"Dragon Breath" A UAB Dynasty (NCAA12)

[BleedBlue23]

Awesome win in the Liberty Bowl! Keep up the good work, this looks amazing.

[gorillapittpray]

HOSTED BY: ERIK KUSELIAS

Where a month removed from the BCS National Championship Game that saw South Carolina claim its first title in school history under Steve Spurrier. We're back now for this Signing Day Special along with news of coaching changes as the college football world heads into spring practice. Im Erik Kuselias and we have a great show on tap.

Signing day's winners, losers and surprises


Picking winners and losers on signing day is a little like throwing darts. Right now they're just signatures on letters of intent, and it might be a couple of seasons before some of these prospects have either boomed or busted in the college football spotlight.
Nevertheless, signing day has become something just short of a national holiday for college football fans, and everyone wants to know which programs came through and which ones whiffed. With that in mind, here's a look at the teams that finished the recruiting season strong and those that either stumbled down the stretch or were unable to capitalize on a strong season on the field last fall:


Winners
Miami Hurricanes: Met needs and upgraded overall ability level across the board. Quarterback, wide receiver and defensive line were all addressed with top-tier players giving them the #9 class overall. More importantly the Hurricanes were able to grab the #10 overall player in Running Back Jeff Robinson. The 6'0 211 running back will be a nice accommodation for this skillful offense.

Notre Dame: Coming off a 12 win season and a NC loss the Irish wasted no time upgrading. Bringing in the #5 class the Irish signed a 10 4 star recruits. But even better they signed two five star receivers in C. Golden and J. Shaw both speedster.
"That was definitely a position we needed to address it hurt us in the NC and with these additions I feel we have a great chance to get back"
Brian Kelly HC

Alabama: The tide will be good for years if this class holds its potential. Ranked third by most scouting services the Tide on paper will be national champs. With George Bell leaving for graduation The tide found his replacement in two 5 star tailbacks. Galvin Childress and Tony Colbert, the #1 and 2 tailbacks in the nation went to Bama. Bama Also reloaded its defense and looks like some of these freshmen will play.

Penn State: Not only did the Nittany Lions grab the #1 overall player in the nation but they grabbed the #1 top recruiting class as well. They signed a lot of Athletes and it will be interesting to see how they use them. The Big Ten champs look poised for another run.

Losers

UAB: Recruiting effort did not match on-field success in 2011, With Key guys leaving off a very good defense the Blazers may very well could be a one hit wonder.

Oklahoma: This class is still strong, but like UAB, it didn't match the team's on-field performance. Ranked at 23 the sooners actually grabbed 5 one star recruits thats as many as the four stars they grabbed. We'll see if Bob Stoops can work magic.

Wisconsin: Going away from tradition the Badgers didnt pick up any big time offensive linemen this year instead they picked up three speedy receivers. This could be the start of them shifting focus to the spread? Badger nation wont like that.

Biggest Surprises

• George Rowe #2 (ATH) switching from Auburn to Oklahoma. • Alabama getting the top 2 backs in the nation.

• RB Lee Banks (#6) signing with Louisiana Lafayette over Bama and Florida.

• #1 QB Adrian Porter committing to LSU over home state school Texas.
• Miami's recruiting class, which was impressive could be the rise of a storm in Coral Gables.


TOP 25 CLASSES

1. PENN STATE
2. LSU
3. ALABAMA
4. OHIO STATE
5. NOTRE DAME
6. BOISE STATE
7. AUBURN
8. TEXAS
9. MIAMI
10. OREGON
11. NEBRASKA
12. FLORIDA
13. USC
14. TCU
15. MICHIGAN
16. VIRGINIA TECH
17. FLORIDA STATE
18. SOUTH CAROLINA
19. GEORGIA TECH
20. CLEMSON
21. IOWA
22. TEXAS A&M
23. OKLAHOMA
24. STANFORD
25. TEXAS TECH

With that said its gonna be an exciting spring as well as summer, the anticipation burns. In other news we had a few coaching changes. Boston College, Akron, Buffalo, Marshall, New Mexico, San Jose, UNLV, as well as Washington State all said their good byes to their coaching staff. Bad timing with recruiting but these schools are currently looking for new head coaches. When they find them we'll let you know.
Last but definitely not least. Frank Solich has retired as the Head Coach of the Ohio Bobcats. Solich Who also coached the Huskers of Nebraska just helped Ohio to its best record in school history at 11-1. A great pioneer for the game he will be missed.
Thats it for todays episode, we'll be back for the Pre-season issue of College Gameday Live. Have a great Spring and Summer.

