UAB IS Sounding Way Too Optimistic About Their Future

((HT: CBS Sports/Solomon))

Jon Solomon wrote another stellar piece on the future of the UAB Athletics program- and their thinking, through the CarrSports Report, is that they'll be fine. But there are a few issues with their report.

The biggest issue is the idea that they'll be retained by Conference USA- which would be a violation of the conference's own by-laws.

From the piece:

UAB is projected to lose roughly $2 million per year in NCAA and Conference USA revenue starting in 2015-16. That includes annual payouts of $900,000 in C-USA TV revenue, $800,000 from the College Football Playoff, and $40,000 in C-USA bowl money. Carr projected a flat $800,000 from the playoff each year even though it's expected the payouts will increase.

The financial projections assume UAB will remain a C-USA member -- a value the study shows is $657,000 annually as a non-football member -- but many people believe that's unlikely to happen since C-USA's current bylaws require playing football for membership. UAB projects $350,000 per year in NCAA men's basketball tournament units from C-USA, $260,000 a year from a C-USA revenue growth supplement, and $40,000 a year from the C-USA men's basketball tournament.

The school seems to be banking on the idea that they can broker the lost football games from 2015 and lessen their make-goods: which, frankly, is a misconceived idea. Any school that might be looking for a 2015 game probably already has a schedule mapped out. And any school that is REALLY looking for a game, probably, can handle their own negotiating.

Thanks for asking, though...

There's nothing in it for the seeker- except doing President Ray Watts a solid.

And that's got to be a small group of Presidents and Athletics Directors...

There is the further assumption that people will return (or new donors will emerge) with football gone. In the south, that would be a rarity indeed. A school that had football that now does not, but will be adding cross country and track and field doesn't seem like a fair swap for donor dollars.

For the record, Solomon says CarrSports got a little under $80,000 for their wisdom using VCU, Wichita State, and the American Athletic Conference as their benchmarks for thought when it comes to UAB's future.

The HQ would think that UAB is destined for a conference like the Atlantic Sun for their sports since they're more interested in saving dollars rather than investing. That latter notion would send them to the American, the Missouri Valley, or the Atlantic-10. But cost-cutting moves like wiping out the band don't give mid-major basketball conferences reasons to be all that enthusiastic about level of competitiveness.

Tommy Spina caught up with former UAB football booster Justin Craft about the demise of the program and what can be done from here- if anything
((HT: CW21/MYTV68 Birmingham))

Birmingham Econ Leaders Meet To Discuss UAB

((HT: ABC3340))

Looks like it was a luncheon or something...

But Birmingham civic and economic leaders met to discuss the future of UAB as an institution- wondering aloud a few things including whether or not the school should break away from the University of Alabama system
ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

Not that a whole lot was accomplished- other than making sure other civic leaders remember where the situation stands at present- a detached president, a selfish Board of Regents, and a lot of athletes trying to fend for an education.

But the HQ hopes more UAB kids and coaches find jobs and can stick it to the current President of the university in more ways than one...

Now Former UAB Coach Bill Clark is Conference USC Coach of the Year

((ht: al.com))

Congratulations to Bill Clark who got one season to coach the University of Alabama-Birmingham and had begun the process of turning the program around.

A 6-6 record and the 1st Bowl Eligible Blazer team in 10-years was enough to get Clark Coach of the Year honors in Conference USA.

And the vote wasn't close. He won in a landslide.

Clark now finds himself out of work and hopefully he'll land a gig. He deserves it for what he did at UAB.

Many of Clark's assistants and several players have already found new homes as the Blazers have shut down the football operation.

Clark has not.

But the award recognizes the good work he did and in the cyclical world of College Football it should be enough to warrant a job. Even if it's as an assistant.

Let's hope that happens.

Watts Silent At UAB Graduation

((HT: ABC3340))

It may have been a prudent move- considering the current atmosphere on his campus...
It may have been a silly move- considering the current atmosphere on campus...
It may have been a move of hubris- considering the current atmosphere on campus...

The HQ figures it was all three and a few more emotions wrapped in...

Yesterday was Graduation day on the UAB campus and President Ray Watts chose not to speak to his graduating class- choosing instead to have a prepared statement released to the media and all those attending.

Watts also hose not to shake hands with his graduates- although it would have been interesting to hear the conversations.

