HUNTINGTON, W.Va.– For the last several years, UAB has been a “gimme” game for many teams in Conference USA. The Blazers have historically struggled, hampered by a lack of funding and support but first year head coach Bill Clark has the Blazers on the precipice of bowl eligibility for the first time in a decade and is doing some remarkable work in Birmingham.
“UAB is a much improved football team. They have put up over 500 yards of total offense against Mississippi State, played extremely well and right up to the wire. They have done that a lot throughout the year,” complemented Herd coach Doc Holliday.
In fact, the Blazers outgained Mississippi State, which is ranked fourth in the latest CFB Playoff committee rankings, 548-516 that day and only trailed by six points at halftime. Dak Prescott threw three touchdowns for the Bulldogs in the third quarter to put the Blazers in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
“It will be a great challenge for us on the road,” emphasized Holliday. “We are going to have to have a great week of preparation to make sure we are ready to play that game.”
Holliday insists UAB had quality players last year when the Blazers came to Huntington and Marshall ran away with a 56-14 win but the biggest change from last year, is that the UAB players have bought in to coach Bill Clark.
“I think Coach (Bill) Clark has done a tremendous job with them. He has them motivated and playing hard. They have players. They have some good football players. He has coached them up. He has them believing in themselves and he has them playing extremely hard. You can tell that by watching them on film.”
Saturday is an opportunity for the Blazers to gain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2004 and bring Marshall’s dream season to a screeching halt.
“It’s that next one that we need. This is one is the next game, they are undefeated, and at our place. We have all kinds of great possibilities here. This is why you play the game. This is the fun of these opportunities,” said UAB Coach Bill Clark.
Clark admitted there was pressure on his team coming into the game, even though Marshall is the undefeated team with big postseason aspirations.
“There is pressure on our guys. I don’t want them to feel that but I do want them to know how hard they are going to have to play,” said Clark. “That is the thing you see when teams are getting blown out. That is something that really gets your attention. They are well coached. We have a huge challenge but this is something we should embrace and something we should love.”
Clark is hoping that his team can draw on the experience of playing two non-conference games against SEC opponents.
“The fact that we have played Mississippi State and Arkansas helps us,” said Blazers coach Bill Clark. “When you look at their scores, it’s daunting. They have put it on the people they have played and on some good opponents in our league. As the season has gone on, it has gotten worse. That Southern Miss game got out of hand quickly. It is every phase of the game that they are good at.”
Marshall is preparing this week just as it has for the previous ten games, and that approach has worked so far.
“It will be a great challenge for us on the road. We are going to have to have a great week of preparation to make sure we are ready to play that game,” Holliday reiterated.