Nov. 9, 2009

Coach Callaway Audio

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Fresh off a second straight win, UAB head coach Neil Callaway addressed the media Monday at his weekly press conference.

Quarterback Joe Webb, running back Daniel Borne, linebacker Darrion Wilson and defensive lineman Elliott Henigan were also in attendance as the Blazers recapped their 56-29 victory over Florida Atlantic this past Saturday.

"Florida Atlantic was a very good ballgame for us, especially offensively," Callaway said. "I don't know if I've ever been in a ballgame like that where we scored (touchdowns) the first eight times we had the ball. It was fun to watch from an offensive standpoint."

UAB (4-5, 3-2 C-USA) looks for its third consecutive win when it gets back into Conference USA action with a trip to Memphis (2-7, 1-4 C-USA) on Saturday for the "Battle for the Bones" rivalry game.

The Blazers will be trying to avenge a 33-30 loss in last year's meeting when the Tigers kicked a field goal in the closing seconds to escape Birmingham with a win. The last UAB victory in the series came in 2006.

"We have lost (the Memphis game) the last two years, and it's a game we desperately need to try and get for a lot of reasons," Callaway said. "Hopefully we will have a good week of preparation and be ready to go come Saturday."

Saturday's game will be televised by CSS, and kickoff is scheduled for Noon CT at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will be carried on the Blazers ISP Sports Network and can be heard in the Birmingham area on flagship station WUHT-FM 107.7 with David Crane (play-by-play) and Jake Arians (color) on the call. The pregame show will begin 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

On the Florida Atlantic game
"Florida Atlantic was a very good ballgame for us, especially offensively. I don't know if I've ever been in a ballgame like that where we scored (touchdowns) the first eight times we had the ball. It was fun to watch from an offensive standpoint. I thought there were a few things that stood out. Joe (Webb) had an outstanding game. Rashaud Slaughter had the best game in his career since I've been here. Daniel Borne did some nice things running the ball. Our receivers did some good things, as did our tight end Jeffery Anderson. On top of that, the offensive line did a nice job of pass protecting. I thought it was a really good day offensively.

"Defensively, I thought we struggled a little, especially in the first half. After having a chance to look at the film, I think it was our guys not playing at the level they need to play. Guys were getting close but just not getting to where they needed to be. I thought after halftime we played a lot harder. The good thing defensively was the two turnovers. It's big anytime you can get turnovers, but when those two came I thought they were both critical. Andre Hicks got an interception when they were on our 15-yard line, which prevented them from scoring. When Terrell (Springs) got his interception they were driving the football, so it killed that drive and we were able to score off both turnovers. We just have to come out and play from the start the way we did the second half and I think we'll be fine."

On the upcoming Memphis game
"Memphis has had their struggles this year, but you couldn't tell it by watching the film. I have had a couple coaches after watching the film come in and say, `how in the world have they not won more football games?' They are a very talented offensive football team. They have good receivers, good running backs and do a nice job with their offensive line. They are a physical football team up front with good speed. It's a game that is the `Battle for the Bones,' which is big for us and our fans. We have lost it the last two years, and it's a game we desperately need to try and get for a lot of reasons. Hopefully we will have a good week of preparation and be ready to go come Saturday."

On how big the win was against Florida Atlantic
"It was good. Any time you win is good. Just like we told the players, it makes the rest of our games even bigger. We still have a lot of goals we want to accomplish this season. We still have a lot left to play for."

On head coach Tommy West being let go at Memphis
"I certainly feel for Tommy (West) and his staff. I have known Tommy a long time, and I think he is a great guy and a good football coach. You hate he has to go through something like this with his staff, but it is part of our business. Tommy will be fine."

On the offensive performance against FAU
"It was good to get 600-plus yards of offense. The good thing is we were clicking on all cylinders. We had the running game going with our backs, and of course Joe did a nice job running the football and a lot better job throwing the football. I know he had two drops, so his numbers could have been even better. I think it's a culmination of the hard work that the guys have put in, particularly last week. The guys were very focused and I think it's been the best week of preparation since I have been here, and hopefully that will continue this week."