Here was the most contentious graduation ceremony in recent memory on any campus
ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

President Watts did not attend the doctoral hooding ceremony that afternoon, either. He has also had to cancel a speaking engagement at a suburban Chamber meeting- by mutual consent.

Heavy sponsors for the athletic program are pulling out now as well...

Congratulations...

DEVELOPING: UAB Faculty Senate Calls For No Confidence Vote On Watts

((HT: MyFoxAL))

The Faculty Senate at UAB has voted two different resolutions: one gives a vote of "no confidence" to President Ray Watts and the other is to restore athletics to its pre-blowing up status.

Watts, shockingly, did not attend the Senate meeting on campus. But he did issue a nebulous statement that wanted task forces and search committees to solve the problems.

Just what the school needs... to spend more money that you claim you don't have to solve the problems of athletics created by the university and CarrSports on Watts' behalf in the first place.

Here's the early view from campus


When microbiology professors are talking positives about the football program, you know things are way more messed up than we all thought from the outside.

Madison Underwood, over at AL.com, writes that 19 former Mr. and Ms. UAB scholarship recipients penned a letter to the university, the Senate, and the Board of Trustees claiming Watts' act won't go unnoticed:

"When we watched the video of President Ray Watts and how this news was delivered, we were appalled and saddened that any student would be treated that way, especially by the president of our university," the letter said. "Even the timing of the announcement during finals and just prior to graduation was insensitive at best."

In a section of the letter directed to Watts, the former scholarship recipients say, "we will not remain idle as you destroy our dear old UAB."

More when we know more...

Morning Wrap: Report--UAB Football Could Easily Be Self Sufficient

((ht: sports.vice.com))

Interesting story that we came across this morning from the folks at Vice Sports. The story--written by Andy Schwarz, talks about the demise of UAB football and how the financial numbers were spun to make it look like the school was losing money.

And if you read the whole thing, it explains a lot.

Schwarz talks in detail about the CarrSports report, which UAB president Ray Watts used as his excuse/reason for dropping football.

The Carr report talked about cost and revenues going up, but as Schwarz rightly points out, it assumes a rise in costs that don't actually exist. Rather, those "increased" costs are primarily just the school charging itself for something that does not in the real world cost themselves anything. A school does not "bring in" money from a scholarship athlete, but there's no cost involved either because the student is there. If so, the billing is just "Charging themselves" for the classes said student attends.

Think about it for a second.

How can a school say they are losing money on something they don't actually pay for?

Yeah...exactly.

Read the full story from Vice Sports RIGHT HERE, it explains a lot.

Yes, we have done budgeting before and we fully understand that expenses are given and taken from different budgets. It's done for tax and accounting purposes. We know that. And we know the cost of buying equipment, building facilities and travel expenses add up. But in this case, the cost appears to be covered.

Numbers...or expenses/costs are amazing things, particularly for organizations or businesses that bring in large amounts of money. You can shuffle things around, charge yourself for things if you need to. And claim it as an expense.

It's a legitimate claim, businesses do it all the time.

Here's an example for you: We spent some time working at CNN in our past. CNN is a rather large organization with multiple show teams that all work for the same company. But the show teams, if they wanted a live shot or video from an affiliate, were billed for the cost of acquiring it.

Mind you the money came from the same place. But it was billed to the show team.

Yes, a separate budget.

Trust us when we say it is complicated. But it's all in how you spin it too.

The point here is much simpler. UAB, if they so chose, could easily justify the cost of football if that was in their best interest. The money that appears to be coming in is money they "Technically" is enough to cover what they "out of pocket" are spending.

Yes, we know, it's a different budget. But as Schwarz points out and rightfully so, UAB is looking to grow. Yet it cut it's highest profile PR arm. And that will lose them a very profitable conference affiliation. They will not be able to stay in Conference USA without football.

But the state Board of Trustees is willing to live with that. The reason: It ends the vendetta that certain members had against the Blazers. It gets rid of any potential competition from a school that had a chance at becoming just that.

It meant something had to give. And in this case it was the UAB Blazers football team.

No Bowl For UAB, Bentley Gives Political Response

((HT: Montgomery Advertiser))

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley attempted to weigh in on the whole blowing up of the UAB program...

