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.

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...

DEVELOPING: UAB To Announce The End Of Football Today

((HT: Al.com/Scarbinsky))

At some point today, it is expected that UAB President Ray Watts will announce the end of the football program.

Funny thing is, according to AL.com's John Talty, is that the football program looks like it was a proftable one.

The football program posted a slim positive margin of $24,222 in a time frame of Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics data

Yes, it's heavily subsidized. The HQ knows that...

But in an interview with Barnett Wright, former university President and founder of the football program, Scotty McCallum, said it shouldn't be a Board of Trustees decision to make:

"This is not the Board of Trustees' decision," said McCallum, who was instrumental in the first UAB football team taking the field in 1991. "The decision should be made by the (UAB) president and the faculty members at the university. It's ridiculous for the Board of Trustees to even think about dropping it."

At the same time, what the HQ- and a lot of you out there- already think was publicly divulged by Talty in an interview with UAB Football booster Jimmy Filler. Filler is the head of the UAB Football Foundation. The Foundation is set to donate $5-million to the efforts of keeping football around, but Filler claims to Talty that no one ever called him to discuss the matter once he came to the fore and the idea is two decades old to blow up the program:

Filler doesn't believe the study will have any impact on whether the program folds or not. Instead, he says, its fate was sealed as far back as 1991 when former UAB coach and athletic director Gene Bartow advised the NCAA to investigate Alabama's basketball program. In the letter to the NCAA, published by The Los Angeles Times in 1993, Bartow wrote that several former Alabama football coaches had been penalized by the NCAA and that they were "trained" by legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant.

Filler believes Paul Bryant Jr., the son of Bear Bryant and a member of the Board of Trustees, has been trying to kill UAB's program for years as a "vendetta" for Bartow's letter. Filler has battled Bryant Jr. and the rest of the board for years to try to get UAB a new football stadium with little success.

"Coach Bartow was a dear, close friend of mine. He said this (would) happen," Filler said. "He said it two weeks before he passed that they wanted to kill UAB athletics. My good friend and dear man was 100 percent right."

There is talk that President Watts will make a public announcement of the university's intentions when it happens...

May his God help him if he does with the reaction he will receive on campus...

Here was the look this morning from campus as students were set to march again:
((HT: MyFoxAL.com))

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.