UAB’s head coach praises UTEP before matchup Saturday

UTEP might be 0-7 this season and headed into a matchup with a 6-1 UAB team, but the Blazers don’t think it’ll be a walk in the park Saturday at the Sun Bowl.

UAB head coach Bill Clark praised the Miners in his weekly news conference, saying that he expects a fight once kick-off arrives at 5:30 p.m.

“And really, I mean, I know this sounds like coach talk, but their last two games, and I got to see them against North Texas, they led and it was down to the wire,” said Clark. “And then LA Tech, they were inside the ten at the end of the game with a chance to tie it up or maybe even go for two and win it.”

The Miners have lost 19 in a row dating back to last season, but each of their last four losses has come by single digits.

Clark says that he’s known UTEP head coach Dana Dimel for a while, and he believes Dimel will turn the program around.

“Coach Dimel, who has been in the biggest games in the biggest leagues, is a great coach,” he said.

Though the Blazers are the only C-USA West team without a league loss (4-0), Clark said that there isn’t much of a talent gap between the top teams in the division and those near the bottom.

“They’re believing in what [Dana Dimel] is doing, and there’s not a lot separating us in this league,” said Clark. “So, we’re going to have to be ready.”

UAB’s lone loss this season came in their second contest of the year at Coastal Carolina.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN’s subscription streaming service ESPN+.