It’s no secret that UAB’s football program hasn’t been very good of late. The team, which has only been competing in Division I-A football since 1999, hasn’t pulled together a winning season since 2004. Will we see that streak come to an end this season? Probably not, but the Blazers should be improved in 2009, providing do-it-all QB Joe Webb stays upright and the team catches a few breaks along the way. How will it all shake out? Let’s take a look…
Sept. 5 – Rice (Birmingham) – Until last season, decades had separated Rice University from relevancy in major college football. The team finished 2008 with 10 wins; the first time the Owls had achieved such a feat since 1949. Rice will have to break in a new quarterback in 2009 (quite possibly Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi), but should have enough weapons held over from last season to pull out a week one victory. Rice 31, UAB 28
Sept. 12 – Southern Methodist (Birmingham) – If ever there were a poster child for that old parable about the grass not always being greener on the other side of the fence, it would be SMU Head Coach June Jones. Jones left behind paradise and steady success in Hawaii for a big paycheck in Dallas, and the result was a 1-11 campaign in his first season with the Mustangs. Undoubtedly, a year in Jones’ system will probably lead to an improved SMU squad in 2009, but not improved enough to beat the Blazers at home. UAB 31, SMU 20
Sept. 19 – Troy (Troy) – With QB Levi Brown and RB DuJuan Harris both back for the 2009 season, Troy coach Larry Blakeney seems to be in prime position to enjoy yet another successful Sun Belt campaign. The only question mark is along the line of scrimmage, where graduation has created some serious depth concerns. UAB’s offense could stress those problem areas, but look for the Trojans to prevail in a shootout. Troy 28, UAB 21
Sept. 26 – Texas A&M (College Station, Texas) – The Aggies struggled last season, their first with Mike Sherman at the helm, finishing 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12. All indications are that 2009 won’t be much better, as the A&M roster is thin on bodies and thinner on talent. It’s not at all a stretch to predict an upset here, and hey, it’s not as if it hasn’t been done before; Arkansas State marched into College Station last season and left with an 18-14 win. I’m not saying I really trust my instinct here, but hey, it’s been a long time since UAB celebrated a win over a traditional football powerhouse. Aren’t the Blazers due? UAB 23, Texas A&M 17
Oct. 1 – Southern Mississippi (Birmingham) – It’s taken some time, but Southern Miss appears to have finally adjusted to life in the Larry Fedora era. Of course, it helps when you have one of the top running backs in major college football penciled in as your starter. Damion Fletcher returns for his senior season with the Golden Eagles, a year after rushing for 1,313 yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries. With so many returning playmakers on offense, Southern Miss should be hard to beat, even at Legion. The only question: Will their top-heavy schedule (Virginia and Kansas in weeks three and four) wear them out before they trek to Birmingham? Southern Miss 28, UAB 24
Oct. 17 – Mississippi (Oxford, Miss.) – Speaking of a preponderance of offensive weapons, this is not the season that you’d want to see Ole Miss appear on your non-conference schedule. My guess is the Blazers agreed to this matchup when Ed Orgeron was still roaming the sidelines and Jevon Snead was Vince Young’s heir apparent in Austin. Nevertheless, this game won’t be in doubt for long, as the Rebs should be fully engaged in a battle for the SEC West crown. Mississippi 49, UAB 17
Oct. 24 – Marshall (Huntington, W.Va.) – Four straight losing seasons have taken their toll on a program that once produced the likes of Chad Pennington and Randy Moss. Marshall returns several playmakers from last year’s albeit mediocre squad, including running back Darius Marshall, but it probably won’t be enough to beat the Blazers, who beat Marshall in a close game at Legion Field last season. UAB 28, Marshall 19
Oct. 31 – Texas-El Paso (El Paso, Texas) – Former Alabama coach Mike Price, who had the Miners one win away from a bowl berth in 2008, hopes to finally get UTEP over the hump in 2009. With games against Texas and Kansas on the schedule this season, it won’t be an easy task. Both teams will come out passing, that’s for sure. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP’s starter at quarterback, threw for 3,274 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Can the Blazers keep up? No. UTEP 41, UAB 31
