Trent Dilfer meets with media AHEAD OF AAC OPENER AGAINST NAVY

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 23, 2024

UAB head coach Trent Dilfer met with the media on Monday to talk about his team’s American Athletic Conference opener against visiting Navy. He also took time to talk about playing for Smile-A-Mile children and took a glance back at what the Blazers got out of last week’s bye.

Opening statement: I think there's two things we need to start with that are bigger than football. Number one, the tragic shooting that happened yesterday morning, I guess it was the night before. I think, number one, our hearts go out to the victims, their families. We personally have a player who was affected by it. I don't want to share details, but so it's touched our program. It's also reinforces why we build this thing for something bigger than football. It's an opportunity to talk to our players, reinforce why we're trying to build a program that will have a positive impact on our communities, especially the city of Birmingham. We obviously have issues, violence. We feel like our kids here, as they grow in the program can be role models to young kids in the city, that there's an alternative. So that's something we're able to talk to our players about.

And then number two, our second year partnership with Smile-A-Mile. An opportunity for our kids to live for something bigger than themselves, represent something bigger than the name on the back of their jersey or bigger than the name on the front of the jersey. You represent a family that's dealing with something that none of us ever want to deal with. Our family has, so it's especially important to the Dilfer family that we're able to use football as a platform to honor and encourage people going through something a lot harder than whatever is going on in the football field, whether it's the NFL, college, high school. Losses are painful but not nearly as painful as struggles we go through as families, especially families with kids battling for their lives.

So on to football, another great challenge for us, which is exciting. I think the cool thing about the American Conference is that every game is a war daddy. Every team, every program in this conference is unique. It's a unique challenge. This one especially, Coach (Brian) Newberry has done an incredible job understanding the players on his team and what they can do better than other people. And that was proven against Memphis. They have a system in place that maximizes, optimizes their players' ability, creates a ton of challenges for you both offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game. They're very solid in the kicking game. So we are really, really excited about this next challenge. I think, where this team is growing is, instead of having anxiety about what's next, there's an enthusiasm and excitement about the next challenge. This is a massive challenge for us and we look forward to seeing how we stand up against it on Saturday.

On his program’s impact in the community and his relationship with Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin: Mayor Woodfin and I have developed a really good relationship, friendship. I think the world of him. I may be one of his biggest hands. I did not reach out to him after this simply because he's got a lot better fish to fry than the football coach. These are issues he's been addressing, head on, for quite a while. If you follow him on social media, he's very bold on his stance against these types of acts of violence, against switches, against all these things that are plaguing our country. community. I know he's exhausted every effort. He's brought in other resources, he’s begged for other resources. He's tried to put this at the forefront of everything.

 All I can say publicly is that we lock our arms with him. It's one of the reasons why our kids, you know people say why do you serve so much? I think there's two reasons. Number one, you have to live life for something bigger than yourself. Life is always better when it's bigger. Service is a way to learn that skill. But number two, invest in the community. Every community, whether it's Birmingham or other communities, has its issues. Young people, the next generation, can fix those issues. You're gonna put a band-aid on this generation. That's about the best you can do. But you can fix the next generation. A lot of that  happens because of role models. Young people look and see role models as those that are going to school, getting an education, playing a sport, pursuing a passion, chasing their best, climbing mountains, whatever it is. Not the easy road, right, the violent road, the selfish road. And if our kids, right now, they're through the verge of serving the homeless. If that is something that is looked up to by our young people, then maybe the other life is not as desirable for you.

On gun violence message to his team: It's a great question. You know, we've addressed it. Maybe I need to do it more. We've addressed it. We've talked about it. We've talked about choices, decisions, consequences. We've talked about, even though culturally sometimes you grow up where you say it's an understood and accepted thing. It doesn't mean it is, you know. Just because how you grew up and you saw something doesn't mean that's the best way. We've talked a lot about the difference between bad, good, and best, right. And I think that's been one of the core themes of what we've tried to emphasize in 21 months. There are bad decisions, there are bad choices, and those come with bad consequences. There's good, you know, put good and average kind in the same category. There's good decisions we can make, but then there's best, and let's look for best. And a lot of times you can choose the best road, it's the harder road, but also it's more impactful. And we're hoping that our young people can make best decisions to model that to the people that are following them. So I actually think, you know, what came up, woke me up a little bit more and wanted to drill down and be a little more specific with some of my messaging, especially as it relates to gun violence.