And, in true political fashion, we have this response...
The HQ thinks that the comparison he is TRYING to make has to do with the Lowder instance at Auburn. But Lowder acted independently of the rest of the Board of Trustees and, since Bentley is governor, he is naturally predisposed to getting the information that the BoT is going to do whatever it is going to do. So, whatever... And there's no bowl game in the deal for UAB as well... the Armed Forces Bowl seemed to be the only bowl with an open spot and they gave it to Pitt- which makes close to zero sense, but the HQ is quite aware that no bowl game will touch this situation. We only wished that Florida deferred in the Birmingham Bowl and gave them their spot... UAB and Middle Tennessee were the two teams bowl eligible in Conference USA So, here's the presser that killed three teams at once FOSG Trent Butler anchored coverage at the time ((HT: WIAT-TV))

UAB Sends Out FAQ On The Numbers, Still Doesn't Add Up...

((HT: ESPN))

First and foremost, the four-letter addressed the dissolving of the football program at UAB over the weekend- and, pretty much, exposed President Ray Watts as getting caught in his word choice in his part of the interview.

Here's the piece from Gene Wojeciechowski


Hire, Craft, and Jimmy Filler have maintained all along they were never asked about contributing to save the program when they had pledges on hand to work forward in a solution to save the squad.

Yet UAB continues to poke the bear- on their own website:

WHAT ABOUT SATURDAY’S ESPN GAMEDAY STORY WHICH CONTENDED THAT UAB OFFICIALS NEVER MET WITH TOP DONORS AND REJECTED A $5 MILLION CERTIFIED CHECK? IS THAT ACCURATE?

We understand that some of our alumni are frustrated with this decision, but making false statements designed to further inflame the situation is extremely unfair to everyone, including the players. We met with our biggest donors before we made this decision, and also studied past and current giving. The financial support was simply not there. A $5 million certified check was not presented to us, let alone a commitment for the $50 million that would be required to sustain football over the next five years.

While they claim they met with their biggest donors, Hire, Craft, and Filler don't come forward and agree with that assessment. The $5-million was a pledge and not a check-in-hand so we see where the school is in that crafted remark.

The HQ would wholeheartedly disagree with the notion in this paragraph:

WHAT ROLE DID THE UA SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES PLAY IN THIS DECISION? DID ANYONE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ENCOURAGE OR PRESSURE UAB TO DO THIS?

This decision was UAB’s to make just as in all other parts of our university‐wide strategic planning process. This decision was the product of a campus wide strategic review, and involved months of research, data collection and analysis. We referred to current and future financial data. We consulted highly knowledgeable experts and advisors from CarrSports Consulting to inform our planning. All signs pointed to the same decision – football is not sustainable in a model that best protects the financial future and prominence of the athletics department.

What could be more prominent in the state of Alabama than a football program...???

Just asking...

Kevn Scarbinsky caught up with Filler who called out Watts on AL.com

Filler said Saturday that neither Watts nor anyone from his office contacted him after either announcement, and it's not as if Filler is a stranger to Watts. Filler said that shortly before Watts became the UAB president, the two men met to discuss a fund-raising project. Watts wanted Filler to help raise money for a $40 million heart rehabilitation center that would include coaches' offices, Filler said.

"They know who I am," Filler said. "They just wanted to kill the football program."

Here's CBS42's look at President Watts presser and his word choice

UAB Bowling Found Out They Were Gone That Morning

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

The HQ has been chronicling all the asinine maneuvers that the Alabama Board of Trustees has put over on the Alabama-Birmingham Athletic Department- with the help of UAB President Ray Watts.

Sadly, at the Friday on campus rally, head bowling coach Michelle Crews thinks she might have done herself in when she responded to the Carr Sports report.

These are her first comments since the dissolving of her program
Alabamas13.com WVTM-TV Birmingham, AL

The HQ would recommend seeing the team practice at home or catching a tourney in their time left to show your support for them as well...

We hope the all find homes and can represent schools that will support properly.

Another Round Of Examples Of What UAB Is Leaving Behind Without Football

((HT: MyFoxAL/Britton Lynn))

You have already seen our coverage of the protests last night at Bartow Arena where the University of Alabama-Birmingham student body made the first of, what the HQ hopes is, a zillion points showing the stupidity of the Alabama Board of Trustees in disbanding the football, rifle, and bowling teams on campus.