Nov. 7 – Florida Atlantic (Birmingham) – The only real challenge standing between Troy and another Sun Belt title is Howard Schnellenberger’s Florida Atlantic Owls. (By the way, how many times has one college football team scheduled two Owls in one season? We should look into that…) FAU won their second straight bowl game last year after overcoming a 1-5 start. Success this year hinges on whether or not Schnellenberger can find replacements to fill seven vacant starting positions on defense. Offensively, the return of senior quarterback Rusty Smith means that the Owls should be able to keeping winning the same way they did last year: With prolific scoring. FAU 45, UAB 28
Nov. 14 – Memphis (Memphis, Tn.) – Tommy West returns several key starters on both sides of the ball in 2009, including QB Arkelon Hill and RB Curtis Steele, but must overcome a brutal nonconference schedule that includes Ole Miss, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State. The Tigers beat UAB in Birmingham last season, 33-30, in what has become known as the Battle for the Bones, a rivalry built around pigskin and, well, pig skin. The Blazers have lost two straight Bones trophies to the Tigers, but I’m betting that streak ends this season. UAB 35, Memphis 28
Nov. 21 – East Carolina (Greenville, N.C.) – The team that shocked the nation with two wins over top-20 teams to open the 2008 season returns 18 starters in 2009, led by QB Patrick Pinkney and DE C.J. Wilson. The reigning conference champions look like a cinch to repeat as such this season, as well as collect their third-straight win over the Blazers. East Carolina 28, UAB 17
Nov. 28 – Central Florida (Birmingham) – After losing celebrated running back Kevin Smith to the NFL at the end of the 2007 season, the Knights have struggled to achieve consistency on offense. That was painfully evident in their last game of the 2008 season against UAB, a game UCF dropped by an embarrassing 15-0 margin. This year the Knights will probably show some improvement, but probably not enough to overcome the Blazers’ firepower on offense. UAB 35, UCF 24
Overall, a 5-7 season would mean another year of slow, steady improvement under the Neil Callaway regime, as has been the case for the past two seasons. Is it a sexy way to build a competitive football program? No, not really. But what is sexy is the play of QB Joe Webb, who gets my vote as the most exciting all-around player in Blazer history. If indeed UAB reaches the five-win plateau this season, it will be because Webb willed them to victory in several games. The question is, can he handle that kind of pressure? Fans will begin to find out this weekend.
Sept. 5 – Rice (Birmingham) – Until last season, decades had separated Rice University from relevancy in major college football. The team finished 2008 with 10 wins; the first time the Owls had achieved such a feat since 1949. Rice will have to break in a new quarterback in 2009 (quite possibly Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi), but should have enough weapons held over from last season to pull out a week one victory. Rice 31, UAB 28
Sept. 12 – Southern Methodist (Birmingham) – If ever there were a poster child for that old parable about the grass not always being greener on the other side of the fence, it would be SMU Head Coach June Jones. Jones left behind paradise and steady success in Hawaii for a big paycheck in Dallas, and the result was a 1-11 campaign in his first season with the Mustangs. Undoubtedly, a year in Jones’ system will probably lead to an improved SMU squad in 2009, but not improved enough to beat the Blazers at home. UAB 31, SMU 20
Sept. 19 – Troy (Troy) – With QB Levi Brown and RB DuJuan Harris both back for the 2009 season, Troy coach Larry Blakeney seems to be in prime position to enjoy yet another successful Sun Belt campaign. The only question mark is along the line of scrimmage, where graduation has created some serious depth concerns. UAB’s offense could stress those problem areas, but look for the Trojans to prevail in a shootout. Troy 28, UAB 21
Sept. 26 – Texas A&M (College Station, Texas) – The Aggies struggled last season, their first with Mike Sherman at the helm, finishing 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12. All indications are that 2009 won’t be much better, as the A&M roster is thin on bodies and thinner on talent. It’s not at all a stretch to predict an upset here, and hey, it’s not as if it hasn’t been done before; Arkansas State marched into College Station last season and left with an 18-14 win. I’m not saying I really trust my instinct here, but hey, it’s been a long time since UAB celebrated a win over a traditional football powerhouse. Aren’t the Blazers due? UAB 23, Texas A&M 17
