05-31-2007, 08:49 PM
Any of you who were at the very first NCAA football practice held at UAB?
It was a hot August afternoon, and more than 100 hopefuls showed up for UAB's first Division III practice. The players were clad in green shorts and grey T-shirts with "UAB FOOTBALL" on the front, with green helmets. Gene Bartow was there, most of the local media was there, UAB President Charles "Scotty" McCallum was there, too.
The mood was incredibly upbeat as virtually everyone involved sensed that this very humble start was going to lead to something much bigger. Oh, everyone had dreams and their own ideas as to the possibilities someday, but the truth was that in 1991 no one really knew. No one knew if the program would ever advance beyond Division III. No one knew if any of these players were any good at all. No one new if the coaching staff -- a veritable who's who of ex-Bama and Auburn players -- really could coach a lick. And none of these players really knew exactly what they had signed up for. It was completely new. Fresh. Innocent. In so many ways, it was football the way it was supposed to be before being corrupted by greed and egos. Fun, exciting, inclusive.
A few things stood out that day. You learned quick that the little old man with the whistle who stooped funny while he watched could erupt when he saw something he didn't like. Jim Hilyer could be a fireplug. He was tough. This disciple of George Allen and Shug Jordan never has EVER gotten the credit he deserved. In chaotic circumstances he instilled winning attitude that Watson Brown's crew slowly eroded into the disaster you saw in 2006. You learned Billy Tohill, the former TCU coach who was the DC the first year, could invent new curse words about as quickly as he could get them out of his mouth. More on Tohill later in a coming ode to the first UAB football game in history.
As far as players go, former Blazer baseball player Doug Gann was the first quarterback. He'd been a solid QB at Homewood High before coming to play baseball for the Blazers, where he'd had a school-record hitting streak and helped the Blazers make the NCAAs for the first time. Doug was class, and he was a crucial part of the first team. Because he had actually been a college athlete, he brought professionalism to a program that had, essentially, 100 freshmen.
You immediately noticed a broad-shouldered linebacker from Dothan who had a certain swagger. Wayne White would go on to become one the program's early leaders. Likewise for a linebacker from Trussville named Alan Spooner, who was a little undersized but had these huge calves and the look of an athlete.
On the offensive line, your eye gravtated toward the little center with the big arms. Mike Trammell couldn't have been taller than about 5-9 but he had a huge heart to match those biceps. For me, Mike Trammell always embodied the spirit of UAB football in those early years. He was too small. He shouldn't have been out there. He never should have amounted to much, but he absolutely, positively would not let anyone sell him short. He delivered every ounce of potential his body would allow him to give.
And on the defensive line, there was an immediate standout that first day. This pudgy tackle with quick feet and a big smile, you could tell, was going to be a player. Josh Evans would grow up to become the first Blazer in the NFL. UAB got him as a non-scholarship Division III player from Lanett High.
The first Blazers ... Rebels. Dreamers. Doers.
Winners.
And they should never be forgotten.
It was a hot August afternoon, and more than 100 hopefuls showed up for UAB's first Division III practice. The players were clad in green shorts and grey T-shirts with "UAB FOOTBALL" on the front, with green helmets. Gene Bartow was there, most of the local media was there, UAB President Charles "Scotty" McCallum was there, too.
The mood was incredibly upbeat as virtually everyone involved sensed that this very humble start was going to lead to something much bigger. Oh, everyone had dreams and their own ideas as to the possibilities someday, but the truth was that in 1991 no one really knew. No one knew if the program would ever advance beyond Division III. No one knew if any of these players were any good at all. No one new if the coaching staff -- a veritable who's who of ex-Bama and Auburn players -- really could coach a lick. And none of these players really knew exactly what they had signed up for. It was completely new. Fresh. Innocent. In so many ways, it was football the way it was supposed to be before being corrupted by greed and egos. Fun, exciting, inclusive.
A few things stood out that day. You learned quick that the little old man with the whistle who stooped funny while he watched could erupt when he saw something he didn't like. Jim Hilyer could be a fireplug. He was tough. This disciple of George Allen and Shug Jordan never has EVER gotten the credit he deserved. In chaotic circumstances he instilled winning attitude that Watson Brown's crew slowly eroded into the disaster you saw in 2006. You learned Billy Tohill, the former TCU coach who was the DC the first year, could invent new curse words about as quickly as he could get them out of his mouth. More on Tohill later in a coming ode to the first UAB football game in history.
As far as players go, former Blazer baseball player Doug Gann was the first quarterback. He'd been a solid QB at Homewood High before coming to play baseball for the Blazers, where he'd had a school-record hitting streak and helped the Blazers make the NCAAs for the first time. Doug was class, and he was a crucial part of the first team. Because he had actually been a college athlete, he brought professionalism to a program that had, essentially, 100 freshmen.
You immediately noticed a broad-shouldered linebacker from Dothan who had a certain swagger. Wayne White would go on to become one the program's early leaders. Likewise for a linebacker from Trussville named Alan Spooner, who was a little undersized but had these huge calves and the look of an athlete.
On the offensive line, your eye gravtated toward the little center with the big arms. Mike Trammell couldn't have been taller than about 5-9 but he had a huge heart to match those biceps. For me, Mike Trammell always embodied the spirit of UAB football in those early years. He was too small. He shouldn't have been out there. He never should have amounted to much, but he absolutely, positively would not let anyone sell him short. He delivered every ounce of potential his body would allow him to give.
And on the defensive line, there was an immediate standout that first day. This pudgy tackle with quick feet and a big smile, you could tell, was going to be a player. Josh Evans would grow up to become the first Blazer in the NFL. UAB got him as a non-scholarship Division III player from Lanett High.
The first Blazers ... Rebels. Dreamers. Doers.
Winners.
And they should never be forgotten.
He will be attending a future BlazerTalk lunch but not this Wednesday.