Ingram and Mortensen Address Media
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - November 24, 2025
UAB interim head football coach Alex Mortensen and UAB athletic director Mark Ingram met with the media to look back at the event of this past Saturday and look ahead to the season finale against Tulsa.
Most of the attention was focused on what happened inside the UAB Football Operation building on Saturday morning when two UAB player were injured in a stabbing. Teammate Daniel Mincey was charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. Mortensen said on Monday morning that both injured players are recovering after being released from the hospital.
“On behalf of the whole team, Mark and I also want to recognize the staff, trainers, first responders, and medical professionals who showed great professionalism throughout,” Mortensen said. “We're really grateful for them. The last thing I will say about the incident is that I've had the opportunity to sit with our injured players and their families, and they are okay with me telling you that they have left the hospital and are recovering. They appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers.”
MARK INGRAM
Opening statement: “Saturday was a very sad day for UAB football and UAB athletics. Before Coach Mortensen comes up, I just want to thank him and his staff and the team for how they handled a very difficult situation. We recognize the gravity of what happened Saturday morning and did very seriously consider not playing the game. That was not an easy decision, but it was only after we knew that the injured players were stable and after Coach was able to have a very honest and caring conversation with our team that we felt comfortable with the game going on, but only if the team wanted to play. We wanted the team to understand that it was okay if they didn't feel comfortable playing. I really appreciate the sensitivity that Coach Mortensen and his staff showed in supporting our players in that decision. I want to thank our staff and our trainers who were on site and responded so quickly. I also want to thank our student counseling services for engaging with our team throughout the weekend and for their continued support. While Coach and the team prepare for the game this week, we will not lose sight of our top priority and that is the mental and physical well-being of our student athletes. Coach Mortensen, I want to thank you again for your leadership and the care that you've shown for our team.
On how the situation affects the coaching search: “We have 500 outstanding student athletes here. They excel in the classroom. They give thousands of hours of community service back to our community. I'll use your word, unprecedented. This was an isolated incident. As far as the search is concerned, I don't want to speculate on any timelines there, but we've had a lot of interest from the very first day for the reasons that Coach Morrison just stated. We have a beautiful facility. Protective Stadium is incredible. Birmingham and the greater area around it is a fertile recruiting ground. UAB is a fantastic institution. People want to be a part of it.”
On having regrets in playing Saturday’s game: “Alex and I talked a lot. Our university leadership talked a lot. And as I said earlier, we were comfortable if and only if the players wanted to play.”
On whether interest in job changes after Saturday’s interest: “I think that word you’ve just said speculate. I wouldn’t want to speculate.”
On not spending Friday nights at a hotel for home games: “Well, we're not the only program that chose not to do that. It was something we tried this year. I wouldn't want to speculate on whether or not that had any impact on that incident.
We're always evaluating what we need to do to help our team win. You know, what is the best, what is the meal that we eat? I mean, right down to every single decision that we make. What do we wear? What's the equipment like? What are we doing in the training room? Every facet of this program is something we constantly evaluate.”
On message to coaching candidates after Saturday’s incident: “It's the same message that I've received from them, which is this is a fantastic opportunity. We play in the American Athletic Conference. We're in Birmingham, Alabama. UAB is a fantastic university and a place where people love to work.”
ALEX MORTENSEN
Opening statement: “I also want to thank the team at Student Counseling Services. The way they really care about these young men is so important and has really been incredibly helpful. On behalf of the whole team, Mark and I also want to recognize the staff, trainers, first responders, and medical professionals who showed great professionalism throughout. We're really grateful for them. The last thing I will say about the incident is that I've had the opportunity to sit with our injured players and their families, and they are okay with me telling you that they have left the hospital and are recovering. They appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. I continue to ask for you and everyone involved to respect their privacy as they deal with what happened. I know there are still questions about the incident, but that's all I will say about it at this time. The police investigation is still ongoing, so out of respect for that and the legal process, as well as respect for the privacy of those most affected, I'm not going to go into any greater detail of the incident or individuals involved right now.
The first thing is I do want to say that this has been a very difficult couple days for a lot of players. And they have a tremendous love for each other. That was very evident. And I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about our time together and our meetings, but I really love this team and love the group of guys we have. In terms of the game and the football, obviously kind of pales small in comparison to obviously some of the things that have been going on. But I thought our guys fought really hard in the game, fought tough, played for each other. I think that was the biggest thing is they wanted to play for each other on Saturday. I think that was evident in their effort, playing against a very, very good team, a team that at one time was getting top 25 votes and came in here with two losses and I think the fifth best offense in the country. In terms of the technical football part of it, I think the biggest thing is we were able to keep this game tight up to the half. It was a one-score game. Again, testament to the will and toughness of our guys. I think that game is probably tied or we probably have a lead if we capitalize on all of our opportunities that we had, which we had them. And then also if we don't give the game away in certain aspects, particularly the couple turnovers were really hurtful at certain points. But our guys, again, they fought really hard for 60 minutes and I'm really, really pleased with them and love them very much.