But we found a cool feature by Britton Lynn over at MyFoxAlabama showcasing one of the team captains- a junior linebacker who is going to go from linebacker to defender of our freedoms.

Here's the story of Cadet Derek Slaughter


And you may have noticed an athlete in a wheelchair who has been front and center of all the protests on campus.
It is UAB tight end Timothy Alexander- and, yes, we said "athlete in a wheelchair."

His story reminds us all of what really is important- just like Cadet Slaughter's story...
((HT: CBS Sports))


A third example is a must read from AL.com's Alex McDaniel as she introduces us to the heartbreak of Birmingham local Brandon Prince- caring for his hospitalized dad when he heard the news.

These are the kind of athletes and persons UAB is getting rid of...

Good job...

The Dirty Dozen and Bottom of the Barrel: Championship Week

Or is it over?

That's the question a ton of teams are asking this week as College Football's regular season comes to a somewhat mediocre close.

Sure, our pals at the Four-Letter are hyping up the greatness of the College Football playoff, but really, it hasn't solved anything and there are no dominant teams.

None.

Look at the way it's played out. The only undefeated team in the land might not even make the playoff. And they're in one of the "Power" conferences. How does that happen? Everyone else has lost. And if they are "So dominant", how did they manage to lose?

Think about that for a second.

But alas, we are putting the wraps on yet another season of the Dozen and the Barrel. We don't always agree with the biased writers or coaches polls, we have our own opinions. And yeah, we pick games too. We're pretty good at it.

At least we'd like to think we are.

No, we don't get into the betting lines, there's not enough time in the day for us to do that much research, we pick with our sense of how things are going...and are for the most part, spot on.

Last week: 14-2. Yup, we picked Ole Miss and Arizona to win. That makes us 140-32 on the season--



Yeah, come back and see us next College Football season....

In the meantime, it's time for what you visit us for....or as the legendary Casey Kasem used to say, "On with the Countdown"

THE DIRTY DOZEN:

1) FSU 12-0. Yup. They are #1. We don't care that they barely beat up on mostly inferior ACC competition. They ran the table. In fact, they haven't lost in two seasons. Perception that they aren't as good doesn't matter.



It's what we think. Sure, the trendy pick is for Ga.Tech to beat them this week. And they might. We're almost tempted to make the pick. But not enough to do it. This Week: vs. Ga.Tech, Our Pick: FSU 37, Ga. Tech 33

2) Alabama 11-1. Okay, so the Iron Bowl ended up a shootout. Still, arguably this is the best team in all the land. But they have been beat. And pushed. We have to admit, Lane Kiffin has changed this team. But we always said as a head coach, Kiffy was a great offensive coordinator. This Week: vs. Missouri, Our Pick: Alabama 43, Mizzou 21

3) Oregon 11-1. We still don't love the Ducks, but we respect them. They've taken care of business. Marcus Mariota is awesome, but the o-line is dinged up. Interesting that they are playing the team that beat them early in the year (Arizona) for the Pac 12 title. This Week: vs. Arizona, Our Pick: Oregon 48, Arizona 37

4) TCU 11-1. Outside the brain fart with Baylor, the Horned Frogs have gotten better every game. But most are holding Baylor against them. We think TCU is tougher. And would fare better in the CFB Playoff. But that's our opinion. Trevonne Boykin is very, very good but no championship game for the Frogs to prove anything. This Week: vs. Iowa St., Our Pick: TCU 56, Iowa St. 21

5) Baylor 11-1. Sure, the Bears have been good. Really good this season. But their season hasn't ended yet. Bryce Petty is not a sure thing for Saturday's game. And the Bears play a tough Kansas State team. If they win, things get interesting. And they'd have a CFB playoff argument. But...This Week: vs. Kansas St. Our Pick: K-State 53, Baylor 45 UPSET !!!!!

6) Ohio St. 11-1. Poor Ohio St. Braxton Miller gets hurt and JT Barnett steps in and becomes awesome. Now Barnett gets hurt and Cardale Jones has to step in. And while Jones may be a good QB, he hasn't played yet. And that matters. A lot. This Week: vs. Wisconsin. Our Pick: Wisconsin 27, Ohio St. 23 UPSET!!!

