Alabama NewsCenter 2021 football preview: University of West Alabama
West Alabama coach Brett Gilliland says he doesn't see a glaring weakness on his team this year and has leaders among the players in each position group. (University of West Alabama)
Brett Gilliland isn’t greedy. The coach of the West Alabama Tigers football team is more than pleased that his team played a pair of games in the spring.
“A lot of people weren’t able to,” he said. “I think one other team in our conference, two other teams may have played a game. But I think we’re in a really good position just because we haven’t gone so long without lining up and playing the game.
“In both those games, we had some good adversity hit us,” Gilliland continued. “We had to work through some adversity and played good teams. We came out of it healthy, so I’m excited we got them in. It’s a lot better than if we wouldn’t have played them.”
West Alabama is preparing to return to the field this fall as football goes back to its traditional season even as the pandemic continues. Alabama NewsCenter is taking a look at the upcoming season and today is focused on the Tigers.
Alabama NewsCenter: What is the outlook for this season?
Brett Gilliland: Well, we’ve got, obviously, a large number of older players. We had a whole bunch of our senior class, all of the ones that were projected to be starters going into the 2020 season, have stayed and used their extra year of eligibility. We’ve really got two classes of senior-aged players, which is a pretty interesting ordeal. It gives us the opportunity to have an older group and a strong leadership within our team. I’m excited about where we are right now.
ANC: What is the strength of this year’s team?
Gilliland: That’s a great question. I think that’s a little bit yet to be determined. Top to bottom, I don’t see a glaring weakness, to say one group’s further ahead of the other group. I think we’ve got a pretty unique situation, just to the point of some of our best leaders are scattered throughout different position groups. I really feel strongly about the leadership that we have in each group and athleticism we have in each group. I don’t know that I can give you a real honest answer to that yet. Call me after two or three (games) and I may have a different answer. But I don’t know right now. I think, just overall, the strength of our team is just the leadership that we have.
ANC: Who are your team’s standouts?
Gilliland: You’ve got to look at the quarterback position. We’ve got Jack McDaniels coming back for his senior season. He’s been here now three calendar years and he played the ’19 season with us. He’s got a lot of experience in our system now and the guys know and respect him as a leader on this team. On the defensive side of the ball, Undraez Lilly is a defensive end that’s really developed and matured into a really good leader for us. He has the ear of the defense. Derrick Underwood at running back is not an outspoken guy, but he leads by example and another guy who’s been in this program for a long time. He does things the right way and does things the way we expect them to be done. He shows other guys how to do that. And then I’d say another one on the defensive side of the ball is Shamar Lewis in the defensive secondary.
ANC: What game do your fans have circled on your schedule?
Gilliland: Obviously, the first one, because it’s gonna be the first fall game in a long time. It’s gonna be in Tiger Stadium, against Morehouse. The first game is always unique, especially with the layoff and our fans not getting a fall to come here and see us play. We played the one spring game (at home) but for different reasons, a different time of year, a lot of fans might not have made that one. We’ve also got a new video board this fall that’s gonna be up and running by that game. That’ll add another level of dimension to our gameday experience, which we’ll find fun and exciting. And then we’re in the Gulf South Conference. Every game we play is huge, it’s gonna be a rival. We’ve got the last two national champions in our conference, West Florida and Valdosta State. Obviously, any time you get a chance to play a team that’s won a national championship in the last couple years, it’s a big deal.
ANC: What is your lingering question?
Gilliland: I’d say the biggest question – and it’s kind of every year – but who out of the young freshman class or even last year’s freshman class are going to develop into a guy that we need to help us this year, this season? We’ve got a lot of older guys, so it’s gonna be hard for a brand new guy, a young guy to come in here and jump into a role. But there’s always a couple of surprises. That’s kind of what we’re trying to feel out as we go through these first few weeks of practice, is which young guys may have matured enough already, mentally or physically, and are in a position to be ready to help us? It’s cool because every year, you’ll have one or two surprise you. That’s kind of the question mark.
Alabama NewsCenter is posting season previews for all 15 college football programs in Alabama. Look for a new preview each day.
