UAB is a basketball school who dreams of having a football addiction. Once Watson Brown is gone, we may actually have a football addiction. Until that happens, let's stick to the bread and butter.
Keenan Ellis, a 6-11 forward from Indianapolis, Ind., and Aaron Johnson, a 5-7 point guard from Chicago, Ill., have just signed with UAB and coach Mike Davis for the 2007-08 season. A season that will already feature Robert Vaden, Walter Sharpe, Jeremy Mayfield, Taurus Dortch, etc. as well as current UAB standouts like Paul Delaney, Lawrence Kinnard, and Frank Holmes.
"These two signees are huge for us," Davis said. "Keenan is a monster inside and a great athletic player who can shoot and post. Aaron is a super quick point guard and exciting player to watch. Our coaching staff did a great job recruiting both of these guys and we are excited for them to join the UAB program."
He's excited. Just think of the hundreds of thousands of fans who are itching for basketball season to start. It's all well and good to listen to Cory Provus and Steve Mitchell call the game. But these fans want to see it in person. These fans want to live it themselves. These fans have expectations. BIG Expectations.
Our opening loss to Washington State was sobering to me. I thought for sure we have an Tourney-bound team after the Bahama's practices. The loss jerked me back down to earth. But everyday I see them practice ali-oops, dunks, free throws, and three's in the corner, I can't help but hope that maybe I wasn't too far off.
After all, there's only one other coach that has started out at UAB with a losing record. Too early to be drawing comparison just yet, but if we make the tourney this year and go deep, look for expectations to go up.
And who knows, we might even top Memphis a couple times this year.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
BlazerAlert - PapaJohns.com Bowl
Per al.com's Breaking News Section
Papa John’s signs on as sponsor of Birmingham Bowl
A sponsor has delivered for Birmingham’s college football bowl game.
Birmingham’s bowl game will be called the Papa John’s.com Bowl after the pizza chain’s online service, sources close to the bowl told The Birmingham News today.
Papa John’s will be introduced as the title sponsor Thursday at a noon news conference from the company’s restaurant on Chalkville Road in Trussville. The game was previously branded the Birmingham Bowl until sponsorship was found.
The deal with Papa John’s is believed to be for two years with the option for an extension. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Papa John’s.com Bowl will be Dec. 23 at noon at Legion Field, pairing teams from Conference USA and the Big East. The Mid-American Conference serves as an alternative if the Big East fails to have enough eligible teams.
A sponsor has delivered for Birmingham’s college football bowl game.
Birmingham’s bowl game will be called the Papa John’s.com Bowl after the pizza chain’s online service, sources close to the bowl told The Birmingham News today.
Papa John’s will be introduced as the title sponsor Thursday at a noon news conference from the company’s restaurant on Chalkville Road in Trussville. The game was previously branded the Birmingham Bowl until sponsorship was found.
The deal with Papa John’s is believed to be for two years with the option for an extension. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Papa John’s.com Bowl will be Dec. 23 at noon at Legion Field, pairing teams from Conference USA and the Big East. The Mid-American Conference serves as an alternative if the Big East fails to have enough eligible teams.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Basketball Entry 2 - 5 Things To Watch For This Season
It's that time of year. Time to give thanks for the things we love the most. Family, friends, and basketball.
BASKETBALL
Having not attended the John Thompson Foundation Classic in person, I'd only be recapping the stats. But I did listen to one or two of the games and stats can be very telling.
5 things to watch for:
1) The team's rhythm - Friday's loss was VERY deceiving. The second half, UAB found it's rhythem. I don't expect them to lose it any time soon.
2) Wen's shooting percentage - It's gone up 12% in each game (54.5% for the season). His hard work during the off season is paying off.
3) Freshman vs Senior - Rounds 1-3 go to the freshman, Taurus Dortch. Mo Gibbs will have to step it up to get his time on the court.
4) Paul - Racking up 2 double-doubles this weekend and 2 assists away from UAB's second triple-double. He's no Squeaky. But then again, Squeaky can't dunk.
5) The "Young Guns" - Mayfield, Dortch, and Crawford are all contributing early. One has even taken a starting position away from a senior. The future is getting brighter by the day.
5 things to watch for:
1) The team's rhythm - Friday's loss was VERY deceiving. The second half, UAB found it's rhythem. I don't expect them to lose it any time soon.
2) Wen's shooting percentage - It's gone up 12% in each game (54.5% for the season). His hard work during the off season is paying off.
3) Freshman vs Senior - Rounds 1-3 go to the freshman, Taurus Dortch. Mo Gibbs will have to step it up to get his time on the court.
4) Paul - Racking up 2 double-doubles this weekend and 2 assists away from UAB's second triple-double. He's no Squeaky. But then again, Squeaky can't dunk.
5) The "Young Guns" - Mayfield, Dortch, and Crawford are all contributing early. One has even taken a starting position away from a senior. The future is getting brighter by the day.
BlazerRant 1 - The Silent Bell Needs to Ring...
Rumors.
That's all that Blazer Fans have right now.Decisions.
That's all that Blazer Fans are asking for.
Unfortunately, no ONE seems to be doing anything but sitting back and letting the train wreck pile up. That same someONE is the ONE who has seen a football program, much like our own, grow into the (at one point this season) #3 team in the nation. ONE person holds the keys to the fate of our football program. The past says that this ONE knows how to make the big hire. Just look at Mike Davis. But the hand was forced in that situation, and no one was being forced out. This is not the time to worry about feelings. We're long past that. Bridges have been burns. Lines have been drawn. It's time for someONE to break the silence. It's time to put an end to this madness that is within UAB Athletics and Administration.
Unfortunately, no ONE seems to be doing anything but sitting back and letting the train wreck pile up. That same someONE is the ONE who has seen a football program, much like our own, grow into the (at one point this season) #3 team in the nation. ONE person holds the keys to the fate of our football program. The past says that this ONE knows how to make the big hire. Just look at Mike Davis. But the hand was forced in that situation, and no one was being forced out. This is not the time to worry about feelings. We're long past that. Bridges have been burns. Lines have been drawn. It's time for someONE to break the silence. It's time to put an end to this madness that is within UAB Athletics and Administration.
It's time for the change to be made.
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