1. A Series Tied at Two
UAB and Alabama State enter Thursday’s matchup with the all-time series deadlocked at 2–2. The Hornets defeated the Blazers in back-to-back years (1994 and 1995) when UAB was still competing at the FCS level. Since then, the Blazers have evened the score, winning in 2008 and 2019. A fifth meeting will decide who takes the edge in this Birmingham vs. Montgomery showdown.
2. Underdogs with Something to Prove
Alabama State is 0–12 all-time against FBS opponents.
Head Coach Eddie Robinson Jr. said at his presser on Tuesday:
“We have a lot of kids on this team who feel like they can play at the FBS level, that they can play at the NFL level. We have some kids who are from Birmingham who probably didn’t get recruited by UAB, so you have a lot of incentives. But to me, I think the biggest incentive as a coach is to win the game.”
That sentiment provides plenty of bulletin-board material for both sides, as Alabama State looks to finally break through against an FBS foe.
3. Familiar Faces and Old Battles
This won’t be the first time Trent Dilfer and Eddie Robinson Jr. have squared off. Nearly 25 years ago, the two met on the field in a classic NFL clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans — a game Baltimore edged 24–23. Now, they meet again in a very different role: as head coaches in the state of Alabama.
There are other connections too. One of Dilfer’s new assistants, Ryan Lewis Sr., spent the last three years as Alabama State’s defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, UAB’s offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen is one of just 22 staffers remaining from year one of the program’s return. In fact, Dilfer says there are roughly 64 new faces in the building — players, coaches, and staff — who weren’t part of past struggles but are motivated to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
“Most of those 64 new people have come in saying, ‘Hey, we want to be the reason why that never happens again,’” Dilfer said.
Get to Protective Stadium this Thursday, 7:30 PM.
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