Neyland Stadium will be the site where two winless teams face off Saturday when the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

UAB is coming off a 49-34 loss at Florida Atlantic last Saturday. The Vols last played on Labor Day in a 27-24 loss to the UCLA Bruins in Pasadena, Calif.

The Vols hope to turn a bye week into an improved weekend of play.

"Coming off a tough loss, I think we used the open date extremely well," head coach Phillip Fulmer said during Tuesday's media day.

"Wednesday to correct mistakes and get our feet back on the ground after a long trip; Thursday to really work fundamentals and work again at correcting some of the mistakes we made during the course of the UCLA game."

UAB quarterback Joe Webb is coming off a good performance going 26-for-48 for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Webb has only thrown one interception this year, while rushing for 202 yards in two games.

"The quarterback is a really fine player," Fulmer said. "He throws the ball exceptionally well, and with his mobility and his ability to make plays on the run, he is a big concern for us."

Webb will be facing a Tennessee secondary that picked off four errant passes in the first half against UCLA.

Headlining the Blazers' receiving corps is sophomore Frantrell Forrest, who leads the team with 191 total yards and two touchdowns. Junior Zach Lankford and sophomore Jeffery Anderson add to the air attack.

On the ground, junior Rashaud Slaughter has accumulated 55 rushing yards. Slaughter has played at running back and receiver while at UAB. Senior running back Aaron Johns is the rushing leader with 62 yards on 10 carries this season.

Fulmer knows that this won't be an easy game for his defense.

"They run a lot of formations, a lot of looks, and spread the field to get the ball to a lot of people in different ways, whether it is the vertical passing game, crossing routes or screens," he said.

It's worth noting that Tennessee's is tied for first nationally in rush defense, allowing only 29 rushing yards in its first game.

The Blazers return three starters on the offensive line, including experienced junior Jake Seitz who can play center or left guard. Tackles Matt McCants and Terence Edge both received valuable playing time in 2007.

Defense was a problem for UAB in 2007, most notably in a front seven. The defensive unit ranked last in the nation in rush defense, but the Blazers return all four starters on the defensive line.

Sophomore end Bryant Turner is a standout, supported by fellow sophomores D.J. Reese and Tim Davis at the tackle positions.

Senior Joe Henderson, a second-team all-conference, will pair up with sophomore Mike Tashman at outside linebacker.

Senior free safety Will Dunbar will lead an experienced secondary. Dunbar is a two-time All-Conference USA selection who recorded 122 tackles in 10 games in 2007. Dunbar will be joined by senior Matt Taylor at strong safety, and juniors Kevin Sanders and Brandon Carlisle at corner.

Senior Swayze Waters returns as one of the nation's best kickers. Waters was a 2007 Groza Award semifinalist and also handles punting duties. Sanders, Forrest and Slaughter will handle punt and kick return duties. Protection and blocking were a problem for the Blazers last season.

Tennessee is searching for a defining victory before next week's match against the No. 4 Florida Gators. UAB is thinking upset, and coming out of the same conference as an East Carolina team that knocked off then eighth-ranked West Virginia who was ranked last week.

Despite the opening game loss, Fulmer likes the energy out of his squad.

"I like the way our football team has tried to respond in the right way," he said. "You look back and you see each and every game should make progress. You find out a lot about yourself in a game like that early."

Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. EST.