[gorillapittpray]

BLAZER WEEKLY

"NOT A GOOD DAY FOR US"
HEAD COACH TRAVIS RHATIGAN TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST RECRUITING CLASS"

The Blazers wrapped up the recruiting season with the 110 rated class.
"Isn't that what we were pre-season ranked last year" Chuckled Rhatigan at his signing day conference. The Blazers signed a total of 19 kids that break down into three, three stars. Six two Stars and ten one stars. Matt Ford of course being the star of the class at receiver but we probably wont see his worth with the whole core coming back. Rhatigan thinks otherwise.
"Ford is a guy we pursued since day one and he finally committed. Despite all our receivers coming back he'll get a shot to to play during fall camp and we'll decide from their if we'll red shirt him."
Outside Linebacker Timi McCollum is the second gym of the class hailing from Mount LeBanon, PA he's a big hard hitting backer and with time could turn out to be a good athlete for UAB. Here's Rhatigan on how he feels about his first signing day.
"Obviously its not a good day for us. After the type of season we had we felt we got our foot in the door and could possibly steal kids away. But in the end they all said the same thing whether it was the lack of prestige we have here or the lack of big time games we have here. With us playing Auburn this year I hope kids can start to take notice of this program. We're here to win football games and get kids to the next level as best we can. Its gonna be a slow process but I promise this will be an elite program. With that said we still answered some issues with these signees got a pretty good tackle in John Culver another good run stopping MLB to back up Slaughter in William Miller (2*) and a damn good FB in Travis Johnson (1*) who was one of the top rated fb in the country. Now that its over we'll take a week or two off and go back on the road and start it all over again. Our main focus however is spring ball now we're gonna get these guys ready and hope to have a great spring."

[gorillapittpray]

BLAZER WEEKLY

BLAZERS RELEASE 2012 SCHEDULE
The UAB Blazers announced their 2012 schedule today. As stated last season the Blazers struck a deal for Home and home series with Auburn and Alabama starting this year season. Auburn will be the first as the Blazers travel there for a noon kickoff on September first to start this season.
"Its gonna be a great Year for UAB football, and a great stepping stone in the start of a new rivalry with Auburn"
HC Travis Rhatigan
Here is the complete schedule for the Blazers. The Blazers will enjoy a four game home stretch in the month of October before spending the final three games of the season on the road.

(B-)

9-1 @ #10 AUBURN
9-8 TROY
9-15 GEORGIA
9-22 @#16 VIRGINIA TECH
9-29 @UCF

10-6 ECU
10-13 UTEP
10-20 MEMPHIS
10-27 MARSHALL

11-3 @SOUTHERN MISS
11-10 @SMU
BYE
11-24 @RICE

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BLAZER WEEKLY
BLAZERS HEAD TO C-USA
MEDIA DAYS
COACHES AND PLAYERS INTERVIEW AT MEDIA DAY AS WELL AS PRE SEASON ALL CONFERENCE SELECTIONS AND TEAM RANKINGS.

ORLANDO, FL-- C-USA held their annual Media Day. Travis Rhatigan and UAB players Wayne Smith (AB) Ian Wilson (WR) Tom Slaughter (LB) and Jerry Bowser (DE) all made the trip. UAB found out that they were picked to finish second behind UCF in the eastern division and fourth overall. Nine Blazers were named to the pre season all conference teams. Heres a good story at media days with UAB head coach Travis Rhatigan.

