Trent Dilfer is likely going to be fired at the end of the 2024 college football season, if he even makes it that long. Absolutely nobody showed up to watch UAB lose yet another game in ugly fashion on Saturday.
The poor showing came just a few days after the Blazers’ second-year head coach insulted the university.
Dilfer, who had never coached football above the high school level, was hired to replace Bryant Vincent in December of 2022. It was a shocking move that UAB players (as well as a large portion of the fanbase) tried to shoot down. They campaigned for Vincent to get the job after he led a 7-6 season with a bowl win as the interim but the administration did not listen.
The Blazers went with Trent Dilfer anyway!
Pretty much everybody with a brain knew the move wasn’t going to work and, sure enough, the hire has not worked. UAB went 4-8 last season. It dropped to 1-4 with a 51-point (!!) loss to Tulane on Saturday.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The Green Wave scored 71 points. The Blazers kicked a pair of field goals in the first quarter and scored a pair of pity touchdown against the backups in the fourth quarter. That was it.
Obviously pre-recorded, but Tulane dropping a 51 yard TD run right in the middle of Trent Dilfer's sideline interview is too on the nose pic.twitter.com/jeEPGlMKij
— 2StripesCPD (@2StripesCPD) October 5, 2024
Fortunately, nobody was there to witness the beatdown because UAB fans stayed home.
Trent Dilfer’s days are numbered!
Dilfer made a bizarre comment during his postgame press conference last weekend that pissed them off. He lobbied for his grandchildren to sit next to him at the microphone while actively ignoring a question from a reporter because UAB is “not Alabama.” His attempt to clear the air only made things worse.
Look at his eyes and his condescending gestures as he is being asked a legitimate question… then the response! #TrentDilfer #FreeUAB pic.twitter.com/6VnsEj53NV
— Blazernation🔥 (@1_Blazernation) September 30, 2024
Betwee Dilfer’s attitude and the team’s losing record, fans had better things to do with their time. Mind you, the Blazers do not draw a big crowd often. However, this weekend was next-level empty.
Here was the scene at Protective Stadium during warmups:
The Dilfer effect pic.twitter.com/dn4NNNaPI9
— Auburn Blazer (@AuburnBlazer) October 5, 2024
This is what it looked like right before kickoff:
Gorgeous day for @UAB_FB at Protective Stadium.
— Kevin Scarbinsky (@KevinScarbinsky) October 5, 2024
Note: On pregame radio with David Crane, @DilfersDimes finally apologized for his "freakin Alabama" comments. Said it was a tough week feeling the backlash. Said he never meant to hurt anyone's feelings. Said he loves UAB and Bham pic.twitter.com/rHHx7UDZWS
A late-arriving crowd did not fill in after the game got underway.
Halftime: Tulane 37, UAB 6. Blazers plunging toward another 1-4 start under @DilfersDimes. Protective Stadium is a ghost town. After 6 straight winning seasons. Pathetic.
— Kevin Scarbinsky (@KevinScarbinsky) October 5, 2024
AD Mark Ingram owes the fans an apology. Followed by his resignation. Can not let him hire the next coach. pic.twitter.com/0Uc33C37wh
A large number of folks who did go to the game left at halftime.
Week 3: UAB Protective Stadium. Show up for your people! @dominicmyless 🫡 pic.twitter.com/vmjOJ814rg
— Coach Wright, M. Ed (@CoachWright72) October 5, 2024
Needless to say, Trent Dilfer is probably not going to return as the head coach in Birmingham next year. He lost the fanbase and UAB is losing games— by a lot.