On the possibility of a letdown
"You're always concerned about a letdown. But I feel like our guys, we've been through that. We talked about that and we've been through it after the Rice game and even a little bit after Southern Miss. We are certainly going to work very hard not to let that happen.

"If you remember and can go back, we had a good game against Rice and even moved the ball well despite the turnovers against SMU. I thought Joe got rattled a little bit and struggled for a couple of weeks. The last three or four weeks he has been gaining confidence and got his rhythm back as far as throwing the ball. The protection has been good and the receivers have been doing their job. Like we said all along, it's not just one guy when you talk about throwing the football. It all goes back to preparation and last week was, I know, the best week in terms of preparation we've had, so we need to continue to do that."

Senior QB Joe Webb

On winning against FAU
"It was a great game, not only for our team but for the fans. It was homecoming so we had a lot of alumni come back, and to enjoy a victory like that means a lot."

On what's been clicking for the team the past two games
"Our preparation; everyone has been working hard. You see what's down the road as a team, that we can compete for the conference championship and go to a bowl game. So I think everyone's just motivated and we're going to try and change the program around."

On fans returning after witnessing Saturday's game
"I think the fans will come back to the next home game because they enjoyed the victory. It was good to win big like that so that the fans can sit back and enjoy the game and not worry about if UAB is going to pull it off or not. It was great. The team came ready to play well and both sides of the ball did a great job."

On the key to last week's preparation for FAU
"Focus. Everyone was excited; all the seniors keep trying to motivate everyone. The season is not over with and we still have a lot to play for. Everyone is buying into that. Coach Callaway is doing a great job of keeping the team up and keeping the spirit high. The players did a great job last week by having a lot of enthusiasm out (on the field) and everyone was ready to play."

On how coach Tommy West being let go could affect Memphis
"We know Memphis will be ready to play no matter what. It's a big rivalry because we're playing for `The Battle for the Bones' trophy. There's a lot at stake. Every year we know it's going to be a dogfight."

Sophomore DL Elliott Henigan

On winning big this past Saturday
"It feels good. When we first came out of the dragon's mouth, I looked up to the crowd and was impressed with the number of people there. After seeing the crowd, I thought, `we need to show up tonight,' and I think we did."

On the upcoming game against Memphis
"It's big, not only getting the third win in a row, but it's a big conference rivalry game. We have to win it to stay in contention to win the East. Then you have the fact that it would be our third win in a row, it's a rivalry game and they beat us the past two years. There's a lot of stuff at stake when it comes to this game."

On how the team is handling success differently
"After our win against Rice, I think we came back to practice and were thinking that the rest of the year was going to be easy. But then we came back and lost a game that we should have won. After seeing that, and seeing how we didn't take winning very well, we learned that even if you win, you still have to practice hard the next week. It's not going to be easy the next week; there's always a next game."

On the team coming together
"We're starting to realize that as long as we take care of our assignments, we will win games. I don't feel like we should lose any other games as long as we take care of our assignments."

Junior LB Darrion Wilson

On the week of practice leading up to the win over Florida Atlantic
"The atmosphere that we had all week long, we had one of the best weeks of practice, like Coach Callaway said, since he's been here. The enthusiasm and the hard effort we put into practice paid off."

On the keys to continuing the team's recent success
"We just need to keep everything that we do consistent as far as practice, our enthusiasm, playing hard, not making critical errors. We just need to keep that up and keep it consistent, and we'll be okay.

"We have to stay humble and hungry. Don't get carried away or get a big head. Just stay humble and know there's a lot at stake ahead of us. Put this win behind us and keep going."

Junior RB Daniel Borne

On the team's play recently
"I think we're hitting on all cylinders. It starts off at practice. These few weeks have been the best practices we've had even going back to camp. I think everything started at practice and then it just led on to the game."

On the ups and downs of a season
"A season is a long process, and it goes up and down. When you catch fire, you just have to keep it going as long as you can. We just try to come in every day and keep working to make each other better."

On having a number of weapons offensively
"It's not like a team can come in and plan to stop one person. If you come in just planning to stop Joe Webb, it's not going to happen, and everybody else is going to have their best day. So I think it's really hard for defenses, but the most important thing is just staying balanced offensively."