UAB coach Travis Rhatigan said players cannot feel entitled to winning. They have to earn it. That is the key to Rhatigans’ first year success at UAB.
He doesn’t let his teams rely on the past. Just because UAB has had success in football in this past season doesn’t mean it is automatic for the current team.
TheBlazers will enter the season ranked No. 4 in the conference. No big deal to Rhatigan. His guys will be ready
However, he’ll remind his players that getting to No. 1 will require work and victories.
Rhatigan was good about making his team realize that there is no substitute for hard work to get where they want. We’d expect the same this year.
ORLANDO TIMES~

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BLAZER WEEKLY

WAYNE'S WORLD
WE PREVIEW THE UAB OFFENSE AND NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK WAYNE SMITH

WAYNE SMITH OUT RUNNING #79 JERRY BOWSER DURING A FALL SCRIMMAGE, UAB OPENS UP NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 1ST AT AUBURN

Almost half the questions Wayne Smith got during UAB's Media Day on Friday at Legion Field had something to do with Andre Sharpe.

Did Sharpe give you a road map for how to be a leader?

Is it difficult replacing one of the most popular UAB quarterbacks?

Did you feel like the job was yours only after Andre left?

Did you learn how to deal with celebrity from Sharpe?

That's the job — one of the jobs, anyway — ahead of Smith as he takes the reins of the UAB offense. Replace Andre Sharpe Just don't try to be Andre Sharpe.

"I don't know if I'll necessarily follow a road map," Smith said. "I'll do things a little differently than Dre did things. I'm gonna do things kind of the way I'm used to doing it."

Said UAB coach Travis Rhatigan, "You don't need to be Superman, just take what is there and work within the system."

One aspect of Smith having to fill Sharpe's shoes was evident at the Meet The Blazers Day, during which fans arrive hours early to line up for autographs. At last year's event, some 500 fans were waiting when the gates opened at 7 a.m. This year, the count was about 75.

An estimated 8,500 fans in all turned out Friday, though some guesses had it much lower. Last year's estimate topped 13,000.

Sharpe's autograph line last year stretched out of the roped-off lane, turned 90 degrees for some 30 yards, then snaked back and forth eight or nine times, with one estimate of more than 3,000 fans. Smith' line on Friday ran out of the lane, then turned right without ever doubling back, with never more than 200 at a time.

To be fair, Sharpe quarterbacked a conference champion and broke every single season school record you could think of.

"He's not quite a celebrity yet," said Blazer fan Dusty Fore of Birmingham, who waited about 10 minutes in Smith' line before securing an autograph for his stepson, Brody Younger. (For the record, 5-year-old Brody said his favorite Blazer was Andre Sharpe.)

"He stepped up last year. He did well with his few snaps," said Larry Morris, an UAB fan from Troy who also got a Smith autograph. "It's kind of hard to step in right behind Sharpe. It will be a challenge."
Wayne brings a different element, he can run he can throw and top it off he's a fifth year senior. Yes thats right he's a senior so the leadership should be there.
"It's humbling to get out there, have a lot of fans," Smith said. "This is a great program, and it's just the way it is, quarterbacks are always gonna be put up there in a bigger spotlight and stuff. You just have to keep yourself humble, don't let it go to your head, don't think that you're all this, stuff like that."

He's slowly winning over the fans however with crowd pleasing plays at practice, during last weeks scrimmage he scrambled for a 30 yard gain out running the UAB defenders, later he out ran defensive end Jeff Bowser to the edge before firing across his body hitting Michael Ross for a 40 yard score. That erupted the crowd, maybe a sign of things to come.

Enough with Wayne's world, lets talk about this offense who will look to put up even better numbers this season. Lets start with the receivers.

