Blazers took on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Legion Field. UAB received the opening kickoff and marched down the field on a 14-play drive that ended with quarterback A.J. Erdely scoring the first Blazer touchdown in more than 1,000 days.