Moving on to the next game, we're playing Tulsa on the road. They have a new staff. They kind of have a little bit of life. They're coming off a big win against Army. They beat Oklahoma State this year, and they have some other notable wins. They're a very good team, you know, under Tre Lamb. We know we have a challenge to go on the road and play them at their place as they're capturing some momentum. And really, this is an opportunity for our seniors to have their last game, their last collegiate game. I know a lot of them, the guys on the team that are not in their position, want to help send them out the right way. But I think I do want to state is what's most important to us is the well-being of our student athletes, of our players. We're going to make sure that they have every opportunity this week to get the counseling services they need. We're going to make sure that they have every opportunity to step away if they want to step away. If they choose not to play in the game or if they don't want to practice or if they need to just get out of here for a little bit, we're going to give them every opportunity to do that each time we meet and make sure that door is wide, wide open.”
On the difference in practice this week: “I think the thing that we're going to do, like I've mentioned, is we're going to just open the door. You know, we're meeting with them today, and of course we're going to meet with them every day this week. Open the door every time we're together to say, hey, whatever you're feeling and sometimes maybe those things, you felt them over the weekend, but maybe they're hitting you now, or it might be Wednesday or Thursday. Look, like, get the help you need. Step away if you need to step away. So I think that's the first thing is to make sure that they know that we care and love them as people, as human beings, way before them being a football player. Those are the guys that do want to play. You know, I think, again, getting out of a selfish mindset. I saw that over the weekend, just think about playing for each other, think about playing for, as I mentioned a little bit ago, the seniors and the guys that are kind of on their last stretch of football. I do think this group has been through a lot and their connection is very evident. It is also an opportunity for them to go play together for one last time. I think those are the things that we'll focus on. Then, of course, the football and the problems and issues and challenges that Tulsa provides, we'll address those just like we would any other week.”
On the decision to play on Saturday: “Some of the details of that, I'm probably not going to go much beyond my opening statement. I completely understand and respect the question, but just with everything that's going on, it's probably better that I kind of probably stay pretty broad on that. But I would say that we made it very clear to the players that they did not have to play in the game. We had guys that (did not play) and we were prepared to have no one play. But we did have guys that elected not to play in the game. And we're glad that they understood that they didn't need to do that.”
On any new protocols or procedures in terms of safety moving forward: “Some of that, those are things I'm probably not going to comment on right now. But I can tell you this, this administration really stepped in in a big way. I have full confidence in our administration and their willingness to help our student athletes and everyone involved in the organization. So whatever's in place, I think is going to be top-notch.”
On having any knowledge of how many players will opt out for the Tulsa game: “Right now we don't know. We do have some information about it. It's a little too early for me to disclose any of that. And to answer your question, will it be fluid? I think it definitely will be fluid because it's going to be an ongoing conversation through the course of the week. Like I mentioned, people can deal with trauma different ways. You might feel one way Tuesday and you might feel a different way on Friday. It's really important to us that the players understand that all the way up to game time, there's an open door for them.”
On the program moving forward: “I think, you know, as it pertains to the safety part, like I said, I have a ton of confidence in our administration, the school. They've been tremendous through this process, and I know that whatever is in place, policies, procedures, they're going to be top-notch. I have no doubt about that.”
On what the emotional response was like during the game: “I don't think typical would be the word. I think it definitely had a different feel to it. I think when everyone knew that our guys were good, they were in good condition, there was (relief). I'm not going to go as far to call it joyous, but there was like a lot of guys that were really glad to hear that. But then, it wasn't a normal game by any stretch of the imagination. I think that once we got in it, I think guys tried to just focus on the next thing in front of them, the next play, the next drive, the next series. But certainly there was a little bit of a different feeling without a doubt.”
On the message to the players this week on the importance to the upcoming game: “I think, you know, the guys that elect to play, I think this goes back to even when everything happened prior to the Memphis game. The first thing is it's really about them. It's about them playing for each other and them playing for the guy to the left and right of them. I do think there's the ones that do choose to play if they're comfortable playing, representing the program, the university in a manner with class and with the kind of effort and toughness that shows well. I think those things are important. And then some of them too do have goals beyond this year to continue their career. And so certainly want to help, part of our job as coaches is to help these guys reach their individual goals too and want to help encourage them to have the best game they can so it helps them on their individual journey. Those will be some things we'll talk about if guys are comfortable playing in the game.”
On the whether a win on Saturday would create momentum: “Look, every game is important to us because if we're going to play, we want to win, every one of them. But this is a game that's an opportunity to try to create some momentum going into the offseason for the future of the program, playing on the road, playing a conference opponent. So, at the end of the week, if guys are prepared and want to play in the game, we'll be excited to try to go take that on. Again, you talk about the future of the program, I do believe that this program, I think there's really good leadership here at the university. I think that we have the resources, we have the geography, everything is in place for this to be a really healthy football program. I really believe that. We're still recruiting and that's the message we've given to recruits, is whatever decision the school makes here in the coming weeks or months or whatever, however that takes place, that they can have a lot of confidence that this program can be incredibly successful. Whether it's facilities, whether it's resources, support, I can tell you even after the Memphis game, I can't tell you how many people reached out wanting to help and support this program. Some people you'd be surprised that don't have prior affiliation here that want to help and support it. So I think the future, whatever the results of this game are, I think the future can and will be very bright here. But we do want to try to use the game to help create some momentum going forward.”