RECEIVERS
The Blazers return all four receivers from a year ago led by Junior #15 Ian Wilson (1,123 19td's) Wilson made big plays week in and week for the Blazers. His counterpart Senior #16 James Moses also went over 1,000 yards gaining (1,025 10td's) Moses thought by many to be the better of the two brings a big 6'2 frame and emerged late in the season as their go to guy. Junior # 85 Ralph Rawls (942 7td's) made clutch catches in the slot for the Blazers when Moses and Wilson saw over the top covereage. He is primed for a huge year this coming season. Fellow Junior #9 Michael Ross just got open. The speedster who had 739 yards receiving averaged a team best 30 yards per reception while grabbing 6 touchdowns. This UAB unit is very deep and although young with three juniors and one senior they are very experienced. #12 Sam Brown a senior will also get time. Brown caught two game winning touchdowns last season but may see even more limited time as true freshmen Matt Ford has had a great fall camp and has been getting some reps with the ones and is now the 5th receiver in the rotation. Ford who reminds a lot of UAB fans of Roddy White looks promising look for him late in the year to get more involved as he learns this offense.

RUNNING BACKS
Sophomore Matthew Scott won the battle for starting tailback, and unlike last season where he split time, he'll be the sole starter until further notice. Scott showed flashes of greatness last season rushing for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns in a limited dual role. His numbers should double barring injury. With a lot of pressure on Wayne Smith and defenses surely gearing for UAB's pass attack Scott could very well have a stellar year. He beat out fellow Junior Roderick Brooks. Brooks who was the returner of the year and a All American had a chance to earn the starting Job but lost more reps due to his ability for the return game. He will be a good back up to Scott.

QUARTERBACKS
Its Wayne Smith's show. At 6'3 190 pounds the senior has the size. He also has a cannon (88) but his accuracy (73) will have to improve to take these guys back to the level they were at a year ago. With Andre Sharpe gone there's no one else for him to look up to. In limited action last season he went 5-9 120 yards and threw one pick. Still good numbers. With top notch receivers Wayne should be comfortable in the pocket and if he should take off he will most definitely scare teams wants he gets rolling. But after Wayne theirs a drop off in the name of Jarrod Bradley, a 6'1 180 pound senior. With no in game experience Blazer nation hopes Smith can escape the injury bug.

Overall this Offense has a chance to be every bit as good as last season. If Smith can stay healthy at quarterback the Blazers are a team to recon with. With a deep and polished receiving core the Blazers should march up an down the field but with limited game experience Smith will have to gain the faith of his team. Until then fans can only salivate and wait and see until September first when they travel to Auburn.

[gorillapittpray]

BLAZER WEEKLY

SLAUGHTER-HOUSE!
BLAZER DEFENSE LOOKS FOR MIDDLE LINEBACKER TOM SLAUGHTER TO LEAD THE WAY.

(#43 TOM SLAUGHTER HIT TAILBACK MATTHEW SCOTT DURING OKLAHOMA DRILL AT THE BLAZERS FIRST FALL PRACTICE)

When previewing the UAB Blazer defense its not hard to mention out spoken Linebacker Tom Slaughter. He's a in your face trash talking hard hitting type a guy. Just want Travis Rhatigan needs from his Captain on the defense. Last season Slaughter was second on the team in tackles (89) and sacks (12). He also forced six fumbles and returned two to the house. But he did that with a senior led defense last year.
"Teams didnt have to focus on him much" Mentioned coach Rhatigan at UAB's media day. "We had DJ Washington in front of him, we had Bowser on the edge and we Williams roaming the defensive backfield. That allowed Tom to play in space."

Play in space he did, and he did it so well that it was said at times he had no responsibility he was to just roam and watch the quarterback.
Slaughter enters his senior year bigger and stronger and ready for some football.
"Im just ready to get the season started. Coming off the type of year we had where we snuck up on teams. This year they'll be ready and im ready for that challenge."
Slaughter wont be alone. Despite losing five starters on defense they return six, this unit will try to help out Senior quarterback Wayne Smith and his young offense.
"I know Wayne's a Senior but its his first year starting. We know they'll be hard ship and we'll be ready to help them out at any time."

DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line may very well be UAB strong point this year. They return defensive ends #79 Jerry Bowser (SR) and #77 Kareem Kirby (JR). Bowser led all of Division one in sacks with 20. A relatively slow start but after teams focus a bit more on graduated DJ Washington Bowser turn on his motor and shined. The Pre Season All American has been added to the Lombardi Watch list and looks to have another big year if returning defensive tackle #95 Brandon Richardson can replace Washingtons vacant spot. as a back up last season Richardson recorded six sacks, the Junior is a bit undersized at 267 pounds but has a motor. (RS) Freshmen Marcus Leak will start at the other tackle spot in the 4-3 look and has looked exceptionally well during fall camp.

