Alabama-Birmingham snapped a seven-game losing streak against Conference USA teams dating back to last season when it beat Tulane on Saturday.
Head coach Neil Callaway and the Blazers will hope for a second conference win when they face defending C-USA champion Houston this Saturday at Legion Field.
"It was a very big win for us, not only for our football team, but for our whole school. It was homecoming and something we all desperately needed," Callaway said in a press conference Monday.
Senior quarterback Sam Hunt, who completed 17-of-32 pass attempts for 262 yards and a touchdown, said that the Blazers (2-4, 1-1 C-USA) are pleased with the win and will use it to help them improve.
"We’re going to forget about what we have done in the past and build off our wins and the good things we’ve done so far and keep getting better every week," Hunt said.
In order to do that, the Blazers must match the offensive production of Houston, who put up 748 total offensive yards against Rice on Saturday.
The Blazers’ defense will also have to stop the explosive offensive threats of Houston senior running back Anthony Alridge and senior wide receiver Donnie Avery.
"I think the University of Houston is an outstanding football team, particularly offensively. They have more speed than anybody I’ve seen in a while," Callaway said. "Their receiving corps and running backs can fly. We are going to have to work awfully hard to guard against them."
Sophomore Joseph Webb is listed as quarterback but has played well as a wide receiver for the Blazers this season. He had six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown against Tulane and will attempt to put forth the same effort against the Cougars.
"Every time we get on the field we need to score a touchdown. They have a good offense, and they know how to put up points," Webb said. "We know it’s going to be a shootout Saturday night."
Callaway also said that the UAB special teams, something Houston has been struggling with, were influential in Saturday’s come-from-behind win against Tulane.
The Blazers did not gain a lead until the third quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hunt to Webb, but junior kicker Swayze Waters cemented the lead by connecting on two field goals in the fourth quarter to ensure that Tulane would never have the lead again.
With their first conference win of the season behind them, the Blazers are ready to finish the season with six consecutive games against C-USA teams.
"We knew that if we got this win going into the heart of conference play it would be good for us," Webb said. "We just need to continue to win ball games, (and) it will lead to something good."
