I went to the West Virginia-UAB Basketball Game Saturday because I wanted to be there for the greatest day in UAB History. The table was set for UAB Football to beat the highest ranked team in program history, and for UAB Basketball to beat a perennial NCAA Tournament team, all at the same time. The Hoopsters let a 9 point second half lead slip away in a 65-59 loss, but the football team delivered. Bill Clark’s team beat 13th ranked BYU 31-28 and took home The Independence Bowl Trophy (pictured above). It was the 4th win over a ranked team. Dylan Hopkins set a Bowl Record for completion percentage. DeWayne McBride finished the year with 1,371 yards rushing. The win seems almost as satisfying as the two C-USA Conference Championships after “The Return”. It also gave the nation who watched on ABC a chance to say, “Bill Clark has done a fantastic job. I wonder why he never gets talked about more at bigger jobs?” Those questions are mute to UAB fans. Clark’s legacy is cemented in Green and Gold and Saturday was just not another brick.
GAMES TO WATCH: (All Times Central)
CFB: 6-6 Old Dominion vs. 6-6 Tulsa 1:30pm ESPN (Myrtle Beach Bowl)
NFL: 6-7 Raiders vs. 7-6 Browns 4:00pm NFL Network
NFL: 6-7 Vikings vs. 4-9 Bears 7:15pm ESPN
ON THE SHOW: (All Times Central)
10:00am JOEL KLATT, Analyst FOX CFB
11:00am MATT WYATT, Analyst SEC CFB
11:30am TRASH with LT presented by Mortgage Right
12:00pm BRANDON MARCELLO, National Writer 24/7 Sports
TOP LINKS THIS MORNING: ($$=Subscription Needed)
- JOE GOODMAN: UAB’s finest hour shows power of a city READ
- BO NIX TO OREGON: Former Auburn QB hopes to win job in PAC12 READ
- WILL AUBURN HIT PORTAL: Transfer QB Tracker from Sporting News READ
- AUBURN OC HIRE: Harsin adds Austin Davis from Seahawks to his staff READ
- ALEX SCARBOROUGH: Why recruiting has turned into a never ending grind READ
- CFB PLAYOFFS: Christian Harris first impression of Desmond Ridder READ
- CFB PLAYOFFS: Kirby Smart In-Depth on Michigan vs. Georgia READ
- URBAN MEYER: Urban wonders if his coaching style still works READ
- 50 GREATEST BOWL GAMES: ($$) Matt Brown gives us his list READ
- BEHIND THE SCENES: Inside Lincoln Riley’s first 3 Weeks at USC READ
- PAT FORDE: Forde-Yard Dash includes The Most Wonderful Time of Year READ
- PETE THAMEL: How to fix the already broken NIL System READ
- NFL WEEK 15 TAKEAWAYS: Cards are crashing; Ravens 2-pt choices again READ
- NY TIMES PROFILE: ($$) Kids are drifting away from sports READ
- SPIDER-MAN NO WAY HOME: Instant Reaction to Box Office Hit READ
- CHARLIE WOODS: Tiger’s son stole the show at The PNC Championship READ
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jonah Hill, David Wright, Calvin Ridley, Rich Gannon