LINEBACKERS
You all know about Tom Slaughter a pre season All American the Senior captain however raves about true Freshmen Timi McCollum. McCollum has started getting reps with the ones and has shwon great athletic ability, at 6'3 227 pounds size isnt a issue but maturity is. He'll have to grow up fast with Auburn being a week away. Senior Dan McCray #34 had a quiet great year his junior season and looks to add to this good linebacking core. McCray is more of a coverage backer and will need to add more support with the run game. Seniors Adam Chase #46, Brad Swan #35, and #47 Thomas Moore will add much needed depth for this linebacking core.

SECONDARY
This unit was hit the hardest this past off season with graduation. Of the four positions three graduated. That included corners Kevin Evans, Marcus Stevens and Free Safety Nick Williams who probably the biggest loss to the defense. #36 Eugene Jackson will be the leader of the secondary this year. The hard hitting Senior had 64 tackles 8 sacks and 3 interceptions. But he will now have to take on a bigger responsibility in teaching fellow safety senior Mark Parrish and sophomore Jason Mills the calls and checks out on the field. The two arent as crisp and could be cause for concern. Replacing Evans and Stephens at corner will be #30 Nathan Davis and #31 Adam Love. Davis a senior who saw significant action last season is said to have better instincts as Stephens and has looked really really good during camp. Love, a (RS) freshmen also looks good, his cocky attitude and ball hawking ability could see him become one of the nations better cover guys. Junior Bryan Wyatt and Sophomore Andrew Gates will add quality depth to this position.

Overall the defense will more than likely carry this team again. Coming off a season where the unit finished in the top 10 in overall defense the excitement is there. If the new faces can pick up where the old guys left off this unit wont miss a beat.

[gorillapittpray]

BLAZER WEEKLY

X-FACTOR
LAST YEARS RETURNER OF THE YEAR LOOKS FOR A EVEN BIGGER YEAR

(RODERICK BROOKS CATCHES PUNTS DURING SPECIAL TEAM PERIOD AT PRACTICE)

Last season Roderick Brooks, only a sophomore, was told he wasn't gonna get any action or as much action as he wanted in the backfield after Freshmen Matthew Scott emerged. Instead of getting down on himself he asked the new coach (Rhatigan) if he could get some reps returning kicks. It was a decision Rhatigan and Brooks will never forget. He returned his first punt during practice then returned a kickoff in the opening game against the Florida Gators and never looked back.
"My mom always told me to make a positive out of every situtaion" Said the Junior frim Wilmington Island, GA. "I came here to play football and if I cant do it a running back i'll do it at returner or gunner it doesnt matter I just want to play."

Thats a attitude head Coach Travis Rhatigan has come to like.
"The kid didn't get bummed about not being able to get time at running back last year, now he's a All American and will get his reps at running back this year. He stuck it out, he's a good kid."
Brooks averaged close to 28 yards a return last season and returned to touchdowns two the house including one in the Liberty Bowl against Syracuse. With a new quarterback at the helm field position could be huge in Blazer games this year and Roderick Brooks looks to be the X-Factor.

KICKER/PUNTER
The Blazers will have a new Kicker and Punter this year. Junior Adam Miller will take over kicking duties. He however has big shoes to fill. Mark Alston nailed 15 of 16 kicks and was a perfect 79 of 79 on his point afters. Miller shows good power but seems to have bit of a accuracy issue (68) UAB will need him to correct his preseason issues.
Punter Calvin Robinson a sophomore will be the teams next Punter. Alston who also was the kicker punted and did a good job so Robinson will have to keep pace in pinning teams and helping UAB win the position battle.

Overall The special teams may be a cause for concern with new faces at Kicker and Punter. Roderick Brooks will need another big year returning kicks to keep the field position battle in favor for the Blazers.