Oct. 27, 2001
Recap?|?
Final Stats
POST-GAME NOTES: UAB at MEMPHIS
(Oct. 27, 2001 -- The Liberty Bowl -- Memphis, Tenn.)
FINAL SCORE: UAB 17, Memphis 14
(Records: UAB 4-4, 3-2 C-USA, Memphis 4-4, 2-3 C-USA)
UAB wins for the second straight season over Memphis. The two games have
been decided by a total of seven points (UAB won 13-9 last season at Legion
Field, 10/14/00). The series is now tied 2-2, dating back to the 1997
season.
The Blazers blocked Memphis kicker Ryan White's final field goal attempt
(there was also a low snap), several UAB players got a piece of the ball (it
was credited as a team block). The last time UAB blocked a field goal was
vs. Memphis last season at Legion Field (Bryan Thomas). The last time the
Blazers blocked a field goal that led directly to a victory was at Tulane in
1999, the Blazers blocked a Seth Marler field goal in overtime and kicked
their own winning field goal moments later in a 23-20 win at Tulane,
11/20/99).
Blazer quarterback Thomas Cox improved his career record as a starter to
4-0, Cox started the win over East Carolina at Legion Field in 1999, the win
at LSU in 2000, and UAB's Homecoming win over Tulane at Legion Field last
week.
UAB spoiled Memphis' Homecoming game with the win, last season, the
Blazers defeated LSU in Baton Rouge in the Tigers' 2000 Homecoming
(9/23/00).
UAB defensive end Hassan McKeithan blocked a punt by Memphis' James
Gaither in the first quarter, that's UAB's third blocked punt of the 2001
season (the other two were by Carlos Hendricks vs. Montana State and Deijon
Hart vs. Army).
The Blazers' held Memphis to 94 net rushing yards in the game, that's the
seventh time in eight games that UAB has held opponents to less than 100 net
rushing yards this season (Florida State finished with 135 on Sept. 8).
UAB also did not allow a Memphis player to run for 100 or more net yards
in the game, that's the 21st straight game in which the Blazers have not
allowed an opposing player to rush for 100 or more yards in a game (the last
was Louisville's Frank Moreau on Oct. 30, 1999).
Nick Hayes' 48-yard field goal in the second quarter is a career long and
a new UAB record for the program's I-A era (1996- ). Hayes co-held the
previous record of 47 yards along with Rhett Gallego and Jake Arians. The
all-time UAB record is 52 yards, set by Kevin Thomason in an I-AA game vs.
Mississippi Valley State in 1993.
Chris Brown's interception of a Danny Wimprine pass late in the second
quarter was Brown's second of the 2001 season (fifth career) and UAB's 10th
of the season. UAB has intercepted at least one pass in six of eight games
this season.
Defensive tackle Eddie Freeman made his presence known by batting down two
Tiger passes in the game. Freeman and defensive end Bryan Thomas (who had
a huge pass breakup on Memphis' final possession) lead the ?Steel Shield?
defensive line with three pass breakups each this year.
Linebacker Rod Taylor's interception of a Wimprine pass in the third
quarter was his second of the year (the first at UCF), the second of his
career and UAB's 11th of 2001. The interception led to UAB's second
touchdown of the afternoon, an X-yard run by quarterback Thomas Cox.
Tight end Jeff Tippetts completed his first pass as a Blazer in the third
quarter ? on a ?throwback? play to quarterback Thomas Cox. The play gained
11 yards and gave UAB a first down, prolonging a drive that led to a Cox
touchdown moments later. Although it was his first time to throw and
complete a pass at UAB, it was not a completely new experience for the red
shirt sophomore from Jacksonville, Ala., Tippets is a converted quarterback
who originally signed with UAB in 1997 and later spent two years on a Mormon
mission, but never saw action at quarterback.
Freshman running back Kendal Gibson scored a touchdown on a two-yard run
in the second quarter to give the Blazers a 10-7 lead. That run came on
third-and-one from the Memphis two-yard line, two of Gibson's other three
touchdown runs (at UCF, vs. Army) came on fourth-and-goal from the
opponents' one-yard line (his other was a seven-yard run vs. Army).
