UAB Preview: USA Today

[Harry]

Losing Houston, UCF, SMU and Memphis might have hurt Conference USA's overall credibility, but don't look for UAB to complain. Swapping out this quartet for teams like UTSA, Florida Atlantic and others will impact the Blazers' bottom line, the quest for wins against losses, and this program will take every advantage it can get as it fights for bowl eligibility.

Since the start of the 2005 season, UAB is 0-4 against Houston, 0-4 against SMU, 2-6 against UCF and 5-3 against Memphis – 7-17 altogether, compared to 14-26 against the rest of Conference USA. Not much better, but better, and UAB will take it.

More good news: East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa leave Conference USA for the American in 2014. UAB has gone 3-13 against this trio since 2005, meaning 30 of the Blazers' 43 Conference USA losses over the last eight seasons have come against teams that are currently or will soon be members of the American. Put another way, just shy of 70% of UAB's Conference USA losses since 2005 have come against teams that will not be members of Conference USA after this coming season.

NO. 125 TO NO. 1: College football countdown

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION

That's the long-term goal: UAB can win games, though it's not going to happen overnight. It's more likely that it takes McGee and the Blazers at least one full season to get on the same page. With a team in flux, a new coaching staff and this schedule, UAB should be tickled by whatever comes – as long as it looks like the program is moving forward. Oh, and UAB should hope that come Monday night, after Arkansas has announced its next head coach, Garrick McGee is still a Blazer.

2012 RECAP

— In a nutshell: A better team than the final record might indicate, albeit one clearly finding its footing under coach Garrick McGee and the first-year staff. UAB could outgain and muddy the field against Ohio State, making the Buckeyes work to pull out a 29-15 win; the Blazers could also hang right there with Conference USA leaders like Tulsa and East Carolina, taking each game late into the fourth quarter before losing by 10 or fewer points. At the same time, UAB could give up 55 points to Tulane, struggle moving the football against Houston and lost 46-9 at home to Memphis. Perhaps this rollercoaster was to be expected.

— High point: A 38-31 win over Marshall was UAB's lone victory against an FBS team with a winning record. Scratch that: UAB's lone win over an FBS opponent with a win, period. The Blazers' other victories came against Southeastern Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.

— Low point: The loss to Memphis. The Tigers played some inspired football in November, but there's no excuse for losing at home by 37 points. You had a feeling UAB wouldn't show up the following Saturday at UCF, and lo and behold, the Blazers gave up 49 points.

— Tidbit: UAB housed one of the nation's 61 1,000-yard rushers in 2012 – junior Darrin Reeves, who we'll touch on below, ended the year with 1,037 yards. That was great: UAB hadn't had a 1,000-yard running back since 1996. At the same time, UAB was the lone program in the country to feature a 1,000-yard rusher yet still average less than 121.30 yards per game. The Blazers ended the year ranked 112th in the FBS in rushing.

— Tidbit (losing early edition): UAB went 0-8 in 2012 when trailing after the first quarter. Part of me thinks this has to do with two factors. The first is McGee's inexperience in his new position; while he'd been in dogfights in the SEC, maintaining an entire team's confidence – as opposed to just an offense's – is a different animal, as every coach will attest. The second is UAB's own inexperience: true and redshirt freshmen accounted for more than 50 starts last fall.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/06/12/uab-college-football-countdown-2013-preview/2413679/