March 17, 2008

Neil Callaway Conference 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB football team is gearing up for the first day of spring practice coming up Wednesday afternoon. In his second season at the helm at UAB, head coach Neil Callaway met with local media Monday afternoon to give some insight into his expectations for his second spring season with the Blazers.

"I think we had a really good offseason," said Callaway. "I think that the guys have really worked hard and we are a lot further along right now than we were a year ago."

The Blazers welcome back 47 letterwinners and 17 starters from a season ago. Of UAB's 17 returning starters, six come from the offensive side, nine from the defensive side and two special team players.

"We are still short numbers-wise," said Callaway. "We will have a total of 74 guys that will participate in spring practice, including scholarship and walk-on players. We will go into spring with only two-deep at offensive and defensive line. We will be three-deep at most other spots."

The Blazers kick off their spring practice schedule Wednesday afternoon and will conclude on April 12 with the annual Spring Game.

Head Coach Neil Callaway

On the team's progress during the offseason:
"I think we had a really good offseason. We are about to finish up the early morning workouts. We will have our last one tomorrow morning. I think that the guys have really worked hard and we are a lot further along right now than we were a year ago. I think it's been a very productive offseason for us."

On knowing the players better going into this spring season:
"I think we are all more comfortable with each other, I know I am. I know this time last year, not knowing a lot about the players and the players not know much about the coaches, there was a lot of uncertainty and anxious moments. Now that we've all been together for a year, we are all a lot more comfortable."

On the depth of the team going into the spring:
"We are still short numbers-wise. We will have a total of 74 guys that will participate in spring practice, including scholarship and walk-on players. We will go into spring with only two-deep at offensive and defensive line. We don't have a lot of depth there. Our numbers are still relatively thin. We will be three-deep at most other spots. We are still going to be a relatively thin football team, which is a concern when we are trying to get all the work in that we need to during spring football. Once we get everybody here in the fall, we will probably be at the 95-105 range depending on the number of walk-ons we have. Our numbers will be a lot better."

On the team's goals for spring practice:
"One thing that I always think is important and a key for any team is to develop leadership. I think we made tremendous strides in that area on this football team and in this program. We have guys that understand how we want to do things, the things that are necessary to be successful and win championships.

"We've got to become a more physical football team. Last year, the lack of physicality on both sides of the ball is something that really hurt us. It is something that we need to improve on tremendously and I think we will. We are a year older and we will have more depth once we get everybody here in the fall, but that is something that we need to start working on this spring. I think it all starts with being able to run the ball offensively and being able to stop the run defensively. That's something that we are going to work hard on to make sure that we are a lot better in those two areas this spring than we were last fall.

"The next thing is is that we need to eliminate mistakes. Looking back, there was just too many times that we had too many people doing the wrong things. We have to have all 11 guys on the field doing the right thing at the right time to give us a chance to be successful."