BIRMINGHAM - The next two days will serve as Fall Break on campus but it will be anything but that for the number 6th-ranked UAB football team as the Blazers continue to prepare for Saturday's matchup against South Carolina in Columbia.
Kickoff for the Blazers and the Gamecocks is scheduled for 3:39 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on CBS. A sellout crowd of over 85,000 is expected at William Brice Stadium for UAB's first trip there.
UAB enters the game ranked No. 6 in the nation and ranked in the top 10 for the second straight week.
The Gamecocks, who haven't played up to standard, are coming off a 21-17 win over Kentucky. They are 3-2 overall and 1-2 in conference action. Throw the records aside and the Gamecocks, who won the National Championship two seasons ago are the two time defending SEC champs.
"
We had a good week so far," head coach Travis Rhatigan said following Wednesday's workout. "
I enjoy how this team prepares and how they take the field each day at practice with the attitude of getting better.
"This team has fun and I enjoy the effort in which they work. There's a real want to improve each day. We recognize it's going to be a big game in an opponent's stadium, and we're looking forward to it."the three on the road including a hard fought 24-17 win at Auburn two weeks ago.
"We're young, but I can sense the maturation of our team." Sophomore Linebacker Timi McCollum said after Wednesday's practice.
"We work hard and have fun, our coaches do a great job in scouting our opponents and giving s the keys to win our games." McCollum is second on the team in tackles but leads the NCAA with 8.5 sacks.
UAB is currently 3-0 having won two of
The Blazers will have a shortened Thursday practice before departing Friday afternoon for South Carolina.
| SEC EAST Conference Standings - Updated: Sept 30, 2013 |
| TEAM | REC |
#6 UAB
| 6-0 |
GEORGIA
| 4-2 |
| TENNESSEE | 4-2 |
| FLORIDA | 4-3 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 3-2 |
| VANDERBILT | 1-4 |
| KENTUCKY | 1-6 |
Rhatigan Speaks to Media Prior to South Carolina Game
"South Carolina is a very good football team. I've been looking forward to this because I've been told Columbia is a wonderful place to play. Their game day experience is one of the best in the SEC. They have a crowd that is into their team and makes a lot of noise.
Our guys enjoy that type of environment. It is also another primetime nationally televised game. Our guys love that. It speaks to us in an environment like that. It is another challenge.
The good news is that we've been on the road and understand it.
We're getting to a point where our road character is established, as is our personality. Offensively, they are a very talented offense with a good quarterback. I believe they're struggle with establishing the run is what hurt them in their two losses to Arkansas and Alabama. One of their most dangerous players is Eric Fogle, a great receiver, so we'll try to get our hands on him as much as possible."
"Defensively, they are a very stingy defense, surprises me that they have two losses with this defense. It will be a different challenge for us offensively. We'll need to make sure that our guys are comfortable in their technique and able to adjust in a tough environment against their big front. Their secondary is very very good. They have a veteran safety in Marcus Harper who is a ball hawk. They look like a veteran secondary. They're always in the right place and making tackles. They are a real quality group.
I've never had the opportunity to take a team into South Carolina. I think it will be one of those things that our team will enjoy and need to play up to."
KEY STAT NOTES
- Quarterback Adam Dyks is fifth in the NCAA in passing yards with 1,749. He has 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions
- Running Back Matthew Scott is second in the NCAA in rushing yards behind BC's Clifford with 743 yards. He has 9 rushing touchdowns as well.
- Senior Receiver Ian Wilson is fifth in the NCAA in receiver yards and second in the SEC behind Georgia's Scott Davis. Wilson has 678 yards and 8 touchdowns on 26 catches
- Safeties Dominique Rhodes and Carl Lewis along with Linebacker Timi McCollum are all 1,2,3 in the NCAA in tackles
- Sophomore's Timi McCollum and Marcus Leak are #1 and #3 respectively in the NCAA for sacks with 8.5 and 6.5
- Return Specialist Roderick Brooks is second in the NCAA with a 29.7 return average but leads the country with two touchdown returns with a long of 101 yards
BRING IT ON!
BLAZERS AND GAMECOCKS SET DO TO BATTLE:
CBS will air the game at 3:30 central time
Game played at SOUTH CAROLINA'S WILLIAM-BRICE STADIUM
| Matchup Preview | October 12, 2013 |
 | @ |  |
#6 UAB Blazers
(6-0, Away) |
| South Carolina Gamecocks
(3-2, Home) |
| Injury Report | CB D. JONES
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For UAB this will be quite the challenge, South Carolina in a sense could be a trap if you look at the record. These Gamecocks are still defending conference champs playing with their back to the wall at home. South Carolina will need to get their running game going. Running back J. Waters is averaging only 52.8 yards a game but he's averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Lack of a rush attack has hurt the gamecocks who have been one dimensional thus far this season. Quarterback J. Downing has thrown 9 touchdown passes but has also thrown 10 interceptions. The bright spot offensively has been receiver E. Fogle the senior is top five in the conference with 505 yards receiving and is averaging 14 yards a catch. If the defense can continue to play good football the Gamecocks have a chance for the upset.
UAB offense is finally catching up to the defense as they rank #6 in total offense. Freshman Adam Dyks will look to shake off a mediocre performance against Texas A&M last week and perform well against a very good Gamecock secondary. Matthew Scott is starting to get back into last years form running the football and is a threat to take any carry the distance as he leads the conference in rushing yards. It will be interesting to see how UAB's star studded receiving core stack up to South Carolina's secondary. Ian WIlson and Matt Ford will look to exploit one on one match ups to get the offense going. Defensively UAB leads the nation with 33 sacks led by middle linebacker Timi McCollum who does a good job in disguising when he blitzes. The lack of the run game for South Carolina may allow UAB's front seven to bring the pressure and control the game.