With 17 of 22 starters back, the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers are hopeful last season’s 5-7 record will improve in 2010.

Eight starters return on offense and nine are back on defense for the Blazers, who went 4-4 in Conference USA play, tying for fourth in the East Division.

UAB’s push to move above .500 begins with the season opener, Sept. 2 at home against Florida Atlantic. The Conference USA opener is Sept. 11 at Southern Methodist. Following a home game with Troy, the Blazers travel to Tennessee on Sept. 25, then open October with a Wednesday night contest at Central Florida on Oct. 6.

After playing host to UTEP on Oct. 16, two road games await: at Mississippi State and at Southern Miss. That’s followed by three consecutive home games: Nov. 6 against Marshall, Nov. 11 against East Carolina and Nov. 20 vs. Memphis.

The regular season ends Nov. 27 at Rice.

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