Win as One! UAB Blazers crowned 2020 C-USA football champions

Birmingham, Alabama, UAB
Blaze statue at the UAB Collat School of Business building. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now.

For the second time in three years, the UAB Blazers are Conference USA football champions.

Last night, the Blazers were crowned king of the C-USA after winning a hard-fought 22-13 victory over Marshall in the 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship game.

Led by a stingy defense and game MVP Spencer Brown, the Blazers finished off the Thundering Herd after a late fourth quarter 71 yard TD reception by receiver Trea Shropshire from quarterback Tyler Johnston III. 

This Football Team is Special

I’m thinking the good folks at Disney need to start writing a movie script about our Blazers. Here is a suggestion for the title… UAB’s slogan “Win As One!”

It is hard to believe that in 2014, the UAB football team was disbanded, restarted in 2017, and now has competed in the C-USA championships three straight years and subsequently taken home two titles.

ESPN College Football summed it up in one tweet on Twitter.

We went back into the Bham Now archives and found this story written on April 1, 2017 celebrating the first Green and Gold  since the team was dissolved. Our writer back then, Cary Estes  does a great job describing how our community – Birmingham – brought the team back from the brink of extinction.

Give Coach Bill Clark Key to the City

UAB Bill Clark
UAB Head Coach Bill Clark. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

If they are holding a Birmingham City Council meeting this next Tuesday, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the city Council need to give Head Coach Bill Clark an honorary key to the city. 

He has stuck with UAB and Birmingham through it all.  From the sudden end of the program in 2014 to two titles in three years. He could have gone anywhere, but he stayed with us. 

Along the way Clark has taught us there is more to UAB football than wins and losses. In 2017, he established one of the best homecoming traditions in college football with Children’s Harbor. For the past four years, UAB players have worn the names of the patients, past and present at Children’s Harbor on their back. 

“We talk a lot about playing for the name on the front of the jersey,” head coach Bill Clark says. “This is our chance to play for the name on the back.”

UAB
Photo courtesy of Children’s Harbor

Next Up

Protective Stadium
A look inside Protective Stadium. Photo via BJCC

We anxiously wait for the Blazers’ bowl game announcement in a couple of days. In fall 2021, the Blazers will kickoff in the new Protective Stadium.

What a comeback. Are there any screenwriters out there?

To stay up to date with the latest and greatest in Birmingham news, follow us on social @BhamNow + sign up for our FREE newsletter.

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 2612