7) Arizona 10-2. Rich Rodriguez has done wonders with this program. Who would have thought when he took the job a couple years ago, they'd be in this position. Yet they are. If...they can beat Oregon for the 2nd time, they have a playoff argument. But we don't think they'd leapfrog anyone ahead of them if they all win too. This Week: See #2

8) Kansas St. 9-2. They don't show well statistically, but it doesn't seem to matter. Bill Snyder is a magician...or sorcerer. Either way, the Wildcats just keep winning. They could easily have been undefeated this season. But losing to TCU is enough to keep them from playoff talk. This Week: See #5

9) Mississippi St. 10-2. They came back to earth quickly. But the wins this season speak for themselves. Yes, they lost the Egg Bowl, but way too many quality wins to drop them behind their arch rivals. No matter what happens, this season was a huge success in Starkeville. This Week: DONE--Bowl Game

10) Michigan St. 10-2. Always a quality team. Always good results. And always a couple of losses. They are consistently one of the best Big 10 teams, but that isn't always enough. Two quality losses means season over and bowl game left. This Week: DONE---Bowl Game

11) Ole Miss 10-2. Nice win over Miss State in the Egg Bowl. The Rebels struggled mightily down the stretch, but pulled it together to beat their arch rival and have one of the best seasons they've had in a long, long time. And they get to keep Hugh Freeze around for awhile. This team won't be going away soon. This Week: DONE---Bowl Game

12) Georgia Tech 10-2. Yes, Ga. Tech. Can you believe it? Uh, yeah, neither can we. They should have lost to our alma mater (Ga.Southern), but didn't. They just kept winning. And they beat an occasionally very good Georgia team last week. That counts. They'll make FSU nervous but....This Week: See #1

THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL:



And so closes another season of crappy football. Our toilet bowl (Worst of the Worst) award already had been handed to SMU and the Mustangs did not disappoint. Sure, they got a new coach for next year, Chad Morris, which might be enough to get them off the island next year.

But that's next year.

In the meantime, we are going to award an honorary Toilet Ring to the Alabama Board of Trustees and UAB President Ray Watts Watts. You....deserve to stink things up for a long time for killing the football program without any real discussion on ways to save it.

Shame on all of you...

But enough of that....

5) Ray Watts 0-12. You sir have no spine. The president of a mid-major University who rather than speak out about the shady Board of Trustees trying to kill the football team, decided to just quietly do it without letting anyone know. Not standing up was bad. Plotting this course before saying you tried to save them is even worse. You suck dude...you really suck

4) Alabama Board of Trustees 0-12. We always knew University of Alabama fans were paranoid and somewhat delusional, but this takes the cake. Paul Bryant Jr decides he wants to cash in his vendetta against UAB from a long perceived slight. So you tell Ray Watts "Kill 'em". So he did. Of all places we thought a football program might be eliminated, Alabama was low on the list. Were you scared if UAB got decent they'd compete with you? Please....

3) Idaho 1-11. Hey, a not-UAB related listing. Poor Idaho. They weren't "not-competitive" this season, but they couldn't buy a win. But at least the season has come to an end. So there's that. And winter's coming. So there's that too. This Week: DONE

2) Georgia State 1-11. Two years, one win. Pity poor Georgia State. Totally unprepared to play in FBS, yet they jumped in anyway. And now they're paying for it. They are the cupcake everyone wants to play. So at least they are getting paid. Which is nice. And might spare them the UAB fate. Or not. This Week: DONE

1) SMU 0-12. Congratulations. You win! The Mustangs managed to not crack the top 100 in any major statistical category. Which is not easy to do these days. Sure, they have a game left. But we don't. So they get the Toilet Bowl title whether they like it or not. We wish new coach Chad Morris luck, sure he's him in Texas, but man, he's got a huge job in front of him. This Week: at UConn, Our Pick: UConn 37, SMU 10



Good Night Everybody.................

More Reaction From The Room When Ray Watts Spoke To UAB Football

((HT: BlazerTVdotcom))

We're posting this for a better angle of what we have seen before...

Here's another angle of the Ray Watts explanation and Tristan Henderson's rebuttal...


The HQ is doing this for the sake of reinforcement of how much of a crock this is...