On the bye week: Yeah, it was perfect, I think for a lot of reasons. One, we had the massive turd week two, then we had to follow it up with an SEC opponent, which I thought we responded very well from a preparation standpoint and our general temperament and how we played that game. Our execution wasn't great, that's something we continue to work on. But the temperament of how we approach the Arkansas game was really encouraging. But it also beat us up. So anytime you play an SEC opponent, you're gonna get a little more battered and bruised. It gives a chance to heal up. Last night, we're pretty healthy, overall. But also kind of a reset, you know, one of our core values is resetting. I think those are small increments, you know, we talked about doing it in eight seconds, but there's also a bigger reset, getting ready for conference play. It's an opponent that creates unique challenges, being able to steal the day on them, you know, and just what they do is important. But I think just for the soul of our team, it was really good. They also got to see their families, and I remember this specifically, it was, you know, a thousand years ago. But being able to see your family in the midst of the football season can be challenging, and we have an opportunity to do so, a kind of recharge. So a lot of our guys came back with recharged batteries.

On having bye week to learn more about struggles in defending the run game the past two weeks:  Yeah, I mean, obviously it's something we've been, we've struggled with the whole time. It's not just been the past two games, against equal or better opponents than us it's been our Achilles heel. So yeah, we took a close look at scheme, personnel, technique. You know, we looked at it from a fundamental standpoint as well. I guess that fits into technique. But you know, at the end of the day, stopping the run is destroying blocks, running to the football, tackling. So we had a better job of block destruction. Our length, added length this year, should help with that. And it has the times, you know, it shows the times it has. Running the football, I think we're good, not great yet. And I think tackling, we've been better, but not as good as we need to be. So you continue to make small little changes over time. And those become big changes if you stick with them and you're consistent. But we're still in the small little changes over time phase. To think that we're gonna shut down Navy’s run game, I think is probably an unrealistic expectation. I think you have to limit the damage, contain it, and you got to win the big downs. The one thing that they do consistently is win the big downs, the big situations. So you have to find a way to win those downs.

On the option offense: Well, they run a lot of things. The triple is where it starts. The QB follow runs, you know, all the creative wing T/triple option stuff is where it starts. That's where they force you into a box. That's where they're best at. But now, they can open you up and play more of the traditional spread game too. Now, it all starts with personnel. They've done a great job to find personnel, to find guys that can run the wing T, be wing players, be inside run players, be B-C gap runners, be physical blockers and also go run verticals and run option routes and run get-open stuff is. It takes some unique personnel. I don't think Navy, Army would be in the same box, Air Force would be the same thing, the academies, their players don't get enough credit. Because they don't get recruiting rankings, because they don't have the length that's ideal many times. Because they're not celebrated as high school school players, doesn't mean they're not really good football players. Navy has great team speed, not good, great. Now, do they have 4.4 in the secondary? No, but they got a ton of four or five kids everywhere. They have offensive linemen that can run. Their fullback is 205 pounds, but he can play tailback for a lot of people. So they have really good athletes. They're fluid athletes that I think they do a great job of identifying guys that can bend, guys that have short area qualities, guys that have strength. Their strength program is obviously very good. Their players play with great strength. So their players are better than people say they are. They say it's the academy schemes, it's the triple option. And some of that is true, but I think it is not fair to their players. They have very, very good football players that fit their system, that play extremely hard. That are men, not boys. They make decisions that men make. They make good decisions on the football field. They have a poise about them. That is what you learn as you grow to be a man. So I would say overall, it's not just the skill of the players, but it's the maturity of your players that makes them very good as well.

On Brandon Buckhaulter and his thoughts on the play that Buckhaulter got hurt: Well, thoughts on the play, I've looked at a lot of times. The explanation I got on the field, I actually understand, not saying I agree with it. The ref told me, hey listen, they're making football moves, the play was continuing. It was a violent play, I do not call it a cheap play. I tried to put myself in the Arkansas player's shoes. He's been trained to run the football and finish violently and play hard and the helmet comes off and Brandon continues to play football. And that's what that player did. I'm saying I agree with it but I understand it.

Brandon is doing great. He's in concussion protocol. His neck is fine. The things that we were most scared about, not to minimize the effects of concussion from somebody that's had many, but considering how scary that was, he's in a pretty good situation.

On the effects of playing close against Arkansas: There's no moral victories, but I think there's an approach that you find confidence in. Every athlete has a one -on -one matchup in a game, right. And when you're getting killed in that matchup, your team might be successful, but you're like, ‘Ooh, I'm out over my skis.’ And I lose confidence. That was not the case against Arkansas. We won a lot of matchups. We stood up physically pretty well to them. And then I think you watched them play Auburn. Our kids watched that game, you know, everybody has a YouTube TV, or one of the TVs that shows two screens. I watched every snap of the Navy game. I watched every snap of the Auburn game.

