A Sea Of Red

University of North Alabama
Florence, Alabama


UNA Football Official Site


Public Institution
Established in 1830
Football Affiliation: Big South
Non-Football Affiliation: A-Sun
Nickname: Lions
1993-1995 NCAA Division II National Champions



Chris Willis
4th Season as UNA Head Coach


2020 Schedule

Oct 03 - @ Liberty
Oct 17 - Jacksonville State
Nov 07 - @ Southern Miss
Nov 21 - @ BYU


Key Players


#7 Blake Dever
6' 3" 257 lbs Senior Quarterback (Transfer from Savannah St. to Arkansas St to Iowa Central CC to UNA)
2019 Stats: 35-of-54 (64.8%) for 429 Yds with 1 TD & 1 INT + 17 Carries for -29 Yds




#24 Ja'Won Howell
6' 1" 200 lbs Sophomore Running Back
2019 Stats: 18 Carries for 102 Yds (5.7 YPC) and 3 Rushing TDs + 6 Catches for 80 Yds




#24 Dexter Boykin
6' 3" 208 Junior Receiver
2019 Stats: 38 Catches for 704 Yds with 6 TDs

That QB is a big boy

This one should be a snooze fest where we get to see the backups.

If things go as planned, this will be only the 4th game I have missed in 13 years. I will be in Alabama.

WE GOT TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto. Will be good to see my daughter who is a freshman.

Jealous of you guys. Finally started making going to a game an annual affair but it won't be happening for the first time in 4 years.

Have fun guys. Plenty of room to stretch out

thepostman wrote: ↑September 27th, 2020, 8:14 pm Jealous of you guys. Finally started making going to a game an annual affair but it won't be happening for the first time in 4 years.

Have fun guys. Plenty of room to stretch out

The first game missed was tough. Believe it or not my daughter made it fun watching on TV.
Not the same without that Liberty feel.
I hope you get your shot to attend soon.

ballcoach15 wrote: ↑September 27th, 2020, 3:01 pm If things go as planned, this will be only the 4th game I have missed in 13 years. I will be in Alabama.

Army reunions and/or NASCAR races mean more to Ballcoach than LU football.

Curious Note: This marks the third straight week that we have faced a team having its season opener by playing us. That has to be a new record.

As for our opponent this Saturday, they are a squad of question marks. It feels strange to be playing a Big South football school we never played.

TimesDaily.com wrote:North Alabama football giving both quarterbacks a shot

By Michael Hebert Sports Writer
Sep 17, 2020 Updated Sep 18, 2020

North Alabama quarterbacks Blake Dever and Rett Files will both get plenty of opportunities to lead the Lions' offense this fall.

Click Here for Full Story

Cider Jim wrote: ↑September 27th, 2020, 9:36 pm

ballcoach15 wrote: ↑September 27th, 2020, 3:01 pm If things go as planned, this will be only the 4th game I have missed in 13 years. I will be in Alabama.

Army reunions and/or NASCAR races mean more to Ballcoach than LU football.

This trip was planned long before football schedule was posted. I haven't been out of the state since going to University of South Carolina for softball early this year. It's always good to spend a few days in the great state of Alabama,

WZDX wrote:UNA Lions prepare for season opener at Liberty
UNA's original 11-game fall schedule was reduced to four contests, with three of those coming against FBS opponents. First up is Liberty.

Author: Mo Carter
Published: 6:02 PM CDT September 28, 2020
Updated: 8:11 PM CDT September 28, 2020

FLORENCE, Ala — The University of North Alabama will open its 72nd football season this Saturday in Lynchubrg, Va., when the Lions take on unbeaten Liberty University at noon Central at Williams Stadium.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and carried on UNA's flagship radio station, WBCF 97.1 FM.

UNA's original 11-game fall schedule was reduced to four contests, with three of those coming against FBS opponents, beginning with Liberty. The game will be the first athletic event by a North Alabama team since March 11, 2020, when the UNA women's basketball team lost a 90-87 overtime thriller to Liberty in the semifinals of the ASUN Conference Tournament at Flowers Hall.

"We are excited to finally be in a game week, but at the same time it's a strange feeling to be preparing for your first game in October," said UNA Head Football Coach Chris Willis. "Usually at this point we have already played four or five games so it is exciting but different."

Click Here for Full Story

https://rocketcitynow.com/embeds/video/ ... wsource=cl

i am fortunate again to be at the Bill live. hoping this one will be over quick.

bigsmooth wrote: ↑September 29th, 2020, 2:25 pm i am fortunate again to be at the Bill live. hoping this one will be over quick.

I suspect it will be. Long way for me to drive for a quick game, but it will be better than watching baseball.

ASOR coverage for North Alabama

CRASH COURSE: NORTH ALABAMA
By: Jon Manson

After two wins against two C-USA teams, Liberty football will play host to North Alabama in week three. The game will be North Alabama’s first of the season.

In 2019, the Lions finished with a 4-7 record. Right now, the Flames are one of four teams on UNA’s schedule. With the likes of Liberty, Southern Mississippi and BYU on the schedule, UNA will likely struggle in 2020.

The team returns 13 starters from 2019: six on offense and seven on defense. The Lions welcomed transfer OL Connor Robbins from Georgia State and JUCO signee Isiah Todd, a defensive back from Hutchinson Community College. The team’s strength lies in its receiving room. Jakobi Byrd, Dexter Boykin, Cortez Hall and Andre Little, all juniors, have combined for over 4,000 yards receiving and 29 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

LIBERTY FOOTBALL NOTES: FAMILIAR FACES AT UNA, DL UPDATES, INJURIES, MORE
By: Jon Manson

INJURY UPDATE

As previously reported, it sounds like Malik Willis is good to go this weekend following his left elbow injury suffered in last week’s game against Florida International.

Additionally, wide receiver Jaivian Lofton has an ankle injury, but Freeze says he will try to give it a go on Saturday. Wide receiver Noah Frith is out after suffering a hamstring injury in the 4th quarter against FIU. Offensive lineman Bryce Mathews is questionable for Saturday’s game.

Wide receiver CJ Yarbrough has been battling injuries all during training camp and now into the start of the season. He played in the first half of the opener at Western Kentucky but did not play last week against FIU. He should be a full go this weekend.