“Yeah baby, FBS!”

Samford walked off the field with high spirits as halftime arrived. Up 14-13 against their crosstown opponent after a 95-yard scoop and score closed out the second quarter and them on top. Needless to say, they were looking to play spoiler FCS team over the “superior” FBS today. 

Samford and UAB hadn’t played each other in 34 years, despite their campuses being roughly three miles apart. The aforementioned divisional difference is the main reason for that. Still, that infrequency didn’t stop this game from feeling like a true rivalry. 

From the jump, every player was passionate, as if this game was one both teams circled on the schedule for years. Big hits, chippiness, helmets getting knocked off, it was clear both sides wanted this one badly. 

UAB came in expecting this to be a cakewalk, but Samford was prepared. The first quarter was a heavy back and forth, starting with UAB’s first play from scrimmage being a 54-yard pass from Ryder Burton to CJ Smith. However, they were stopped, sacked, and held to a field goal. A couple of drives later and Samford put together a five minute long sequence to score a touchdown and take the lead. UAB responded the very next drive with their own four minute long touchdown drive. 

Tailgates had lined the streets surrounding Protective Stadium before the game, and those fans made their presence known inside. While the green of the Blazers faithful covered most of the stands, a small (but loud) corner of Samford supporters were doing their best to fight back. 

After the joyous Samford halftime march, things quickly snapped back to reality in the second half. Alex Mortensen tightened his team up and ran the damn ball. UAB had 35 plays in the last two quarters. They ran the ball on 33 of them. The Bulldogs just couldn’t keep up with the Blazers’ ground game and were getting beat at the line on almost every play by the end. Add to that a missed field goal in the third quarter and getting shutout the full second half, the halftime joy seemed like a distant dream. 

But despite the loss, Samford benefitted alongside UAB from an intense game that has the makings of a modern rivalry. 

“I think it’s healthy [to] create a rivalry, in today’s football…to be able to do,” Samford head coach John Grass told the media. “My goal is you keep playing this game down the line, you fill the stadium up.”

UAB took home the trophy this year in the Battle for Vulcan, avenging that 1992 loss and tying the series 1-1 all time. While it may seem silly to call two games over 20+ years a rivalry, the Bulldogs and Blazers play again next season. And Samford will be coming in with a chip on their shoulder. FBS schools always schedule FCS schools, so why not keep the rivalry rolling? Whether it sticks or not, until 2027, the Blazers can officially crown themselves Birmingham’s team.