UAB Football: Tristan Henderson Speaks Publicly

((HT: OTL on ESPN))

The most emotionally raw video that came out of UAB when President Ray Watts announced the dissolving of the football program was the confrontation among the players and Watts himself.

Tristan Henderson's voice was the loudest...

The 26-year-old Iraq vet was a tight end for the team and made a point to go after Watts- personifying the anger of the squad.

His is the voice we remember the most and he was a guest on "Outside The Lines" to talk about the dissolving of the program


Henderson's voice will always be the voice the HQ remembers the most- and we hope it always will be

Morning Wrap: More Fallout From The Death of UAB Football

---Sigh---

Late Tuesday afternoon, University of Alabama Birmingham president Ray Watts made official what everyone associated with the UAB football program feared was going to happen.

He killed the football program.

We've been following this story all week and are still shaking our heads over this. It makes little to no sense.

Before we begin editorializing though, check out this video of Watts meeting with the team to drop the big one:



There are varying reports explaining why the decision was made, though from what we understand and have been told, the decision was made long ago.

One item used by Watts to justify the decision was a consultant report by CarrSports. The report was done to quantify the cost of keeping or eliminating football.

It never looked into the possibility of dropping to the Football Championship Subdivision, a more cost effective route for smaller Division 1 level athletic programs.

It also makes apparent their was little or no effort put forth to try and justify keeping the program.

Al.com's Kevin Scarbinsky explains why the report was a sham RIGHT HERE

It's amazing to us in the Football crazed state of Alabama that you'd have the 1st Football Bowl Subdivision team to kill a football program since 1994.

There are multiple factors at play--and from what we understand a lot of them are political. The Alabama Board of Trustees (oversee colleges), a board run by mostly University of Alabama grads, are largely to blame here. No, they haven't been reported on but it's no secret they've been trying to do this for years.

Sure, President Watts did little to nothing to stand up for his schools program, but it just exposes him as a puppet. The Blazer program was not a "Profit" center like the Crimson Tide or like Auburn. But they are projected to break even this season for the 1st time in years.

Success helps with that. Bill Clark led the Blazers to a 6-6 record and bowl eligibility for the first time in many years. That helps with revenue.

Several members of the booster club had guarantees of over $5 million to upgrade and update the facilities. Yet they killed the program.

The fact of the matter is many smaller D-1 schools in Football don't make a lot of money. It's why cupcake games exist. The payday helps with the bottom line. A lot.

It's done for publicity. It's done for image. It's done to say you are a "Big Time" university.

If you ask us. The blame for what happened is squarely on Paul Bryant Jr and the rest of the trustees who considered the Blazers a threat. Why we don't know. But consider this:

About a decade ago, the offensive coordinator for LSU was looking for head coaching opportunities. And the UAB job was at the time open. The two sides met, hammered out a tentative deal only to have it scuttled by the board.

That offensive coordinator: FSU Head Coach Jimbo Fisher.

We wonder how much the world would be a different place had the board not stuck their noses in and interfered.

Alabama's 13 in Birmingham talked to UAB students after the announcement:

Alabamas13.com WVTM-TV Birmingham, AL

Long Live UAB Football: President Kills Program- The Press Conference

((HT: MyFoxAlabama/WBRC-TV))

So, as it turns out, it wasn't JUST football...

To satisfy Title IX guidelines, it is football, rifle, and bowling that are going away at Alabama-Birmingham.

President Ray Watts came in through a back door and had this press conference


Players were involved in a heated discussion with President Watts and UAB VP of Finance G. Allen Bolton, Jr. and Watts was cussed at when he exited the fieldhouse where they gave their dissertation.

Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky released a statement:

“We are aware of the study but disappointed with the decision to discontinue the sport of football at UAB, particularly because of its effect on the lives of the student-athletes and coaches that have worked so hard to restore the quality of the program. We don't fully understand the decision, nor agree with it, but do respect it and the authority of the UAB Administration to make it.

As a conference, we will move forward in our pursuit of excellence in athletics and academics, with the primary goal of providing a positive educational experience for all of our 5,000 student-athletes. Our universities have invested in athletics, and in facilities to support athletics, and are focused on their student-athletes and the contribution college athletics makes on their campuses and in their communities.

UAB has been a contributing member to the Conference since its inception and has expressed a strong interest in remaining a member, a topic that the Conference's Board of Directors will take up in the months ahead. The Conference's current bylaws require all members to sponsor football.”

