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                         October 25, 2002

Black Knights welcome UAB Blazers; still looking for 1st win

By Jim Fox
Sports Editor

Despite the recent offensive resurgence the Army Black Knights still welcome the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers to Michie Stadium Saturday in search of their first victory of the season.

The 1 p.m. contest is not televised but can be heard on ESPN Radio (1050 AM) and on Soldiers Radio Network.

UAB, 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA, is in the midst of a rebuilding year after seven players from the 2001 squad were drafted into the National Football League and only 12 of 25 starters return.

"This is the year to get us," Blazers eighth-year head coach Watson Brown said during Tuesday’s conference call. "We are a completely different football team from last year"

Brown said his team has been beset with injuries and are playing better every week.

He lists 10 new starters on defense, a new style quarterback and a banged up offensive line and running game.

"We could easily be 0-7," Brown said. "Somehow we have found ways to win in three games."

This year the kicking game is the one part of the team that is consistent and playing at a high level from week to week, according to Brown.

The offense is in the hands of red shirt freshman Darrell Hackney, a talented thrower who sometimes let’s his youthfulness get the best of him.

"(UAB’s Hackney) is fun to watch," third-year Army coach Todd Berry said at Tuesday’s weekly press luncheon. "He can stand back in the shotgun and throw it around the yard, or he can run the option. He is hard to bring down, and we will have to try to contain him. Otherwise, we are going to give up some big plays down field."

Berry likened him to a young David Garrard, East Carolina’s quarterback from 1998-2001 who is now the Jacksonville Jaguars back-up quarterback.

Looking at Army (0-7, 0-5), off to its worst start in the 113 year history of Black Knight football, Berry said he thinks sophomore starting quarterback Reggie Nevels won’t be available Saturday. Freshman Zac Dahman will most likely get his fourth start of the season and a chance to duplicate the aerial display he put on in Houston last week.

"This is Dahman’s game," Berry said.

The meaning of those simple words speak volumes when you begin to realize that an offensively functional Dahman, as Berry puts it, can now have a game plan built around him without having to wonder if a healthy Nevels will snatch the start away from him.

Dahman receiving all the snaps with the first team during practice should help Army find some sort of consistency on offense, which is a key in Berry’s mind to posting a win Saturday.

"He made some quantum leaps (against Houston)," Berry said. "He recognized coverages better and finally moved around in the pocket.

"The rest of the offense now looks to him in a different light."

Berry said the keys to winning Saturday are churning out consistently long drives on offense, tackling better and getting off their blocks on defense.

"We need a win," Berry stressed, "this week."