Promising Opening to Fall Camp for Blazers

© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The UAB Blazers football team hit the field on July 30 to kick off Year 2 under head coach Trent Dilfer. The energy in and out of periods was noticeable. Local media got a chance to talk to Dilfer, returning quarterback Jacob Zeno and defensive back Colby Dempsey.

Dilfer Embracing Challenges

Dilfer is a no-nonsense straight shooter, which is refreshing for college football coaches who always give canned answers. I have learned in my time that good questions elicit good answers. What I loved about the beginning was that Dilfer came out, but there was no opening statement.

"It was an opening statement because everyone in college football had been participating that day," Dilfer said jokingly.

"You know it's part of the gig," Dilfer said when asked about starting the season and getting away from NIL and Transfer Portal talk. "I love this battle. It is a hard battle, and you have to be crazy to coach college football if you don't love a fight." Dilfer said, "I loved the NIL battle, I loved the transfer portal battle and I loved the developmental battle."

Dilfer said having players return to the team is a big boost for the Blazers.

"It is huge to develop core leaders in Year 1," Dilfer said. "It was huge on both sides of the ball and seeing players coach players on both offense and defense. When your players start coaching your players, you have a chance to be good, and we are developing that."

Zeno Ready for 2024

The former Baylor Bear and Elite 11 quarterback out of San Antonio, Texas, is coming off arguably the most prolific season as a UAB quarterback. Zeno had the privilege of being coached by his now-head coach, Dilfer, at the Elite 11 camp before coming to play for Dilfer at UAB.

Zeno met with the media after practice and said it felt good to be back and getting ready for Year 2 under offensive coordinator Alex Mortenson,

"The biggest thing today was just fatigue, trying to get into football shape," he said.

I asked Zeno if there are any players not being talked about on the offensive side of the ball that people should keep an eye on. Zeno confidently said that everybody on the offensive side of the ball should be watched.

" I have the easiest job, I just give them the ball, and they make me look good," Zeno said.

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Dempsey's Return to UAB

Dempsey, one of the longtime Blazers left from the Bill Clark era, entered the Transfer Portal on April 30, but on May 21 he pulled his name from the portal to finish his career at UAB. The West Palm Beach, Fla., native is looking to end his career on a high note with the Blazers.

"It's family," Dempsey said of returning to UAB. "It means more than ball, and I have been here all my years and wanted to finish it here."

UAB has unveiled some new uniforms, and Dempsey was asked what he thought of the new look. He put it: "Gas, the gas." When asked to follow up on his favorite, he said, "All black, well, wait. I ain't going to lie—the all grey are clean."

Asked what he felt about his rating in the new College Football 25 game, Dempsey said he would like to see some changes.

"It's bad, they got to up it. They got my drip messed. EA please change it, change it now," he said jokingly.

Blazers Building Culture

Dilfer is building a culture of leaders and winning. This process will take time, but the groundwork has been laid to keep the culture around for a long time. Having leaders on both sides of the ball will be huge for the Blazers as they enter a very challenging American Athletic Conference schedule.

The Blazers have a chance to knock off a mighty Southeastern Conference foe as they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Razorbacks on Sept. 14 on the SEC Network. The quarterback matchup of Zeno going head-to-head with Taylen Green—who is the former Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year at Boise State, now with the Razorbacks—should make for a fun watch.

The Blazers are going to be exciting to watch this year, so if you are in the Birmingham, Ala., area and want to see some good football at a beautiful stadium—Protective Stadium—get to a Blazers game this year.

Between the atmosphere, the food and the football, it's a great way to spend a Saturday in Birmingham.