GE and MTS
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I Root For: Liberty/Penn St
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RE: 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
(07-15-2021 01:17 AM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: Hi, guys. UAB fan here, checking in. Feel free to hit Blazertalk.com to get our side of the match up.
We get you at home on Oct. 2. This will be our first game in our new stadium, Protective Field. We open with a neutral site game in Montgomery against Jacksonville St., all games between then and Liberty will be road games. It's a very big deal for us, getting our own place instead of playing in 'Bama's hand-me-down that was built when Calvin Coolidge was president. It's a very nice stadium, one of the best in the G5.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6XYD5AXsAIO...name=large
The University of Alabama Board of Trustees knifed our program and got it closed at the end of 2014. The UAB fans, joined by the city and county and some of Birmingham's big business leaders fought (and paid out of pocket) to bring the team back. In the years before Bill Clark became our coach the Blazers were a painfully bad football team in a market that knows and loves good college ball. Since The Return, we have won our division three straight years and the conference twice.
In many ways the teams mirror each other. We've got twelve players who took advantage of the extra year and returned, and seventeen senior starters. The entire OL is back, big nasty group who gave up one sack last season. Spencer Brown graduated, our all time leading rusher, but there's a full RB room ready to go. Defense has been top ten statistically in several categories the last three years. QB is Tyler Johnston, a redshirt senior. Great leader, good qb, has had some injury issues.
Yes, we're aware of Malik Willis. Most of us saw y'all last season. We've got a stout D, we'll see who wins that one. If I heard correctly, the son of his high school coach transferred to UAB from Louisville at TE. We're like everyone else, we're going to try to contain him. Many folks here follow Auburn, so we know about him.
I figure looking at the schedule that you guys come in undefeated and probably ranked by then. The teams look pretty even. This matchup looks a lot like Liberty-Coastal Carolina to me, two quality G5 teams. Should be a fine game.
As to our expectations for the Blazers, we get Georgia and Tulane on the road, Liberty at home, and Marshall on the road. The rest of the schedule we should win if things run to form. UGA's a probable loss, the other three are 50-50, 60-40 games, two on the road. Realistically, all three could go either way. It looks to me like an eight or nine win season, with a reasonable potential for us to host the conference championship for the first time. We've won it twice in a row, both on the road.
If any of you are considering traveling, if you fly in the stadium is ten to fifteen minutes from the airport. The Westin at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center will be a bit pricey but it's a block from the stadium. Protective Stadium is beside the civic center, as is Uptown, an upscale pub and restaurant area. Top Golf is right next to the stadium as well. There are three other (and larger but not necessarily better) entertainment districts within ten minutes by car of the stadium, Five Points South, Avondale, and Lakeview. Birmingham has become something of a foodie city, lots of options. As to hotels, downtown will be closest but I'd say look at Five Points or Homewood. Both are fairly close and an easy drive.
As to BBQ, Dreamland is the big name, but there are better places. Personally, I'd recommend Saw's (four locations) and Rodney Scott's, but Full Moon, Golden Rule, Jim 'n Nick's and others are fine. Go to Saw's and get the pork and greens - a base of cheese grits, turnip greens on top of that, pulled pork over that, topped with fresh hot Vidalia onion rings. Darn good.
Anyhow, feel free to stick your head in at Blazertalk.com. We'll be happy to answer any questions.
Thanks for stopping by and being respectful! Polite guests are always welcome!
UAB has been very impressive under Clark and I expect you guys to be a tough opponent. We'll see if you are road weary by the time we travel to Birmingham.
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