Head coach Bill Clark released a written statement:

"This is one of the most difficult days that I have had to endure in my personal as well as my coaching career.

I am absolutely heartbroken for my players and my assistant coaches. These coaches and players have done a tremendous job and have worked extremely hard for this university, to achieve six wins and be bowl eligible.

I want to pay a special tribute to our many loyal fans for all the support hey have given us this season and especially, during these last few challenging weeks.

Sometimes we as people do not understand why certain things happen; however my faith tells me that God has a plan for the lives of our players, my coaching staff, and for me and my family.

I am grateful for the opportunity I have had here at UAB and making so many new relationships during my time here.

There is no doubt in my mind that we were in the process of building something special at UAB. This goes further than our football program, the athletics department, or the university as a whole. This team is Birmingham - we represent Birmingham and this community.

It is unfortunate that it has come to this. But again, it is a decision that has been reached and I must respect it and will move forward.

Thank you Birmingham and the UAB Community for everything you have done for our players, this coaching staff and me personally."

The issue now for UAB is to find a conference that will accept them without football- and that will be an interesting quest.

More when we know more...

UAB Fans and Students Rally for Football Program

((ht: alabamas13.com))

It may be a case of too little too late, but it didn't stop over 400 fans, alumni and students from rallying Sunday night on the University of Alabama-Birmingham campus.

They turned out to show support for the football program that according to multiple reports will be shut down this week by the highly politicized state Board of Regents.

For those unaware--the school has been losing money on the program, which has struggled for success the past few seasons.

However, this season, the Blazers, under head coach Bill Clark turned things around, going 6-6 and becoming eligible for a bowl game for the first time in 10-years.

But the board, which is filled with University of Alabama alumni who don't want to deal with UAB doesn't think having a program that is struggling to stay afloat financially is worth it. Reports have surfaced saying they've already fired Athletic Director Brian Mackin and the school has no games scheduled after the 2016 season.

There are multiple things at play here--the truth of the matter is a lot of smaller FBS (Div. 1) teams don't turn or barely turn a profit. But they still remain a part of their respective universities. UAB has lost several million dollars over the past few seasons, but they aren't even in the Top 5 of that category.

It's amazing that in football mad Alabama, a state with no professional sports (no, the Crimson Tide and Auburn don't count), College Football is the only thing most people there live for.

But like everything else southern, it's caught up in politics. And the board is mostly big, rich Alabama boosters who don't want to foot the bill for someone else.

But enough rambling, here's reaction from those who rallied Sunday night and are going to continue rallying on into the week.

Alabamas13.com WVTM-TV Birmingham, AL

DEVELOPING: Done, Done, and Done: UAB Blowing Up Football

In one of the more transparent power plays by a Board of Trustees in recent memory, the University of Alabama Birmingham has fired its Athletic Director and will shutter its football program.

The "when" is the only question...

Joe Schad caught up with Clark after the game as well, and Clark was not optimistic at all: "I think it's going to happen," said Clark, who led UAB to a 6-6 record in his first season at the school. "Unless something changes before the weekend ends, I think it's over. I think the odds are very high it ends this week. To shut the doors? That's sad."

Dan Wolken over at USA Today has some more information: With UAB's football future hanging in the balance, a person close to the decision-making process told USA TODAY Sports that athletics director Brian Mackin has given indications the program will shut down this week and that Mackin is working on a separation agreement from the university. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversations were supposed to be private. Mackin did not return multiple calls and text messages seeking comment.

Clark is meeting with his president tomorrow, via his Twitter:

Contrary to news, We haven't heard any decision about our program. We are still fighting!

Here's head coach Bill Clark after becoming bowl eligible yesterday- the irony is inescapable...
Obviously, more when we know more, but the HQ hopes the UA Board of Trustees is happy with themselves...

UAB Looking To Blow Up Football...???

((HT: AL.com))

The answer is: Probably...

And you find it more from the quotes of the higher-ups in the University these days than those of us who normally float the idea in the first place...

Evidence
((HT: CBS42 Birmingham))


More Evidence...