We were extremely disappointed that, once again, we didn't do the little things that it takes to win the football game. But I think you can gain confidence in knowing that our approach is getting better, that we are improving. It's hard sometimes with your record. You know, when you have a losing record, for both coaches and players, to see the improvement. It's like seeing the glass half full and half empty. It's a simple life principle. Are you optimistic or are you pessimistic? And I think we've taken an optimistic viewpoint of what we got out of it. Now, I also told them that after Georgia, where we felt pretty good about how we stood up, last year, as a group, that we went 1-3 in the next four. But we do believe we have a group that is focused on just chasing their best and being better every single week and seeing where that takes us through.

On getting off the field against Navy’s offense and maximizing UAB’s offensive possessions I think all that is definitely, those are real conversations. The issue Navy creates is they have a scalpel and a machete. Have I ever given this talk - a scalpel versus a machete? So, a surgeon and a butcher both have sharp tools. Right? A butcher chops meat. It's a great job, very valuable. But, at the end of the day, makes you a pastrami sandwich. A surgeon saves your life with a scalpel. And in football, you know, many teams either have a machete or they have the scalpel. They have the ability to chop you in half with one swipe. Or they can nick you and make you bleed out. And typically, that’s the DNA of most offenses. They're one or the other. They're typically not both. Navy is both. Navy can nick you and you look down your puddle of blood because you've given up 9, 10, 11, 12-play drives and all they've done is go for 4, 3, 4, 6, 3 (yards at a time). There's that approach. They're fine with that approach. They have no problem playing that way. Or you load up and you're like, OK, you're not going to bleed us out. And that used to be the way you stop these teams. Back in the day, when I was playing against the triple (option), I remember (former Fresno State head coach)Jim Sweeney, one of the greatest coaches that ever lived,  said ‘Hey, you just got to absolutely sell out to stop the dive and stop the pitch. And if they throw a play action pass, you got to run into it. They’re not very good at it.’ And that's how you stopped it. No longer. These coaches are smart, their players are smart, they have counters. So great, you want to load up, and you're not going to die by 1,000 cuts, then they're going to run a misdirection play, or a pass, or something that takes advantage of you selling out. They're going to go 70 on you and break out the machete. So that's the challenge, is you have to play sound fundamental football, and you have to defend 11 players. It's no different than when you see these spread teams that have a dynamic runner or quarterback that can also throw, you're defending 11 on 11, where traditional school football is 11 versus 10, because the quarterback was the runner. It's a brilliant way to play offense. A lot of us traditional offensive guys are incorporating more of these principles into their offenses, because we used to know how hard they are to defend and the conflict it creates. But there's only so many practice reps. And I think one of the reasons I admire Coach Newberry, Coach (Jeff) Monken, and these other coaches, is they have somehow found a way to create a practice plan, where they get enough reps of all the things that create challenges for you. And honestly, I'm trying to learn from them.

On motivation from last season’s loss to Navy: You know, that’s a danger, I think, is making revenge or making one game, one situation bigger than it really is. We didn't play very well offensively, obviously. And I think the focus is on playing better. Now they create some challenges for us. One thing that their defensive scheme does is it takes advantage of some of your rules, some of your principles, and we learned that the hard way last year. So I think we've taken a learner approach to Navy, tried to understand them better, tried to learn their why they do what they do defensively, and tried to create a more sound plan against that to help our kids be successful and that our kids need to understand that they don't have to chase ghosts. They can trust us. I heard a great quote, I'm not going to say who, but I'm going to steal it and make it my own. I'm not giving him any credit whatsoever. The coaches do all the thinking so the players can play fast. Let us do the thinking for you during the week. That's what we get paid to do. That's why we're here late hours. We want to do all the thinking for our players, so on Saturday they can go play fast. I think what happens sometimes, I know this happens, this is what happens against ULM. We expected them to think too much. And we put them in a disadvantage situation. We have to think more for them during the week so they can just go out and play football. And that is kind of our goal this week.

On returning to Protective Stadium for the first time since the season-opening win over Alcorn State: Our kids have talked about it. We're pumped about the Smile-A-Mile opportunity. The kids will be out with their families Thursday for practice. Ticket sales are ahead of schedule. It's obviously an awesome football weekend in the state of Alabama. So we're excited that we got the early kick. It gives Auburn and Alabama fans opportunity to come to the game and still get to their alma mater’s or watch their alma mater on TV.  We're just really excited about it. We love our stadium. We love our home crowd. Our kids are energized by representing the city they've worked so hard to serve over the offseason. We're creeping up on 3 ,000 hours now served in our community. So these are the things that some people just kind of roll their eyes at, not us.