UAB head coach Trent Dilfer will be looking to do something he’s never done before as a college head coach: win on the road.
Last season in Dilfer’s first year at the helm, the Blazers marched into Paulson Stadium (Ga. Southern), Sanford Stadium (Georgia), Yulman Stadium (Tulane), Alamodome (UTSA), Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Navy), and DATCU Stadium (North Texas) and came up empty.
This weekend, UAB (1-0) will look to inaugurate the Dilfer era by knocking off the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-0) of the Sun Belt Conference at Malone Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana, for his first road win as the Blazers’ head football coach.
Both UAB and ULM defeated SWAC opponents to open their respective seasons in ‘24, with UAB beating Alcorn State 41-3 and ULM toppling Jackson State by the score of 30-14.
However, UAB has found the second game of the year to be tough sledding in recent years. Since 2017, the Blazers are just 1-6 in Week 2 contests with the last 2-0 start coming in 2019 under then-head coach Bill Clark.
In the postgame press conference last week, Dilfer said UAB took a “matter-of-fact” approach against Alcorn State and praised his defense and special teams. “(We) tried not to let our emotions get the best of us, right?” Dilfer said. “And (I) was super pleased with the defense, the special teams, especially after last year those being areas that weren’t real productive for us.”
The Blazers will now line up against a former UAB assistant and interim head coach, Bryant Vincent, who is in his first year as head coach at ULM. Vincent was the offensive coordinator at UAB in 2014 and again from 2018-21.
In addition to Vincent, 18 of ULM coaches/support staff/players have ties to UAB.
Impact players on the offensive side of the ball for UAB are quarterback Jacob Zeno (23-32/215 yards and 2 TDs), wide receiver Kam Shanks (171 all-purpose yards, 6 catches for 73 yards), and running back Lee Beebe Jr. (82 yards, 2 TDs).
Defensively, UAB held Alcorn State to only 177 total yards—60 through the air—and compiled five sacks, eight tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble. UAB also posted a sound effort on special teams against the Braves, blocking a punt and going perfect on FGs/PATs.
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Blazers and Warhawks last met on October 2, 1999, with UAB securing a 47-0 victory. TG
