The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Preview Matchup With No. 20 Southern Miss
11/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB football team held its weekly press conference on Monday to discuss the upcoming game with 20th-ranked Southern Miss and reflect on the historic come-from-behind victory at Memphis last Saturday.
The Blazers (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) and Golden Eagles (9-1, 5-1 C-USA) will play Thursday at 7 p.m. CT at Legion Field, with the game airing on the CBS College Sports Network.
Head coach Neil Callaway met with the media to discuss the Thursday contest, which will serve as Senior Night for 22 UAB student-athletes. Joining Callaway at the press conference was a trio of seniors in cornerback T.J. Ballou, offensive lineman Terence Edge and linebacker Lamanski Ware.
This past Saturday, trailing 35-17, UAB scored 24 unanswered points to earn the largest fourth quarter comeback victory in program history, 41-35, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
In the contest, quarterback Jonathan Perry tossed for four touchdowns, including two in the final period, while Greg Franklin crossed the goal line for what proved to be the game-winning score with 1:36 left. It marked the third straight time the Blazers have captured the "Battle for the Bones" trophy versus the Tigers.
Southern Miss escaped a barnburner of its own with C-USA foe UCF last Saturday, 30-29, in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Knights scored a touchdown with time expiring to put the score within a point, but UCF opted to go for the victory with a two-point conversation attempt. The try failed as the Golden Eagles earned their eighth consecutive win in 2011.
The Golden Eagles rank second in the league in scoring offense (36.8 ppg) and scoring defense (20.5 ppg) and third in total offense (457.4 ypg) for the season.
In the all-time series, Southern Miss owns a 9-2 edge, but the Blazers have won the last two meetings, including a thrilling 50-49 double-overtime victory at Legion Field a season ago.
The CBS College Sports Network broadcast talent includes Todd Harris (play-by-play) and Doug Chapman (color), while the Blazer IMG Sports Network will feature the radio broadcast and can be heard on WUHT 107.7 FM in Birmingham.
Here are some highlights from Monday's press conference:
Head Coach Neil Callaway
On last week's comeback victory at Memphis
"It was a great win against Memphis for this football team. I'm really proud of the character and the poise that the team showed throughout the ball game. I thought we played hard the whole time. I think we struggled defensively for the first three quarters. A lot of it had to do with assignments, doing things the right way and taking care of the little things. The bottom line is we did enough to get it done and win the game."
On this week's opponent, No. 20 Southern Miss
"We're playing Thursday night so we have a quick turnaround, which makes it somewhat difficult, but we've both got the same issues. We practiced yesterday and didn't even look at Memphis, but went right into Southern Mississippi. I think Southern Mississippi's offense is a lot like Houston's. They have been explosive ever since [head coach] Larry Fedora has been there and they have an outstanding quarterback.
"Defensively, they are better than Houston. Their statistics in several different defensive categories are in the top three. It will be quite a challenge. It's a game we are looking forward to and we are going to make sure to be ready to play Thursday night."
On playing another ranked team
"We just have to get ready to play. We did struggle the first three quarters on Saturday, but the guys pulled it together. I told the guys to enjoy it Saturday night, but we got into practice Sunday and started to focus on Southern Mississippi. It's a game that we know is a challenge."
On what clicked in the fourth quarter versus Memphis
"We moved the ball effectively all night. We had the two turnovers, which were costly. On defense we settled down. When I said we missed assignments, it may be just a slight technique lining up here or lining up there. But we just weren't doing the things we needed to do. I think the resiliency of the guys came through and we kept plugging."
On getting off to a good start against Southern Miss
"We need to approach this game a lot like the Houston game. We need to take care of the ball on offense and score touchdowns when we have the opportunity. Defensively, we have to make sure to take care of all the little things."
On things falling into place for QB Jonathan Perry
"I don't know if everything is. I thought he played a good game. He made some good plays, but he is still growing and we'll keep working. One good thing was that the offensive line and running backs had a good game and I think that's important to help Jonathan."
Senior LB Lamanski Ware
On winning against Memphis
"It feels great. We haven't had that many wins this year, so to pull one out feels awesome, especially against a rival like Memphis."
On what clicked for the team in the fourth quarter of the Memphis game
"We just knew that we needed to win. We knew we had to go out and play hard. We had the crowd against us saying that we were going to lose and that we weren't anything. At the end of the day, we were playing Memphis, so we had to play hard on every snap. We have been a step slow or an assignment short in the majority of our games this year, and in this game we were able to figure it out. Hopefully we can continue to figure it out during the next two games."
On playing Southern Miss in the next game
"We've battled with Southern Miss for the last two years, and I think that's going to be a challenge in itself. We don't need any extra motivation to play against them. We have so many players from Mississippi and who went to Mississippi junior colleges on our team, and they know players on Southern Miss' team. I think that they are going to go out, compete, and make the best of it."
Senior CB T.J. Ballou
On having some extra motivation playing against Southern Miss
"I feel like I was overlooked out of high school and out of junior college by Southern Miss. We won a championship in junior college and Southern Miss still didn't recruit me. So, it's extra motivation, but at the same time, it's still just a game. I still want to beat them because I want to win every game."
On playing with a chip on his shoulder
"Even last year I had a chip on my shoulder. It's just something about seeing Southern Miss or Mississippi State on the schedule that brings a little bit more out of me."
On the nature of the UAB-Southern Miss rivalry
"There will be a little bit more talking and chattering with the guys. The Southern Miss quarterback [Austin Davis] and I were rivals through middle school and high school, and we are still rivals now. I just think it makes things chippy with a little more talking after a tackle or a shove here and there."
On how he has been able to cause some turnovers this season
"Sometimes I kind of know what routes are coming because of watching a lot of film, so I can pretty much decide when to take a gamble on a ball. As far as fumble recoveries go, Coach [Tommy] West always tells us to run to the ball and good things will happen."
Senior OL Terence Edge
On the fourth-quarter comeback at Memphis
"It was just a whole team effort. Everybody just decided we wanted to step up and win it and within the offensive line we didn't want to lose the `bones'. We didn't want to be the senior class that lost the `bones' so we just kept fighting and grinding."
On the importance of getting off to a strong start versus Southern Miss
"We can't start off slow against Southern Miss because their team will capitalize off of our mistakes. They are a good ball team and we are going to have to play our best and give our, all and if we do that then we'll be able to compete and it will be a good game."
On playing at Legion Field for Senior Night
"There is going to be a lot of emotion because it will be the last time I play at Legion Field and really one of the last times I'll be playing with my teammates so I'm just going to try to make it my best game."
On the spirit of the team during the fourth quarter of the Memphis game
"It was fun. It was great seeing the guys rally up and come back. It was just a great win and we needed that win. It was a momentum booster and I feel like that momentum is going to carry us into the Southern Miss game.
