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CB Kevin Sanders is one of the most experienced Blazers heading into the 2008 season.
July 20, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ----- It doesn't take much for one to realize the start of the college football season is getting closer and closer.
On Sunday, the 12 head coaches from Conference USA gathered here at the Peabody Hotel for the league's 2008 Football Media Blitz. Each school also brought a couple of players to Memphis for the event. Joining UAB head coach Neil Callaway were quarterback Joe Webb and senior cornerback Kevin Sanders.
Callaway, Webb and Sanders spent a good part of the day fielding questions from the C-USA media.
Head Coach Neil Callaway
(General thoughts on practice beginning in two weeks) "I think we are ready to get going. We've had a very good offseason. From talking to (strength and conditioning) coach (Steve) Martin, we have had a tremendous amount of turnout and effort with our summer workout program.
"We (coaches) came back in the office last week so we have been working at it about a week now as far as getting ready for the season. I know we're excited, coaches and players and everybody. We're looking forward to it."
(Advantages to newcomers enrolling early and participating in summer workouts) "I think it's a big advantage. I think it does two things. From an academic standpoint, it lets them get their feet on the ground. They will know what the routine will be. From a football standpoint, coming in and working out with coach Martin and the other players, it helps them get acclimated and understand the work that it's going to take."
(Priorities of first few days after practice begins in two weeks)
"I think when you get back, you always are trying to implement what you're putting in. You're trying to get the offensive and defensive schemes installed and you're tweaking some things. You're also trying to come up with a depth chart. I think that will be a work in progress until 10 days before the first ballgame. There's a lot of work to be done and a lot of things we have to get accomplished."
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(Opportunities for newcomers to take on significant roles) "Anytime you sign a player from junior college, you have the feeling or anticipation that he can come in and, if not start, compete to be a starter. That's certainly what we expect out of those (JUCO) guys we signed. We'll also have some freshmen who come in who can contribute to this football team early. We've still got a relatively young team that's lacking in depth. So, there are opportunities for guys to play. "
(Areas heading into practice that concern you and areas that you feel good about) "I think the places offensively that we have made a tremendous amount of progress are on the offensive line and at wide receiver. I think we've got a good group of guys at both spots. Obviously, I feel very good about Joe Webb at quarterback although if something were to happen to Joe, I'm not really sure who would be the backup. We still have a lot work to do at the running back spot. I am not sure how that's going to play out.
"At tight end, I think we've got two good players in Jeffery Anderson and Zach Lankford. Offensively, I feel like we've made a lot of progress.
"Defensively, I feel good about the corner position. I think we've got a good situation at safety with Will Dunbar back. I'm still concerned about our defensive front. I want to see how our linebackers shake out. We'll still play a lot of young guys there. "
(Addressing the running game and the emphasis to try to improve that area from last season) "We're always going to be a balanced offense. We're never going to be a team that tries to line up and run it down your throat every play. But we do want to run the football and be more effective than we were last year. Hopefully, we will be better up front this year. We will have a couple new tailbacks that will be in the program and hopefully will help us. But we do need to be a better football team running the football."
(Thoughts on playing a conference game in the first game of the season) "It's probably not good and not something you normally like to do. You'd rather not start with a conference game because of the effect it has on the conference standings. I am excited about the fact that we're able to open up at home. I think that's a tremendous advantage for us. Traditionally, we've opened on the road playing a `money' game. Tulsa is a very good football team and will be hard to handle."
