Roundup: Thursday, December 26th
Two football players enter the transfer portal. Two more commit to new schools.
TODAY IN UAB HISTORY
1988: Blazers ride Turner and Kennedy to a dominant victory
The Long Beach State 49ers visited UAB Arena on December 26th, 1988, marking the only basketball game UAB has ever played on this date. It was the first season in which the Blazers were free from the expansive confines of the BJCC; Gene Bartow, Andy Kennedy, and crew hadn’t yet lost in their new home and were determined to protect their perfect record.
Although LBSU wasn’t the toughest opponent the Blazers faced all season, entering the game as 14-point underdogs, they were one of the wiliest. The smaller 49ers made up for their athleticism disadvantage by deploying an aggressive press that rattled the Green and Gold. UAB quickly fell into a double-digit hole, prompting a furious Bartow to begin yanking starters — including Kennedy — in droves.
“I knew they were going to press us, but I thought we could attack it with a big lineup,” Bartow said after the game. “Obviously, it didn’t work.”
The Blazers finally composed themselves near the end of the half, getting to the basket at will and heading into the locker room having evened the score at 43 a piece.
“Once we realized we had to work extra hard against that press, we did it and took control,” said center Alan Ogg. “I just think they caught us a little sluggish because we’d taken three days off for Christmas.”
Now accustomed to their inferior opponents’ trickery, UAB returned to the court with a vengeance, using outbursts from Kennedy and forward Reggie Turner to take a double-digit lead. Once pesky and defiant, the 49ers suddenly looked rudderless on offense, making less than 33% of their field goal attempts in the second half. Turner was particularly dominant, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds and drawing effusive praise from Bartow.
“Reggie Turner has played so phenomenal,” Bartow said. “He’s really carrying us right now… You can see basketball means an awful lot to Reggie right now. That’s why he’s playing so well.”
“Man, I hope this never ends,” said Turner, who had recorded his seventh consecutive double-double. “I want this to continue all the way to the Final Four.”
Turner would go on to earn All-Conference honors, boosting his draft stock so much that the Denver Nuggets selected him in 1989; unfortunately, the team’s success did not continue all the way to the Final Four. The Blazers would finish the season with a 17-10 record and fail to make the NCAA Tournament. However, UAB would shine in the NIT, defeating Richmond, UConn, and Michigan State to secure a third-place finish.
FOOTBALL
In the wake of Monday’s NCAA waiver that gave him an extra year of eligibility, UAB tight end Bryce Damous entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.
Damous transferred from Garden City Community College to UAB in 2021, only appearing in one game during his first year in Birmingham.
Over the next three seasons, Damous would become one of UAB’s most consistent tight ends, recording a total of 57 receptions for 614 yards and five touchdowns.
It seems as though RB Isaiah Jacobs, OL Quez Yates, LB Michael Moore, QB Carter Putt, and LB Joker Gill will also be given extra eligibility by the waiver. It is yet unclear what any of them intend to do with it.
Yates and Gill declared for the NFL Draft before the NCAA waiver was granted.
UAB OL Baron Franks II entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.
Franks, formerly of Norfolk State, signed with UAB last offseason. He appeared in five games in 2024.
With Damous and Franks transferring, 31 UAB players are now in the portal. A full list can be found at The Banner.
The list is missing DT Miquon Merriweather, WR Corri Milliner, Damous, and Franks.
DB AJ Brown also withdrew from the portal on Monday.
Former UAB CB Ricky Lee III committed to FCS Sacramento State on Tuesday.
Former UAB S Chris Bracy committed to Memphis on Thursday.
He joins former UAB LB Everett Roussaw, who committed to Memphis on Friday, December 20th.