1993 UAB Blazers football team
The 1993 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the college football season of 1993, and was the third team fielded by the school. The team's head coach was Jim Hilyer, who was entered his third season as the UAB's head coach. They played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama and competed as a Division I-AA Independent. The Blazers finished their first season at the I-AA level with a record of nine wins and two losses (9–2). Schedule Game summaries Troy State In the Blazers first game as a Division I-AA independent, UAB took an early 3–0 lead on a 24-yard Kevin Thomason, only to fall by a final score of 37–3 to the in-state Trojans. Morehead State The Blazers notched their first win as a Division I-AA independent, with a 52–14 victory over Morehead State at Legion Field. Pat Green scored both of UAB's first-quarter touchdowns on separate 1-yard runs and took a 14–0 lead. The second quarter saw the Blazers tack on an additional 17 points on a David Thornton touchdown run, a 14-yard John Whitcomb touchdown pass to Jermaine Johnson and a 20-yard Kevin Thomason field goal to take a 31–0 halftime lead. After Morehead ended the shutout with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns, the Blazers answered with a pair of touchdowns to close the third. The scores came on a 35-yard David Thornton run and on a 67-yard Whitcomb touchdown pass to Derrick Ingram. UAB added a 9-yard Chip Harris touchdown reception from Chris Williams to provide the final 52–14 margin of victory. In the victory, the Blazers had 482 yards of total offense. Western Kentucky In their first game on the road as a Division I-AA Independent, UAB traveled to Bowling Green and see their second defeat in three game with this 41–13 loss to the Hilltoppers. The Blazers scored first on a one-yard Pat Green touchdown run. After Western answered with a touchdown, UAB took the lead for a final time on a second one-yard Green run. After this score, the Blazers were unable to reach the end zone again in this 41–13 defeat. Miles The Blazers played a "road" game in their home stadium, playing cross-town opponent Miles College, and were victorious in this 31–6 victory. With the running game only able to gain 20 yards rushing, John Whitcomb completed 25 passes for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For the game, the Golden Bears were flagged 21 times for 179 yards in the defeat. Lambuth Before a home crowd, UAB defeated the NAIA Division II Lambuth by a final score of 40–14. The Blazers were successful on offense and gained 446 total yards and on defense only allowed 202 yards and made five turnovers in the victory. Mississippi Valley State On the road, the Blazers upset the Delta Devils 33–19 and improved their overall record to 4–2. UAB scored on the first play from scrimmage after Wayne White recovered a MVSU fumble