UAB shutting down football program

[IrishLax]

3 years ago the UAB boosters had 75% of a new on campus stadium pledged from private donations, $20 million would have been paid back over 30 years. The study showed it was financially viable b/c they would have no longer been paying a lease, they would have had the ticket sales, concessions etc. They were going to build it so to be multi-use including soccer. The BOT blocked it and at the same time backed loans to build some fraternity houses in Tuscaloosa.

The report analyzing the athletic department was a farce. Auburn's athletic department didn't make money, most programs don't make money, but they build the brand and help bring in students which then makes money for the school.

Exactly, and not to mention provide educational opportunities for students as well as many jobs and economic boost for the surrounding community.

The more I read on this, the shadier a move this was. They purposely killed this program for no reason but personal/petty ones.

 

[Jackalope1977]

Did you happen to catch the UC Davis vs Sacramento State game? Yeah...some colleges shouldn't waste public resources on stadiums, coaches, facilities. Frankly if the program runs in the red at public institutions and or fails to graduate student athletes at a respectable level I think they should be axed.

UAB is not UC Davis or Sacramento State. We're talking about a bowl eligible FBS team here. And why is the program in the red? With an average attendance of almost 22000 a game they should be able to make it. Have you ever seen a Tampa Bay Rays game on TV? Secondly, football is a huge part of almost any college town. You ask me about the UC Davis vs Sacramento State game? No I didn't see it but if I were a student at either of those schools you can bet I would have. Hell, I'd probably go to games even if I just lived in the area. Maybe the UAB program was mismanaged but to shut it down like that hurts not only players and coaches but numerous other people in the area. I stand by my comment that this is a joke.

 

[wizards8507]

You ask me about the UC Davis vs Sacramento State game? No I didn't see it but if I were a student at either of those schools you can bet I would have. Hell, I'd probably go to games even if I just lived in the area.

Sadly, that's not how it works in much of the country. Hell, even USC and Stanford (and the rest of the Pac-12 for that matter) can't fill their stadiums. No, UAB isn't UC Davis or Sacramento State, but they're not Notre Dame or Nebraska either.

Next generation of ticket-holder a concern as students don't show up for college football games - ESPN

 

[Emcee77]

It's funny how it switches like that. I can't read the article, but he was probably lightly recruited out of high school.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>After two stellar years at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAB?src=hash">#UAB</a> RB <a href="https://twitter.com/JHoward_7">@JHoward_7</a> "is being recruited like he's a 5-star athlete." <a href="http://t.co/hdWuFDkn9l">http://t.co/hdWuFDkn9l</a> <a href="http://t.co/rLRQc9oEEy">pic.twitter.com/rLRQc9oEEy</a></p>— Jeremy Crabtree (@jeremycrabtree) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremycrabtree/status/540540611078918144">December 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BGIF]

LOOK: UAB LB Derek Slaughter wore his helmet to graduation - CBSSports.com

By Tom Fornelli

There are a lot of people unhappy with the disbanding of the UAB football program, none more so than those who played for the team. One of those players, linebacker Derek Slaughter, thought of an interesting way to convey his love and passion for football.

"I wanted to show my pride in the school as well as UAB football," Slaughter told CBSSports.com.

Slaughter did so by deciding to bring his UAB helmet to his graduation ceremony so he could accept his diploma while waving it on stage.

"I had intentions to shake [school president Ray Watts'] hand," Slaughter said. "But it just so happened that when I was holding up my helmet I was unable to."

Kudos to Slaughter for finding a unique way to make a statement. As for what's next for him? He wrote on Twitter that he has been commissioned as an officer in the US Army.

 

[phork]

Lol at outside accounting firm finding the sport is actually on track to sustained profitability. Despite the internal report.

 

[NDbrbkny]

Derek Slaughter should be applauded for what he did and watts should be hounded and heckled at every turn.

 

[IrishLion]

UAB coming back apparently.

 

[IrishLion]

UAB Blazers football to return

Basically, it was a perfect storm of public outcry, public shaming of the move, monetary support being pledged, and that study (referenced in a post above) showing that the program will be profitable after all.

 

[GowerND11]

Glad this is happening, just really a shame they did away with it, then are immediately bringing it back. Just wish these events never happened to begin with. Good for UAB!

 

[dublinirish]

gonna be interesting to see how they get 85 guys on scholly in one recruiting period. a load of transfers and JUCO's will help i bet

 

[irishfan]

Nice. Set the program back about 3-5 years because of the butthurt Bama BoT.

 

[notredomer23]

can any of the players that transferred theoretically transfer back and not miss time?

 

[NDfaninBama]

The University President had a press conference he's a prick.

1) the $11 million it has cost for shutting it down is the booster's responsibility
2) not committing to return by 2016
3) unwilling to increase funding to athletics in the future
4) stated no debt will be issued for facilities


The U of Alabama leverages UAB's revenue for their expansion and issues bonds for fraternities to build new houses, but won't let UAB issue bonds to do something to benefit the whole University.