Hay Is In the Barn, Stillman on the Horizon

Joe Chance

#22 Football | 9/4/2014 7:23:00 PM

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – After 25 days of practice, three scrimmages and game-week preparation, only a Friday walk-through and a couple of meetings remain before Brett Gilliland takes the 2014 edition of West Alabama football to Stillman College for his first game as head coach at his alma mater.

"The hay is in the barn," Gilliland said after Thursday's workout in shells. "We are ready to go against somebody else, that's for sure."

West Alabama and Stillman renew a series that ended in 2003 when Gilliland was the UWA quarterback when the 2014 Tiger Bowl kicks off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Stillman Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for children and UWA students with a valid student ID.

"We are excited. The guys have been mentally sharp and focused," Gilliland said. "You can tell there is a different pep in the step because its game time. That always seems to heal a lot of bumps and bruises."

West Alabama leads the abbreviated series 3-0, winning games in 2000, 2002 and 2003. Although this is the fourth game in the series, it will mark the third time the game has been played in Tuscaloosa.

"Stillman is very athletic, very physical and will hit you," Gilliland said. "Coach (Teddy) Keaton does a great job and we expect to see a good football team since they have 17 starters back. They are sound and play hard."

Stillman was 6-5 overall last season, 4-3 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. West Alabama finished 8-3 in 2013 and won a share of its second consecutive Gulf South Conference title with a 5-1 league mark.

"Our focus has been on physicality, toughness and playing fast," Gilliland said. "It's exciting because it's the first game, but its really exciting because they are so close to us and the guys from both teams know each other. There is no reason this shouldn't be a rivalry game."

There will be no television or video streaming for the game, but the Stillman live stats feed can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1qi5Kn1.

Lee Tracey and Robert Upchurch will have the radio call live on ESPN 104.9 in the Twin States area and globally on www.espn1049.com. The pregame show begins at 2:45 p.m.

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