Oct. 1 – Southern Mississippi (Birmingham) – It’s taken some time, but Southern Miss appears to have finally adjusted to life in the Larry Fedora era. Of course, it helps when you have one of the top running backs in major college football penciled in as your starter. Damion Fletcher returns for his senior season with the Golden Eagles, a year after rushing for 1,313 yards and 10 touchdowns on 219 carries. With so many returning playmakers on offense, Southern Miss should be hard to beat, even at Legion. The only question: Will their top-heavy schedule (Virginia and Kansas in weeks three and four) wear them out before they trek to Birmingham? Southern Miss 28, UAB 24
Oct. 17 – Mississippi (Oxford, Miss.) – Speaking of a preponderance of offensive weapons, this is not the season that you’d want to see Ole Miss appear on your non-conference schedule. My guess is the Blazers agreed to this matchup when Ed Orgeron was still roaming the sidelines and Jevon Snead was Vince Young’s heir apparent in Austin. Nevertheless, this game won’t be in doubt for long, as the Rebs should be fully engaged in a battle for the SEC West crown. Mississippi 49, UAB 17
Oct. 24 – Marshall (Huntington, W.Va.) – Four straight losing seasons have taken their toll on a program that once produced the likes of Chad Pennington and Randy Moss. Marshall returns several playmakers from last year’s albeit mediocre squad, including running back Darius Marshall, but it probably won’t be enough to beat the Blazers, who beat Marshall in a close game at Legion Field last season. UAB 28, Marshall 19
Oct. 31 – Texas-El Paso (El Paso, Texas) – Former Alabama coach Mike Price, who had the Miners one win away from a bowl berth in 2008, hopes to finally get UTEP over the hump in 2009. With games against Texas and Kansas on the schedule this season, it won’t be an easy task. Both teams will come out passing, that’s for sure. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP’s starter at quarterback, threw for 3,274 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Can the Blazers keep up? No. UTEP 41, UAB 31
Nov. 7 – Florida Atlantic (Birmingham) – The only real challenge standing between Troy and another Sun Belt title is Howard Schnellenberger’s Florida Atlantic Owls. (By the way, how many times has one college football team scheduled two Owls in one season? We should look into that…) FAU won their second straight bowl game last year after overcoming a 1-5 start. Success this year hinges on whether or not Schnellenberger can find replacements to fill seven vacant starting positions on defense. Offensively, the return of senior quarterback Rusty Smith means that the Owls should be able to keeping winning the same way they did last year: With prolific scoring. FAU 45, UAB 28
Nov. 14 – Memphis (Memphis, Tn.) – Tommy West returns several key starters on both sides of the ball in 2009, including QB Arkelon Hill and RB Curtis Steele, but must overcome a brutal nonconference schedule that includes Ole Miss, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State. The Tigers beat UAB in Birmingham last season, 33-30, in what has become known as the Battle for the Bones, a rivalry built around pigskin and, well, pig skin. The Blazers have lost two straight Bones trophies to the Tigers, but I’m betting that streak ends this season. UAB 35, Memphis 28
Nov. 21 – East Carolina (Greenville, N.C.) – The team that shocked the nation with two wins over top-20 teams to open the 2008 season returns 18 starters in 2009, led by QB Patrick Pinkney and DE C.J. Wilson. The reigning conference champions look like a cinch to repeat as such this season, as well as collect their third-straight win over the Blazers. East Carolina 28, UAB 17
Nov. 28 – Central Florida (Birmingham) – After losing celebrated running back Kevin Smith to the NFL at the end of the 2007 season, the Knights have struggled to achieve consistency on offense. That was painfully evident in their last game of the 2008 season against UAB, a game UCF dropped by an embarrassing 15-0 margin. This year the Knights will probably show some improvement, but probably not enough to overcome the Blazers’ firepower on offense. UAB 35, UCF 24
Overall, a 5-7 season would mean another year of slow, steady improvement under the Neil Callaway regime, as has been the case for the past two seasons. Is it a sexy way to build a competitive football program? No, not really. But what is sexy is the play of QB Joe Webb, who gets my vote as the most exciting all-around player in Blazer history. If indeed UAB reaches the five-win plateau this season, it will be because Webb willed them to victory in several games. The question is, can he handle that kind of pressure? Fans will begin to find out this weekend.
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