Nick Birdsong has this statement from AD Brian Mackin

"Like all areas across our campus, the Athletic Department is working on a strategic plan to maximize our resources and drive excellence. This process is critical to ensuring the best days of UAB Athletics are yet to come for our students, alumni, fans and community. "Coming out of this process, we will know what it takes -- from the institution, as well as supporters including our donors -- to best support our programs. My staff and I, and our consultants -- Carr Sports Consulting, a trusted adviser and expert in college athletics -- have invested a great deal of care in undertaking a department-wide strategic plan. As we close in on completing this initiative, we will make informed decisions that are supported by data and expert analysis. It would be premature to speculate about pending results, but I firmly believe this approach will lead to the most exciting era in UAB Athletics."

That paragraph was sent out after the university President, Ray Watts, said this earlier in the week:

More than a year ago, UAB began the most comprehensive campus-wide strategic planning process in our history, calling for the 10 schools, College of Arts and Sciences, Honors College, Information Technology, Research Administration, and other units to develop individual strategic plans, set priorities and implement long-term goals.

"Within that framework, the Athletic Department is conducting a full strategic review of its programs. The Athletic Department has engaged outside experts and is exploring a full range of options - not all of which will be implemented - to reach its desired results of sustained excellence."

Former UAB players have met with Watts to discuss their concerns, and AL.com's Kevin Scarbinsky had this point:

New coach Bill Clark's original contract is for three years only when most college head coaches have deals that run for a minimum of four or five years, and UAB has no non-conference football games scheduled beyond 2016.

Which is flat strange...

Alternatives...

Not many...

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News wrote an article in 2009 as UAB was pursuing their own football stadium not names Legion Field. The numbers back then weren't pretty when it came to the profit and loss ratios of the Blazers football program.

From 2006 to 2009, UAB reported just as much football revenue from the university ($6.55 million in subsidies) as it got from donors ($6.53 million). And that doesn't factor in student fees that went for athletics and increased 30 percent over those four years.

Good for UAB if enough companies will consistently pony up for the stadium. But projections are just that.

UAB projected in its 2009 athletics budget that the football program would receive $935,552 in university subsidies, rather than the $2 million it actually received. Overall, UAB projected a $1.1 million loss on football; it turned out to be $1.7 million.

Solomon followed up that piece five years later with the numbers back in February of 2014 that outlined that a lot of Alabama schools are heavily subsidized. UAB's numbers were up in the five year gap between our paragraphs. There's a good graph in their as well...

The UAB athletics department received $1.4 million less in institutional support during the 2013 fiscal year, resulting in a rare decrease of total subsidies directed to Blazers sports even as student fees climbed.

UAB received $18.1 million in total subsidies for sports in 2013, down from $18.7 million a year earlier, according to the athletics department's latest NCAA financial report. This marked the first time subsidies have decreased during the eight years AL.com/The Birmingham News has charted the university's athletics finances.

The Blazers had a long day hosting Louisiana Tech to even out their schedule at 5-5, losing 40-24.
Here's Kyle Sappington going against the Bulldogs special teams


UAB and Hawai'i are two looking at the same dark tunnel and it will be interesting to see how they come out the other side.

ICYMI: Fat Guy TD Pass To Another Fat Guy

((HT: TodaysTHV.com/KTHV))

The HQ thinks we have a record... fattest pitch-and-catch combo for a TD in the Ess-E-Cee

Sebastian Tretola's TD pass in the Arkansas win over UAB kinda looks like a rub-your-nose-in-it moment against the Blazers...

But, it's at the minute mark in the highlights brought to you by Mary Dunleavy and her cast of ex-Hogs

Long snapper Alan D'Appollonio caught the shotgun formation pass as the Razorbacks improve to 4-4...

And, we think, Tretola passes Jared Lorenzen for the record.

At Last: Southern Miss Wins! Southern Miss Wins!

Hooray!

Our worst team in College Football for the past 2 season has finally gotten off the schnide.

Southern Miss, 0-for the past two seasons (0-23) and Kings of our weekly "Bottom of the Barrel" poll, rode the back of QB Nick Mullens who threw for 5 TD passes and earned the 62-27 win over Alabama-Birmingham.

The Golden Eagles, who struggled with pretty much everything all season put it all together, outscoring UAB 28-0 in the second half.

We are searching for highlights, but in the meantime, enjoy the post-game celebrating Courtesy of the Sun-Herald: