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...

Northwestern Voting To Unionize Today

((HT: MyFoxChicago))

It all starts today... and goes on all day...

The vote for the Northwestern football players to unionize is going on on campus and the National Labor Relations Board has been asked to certify it. The NLRB will review the ruling, but the results won't be known for some time... and only if the board agrees with the players assessment of their status.

Coaches have campaigned against the idea of a union- openly so... even going as far as distributing "informational material" to explain their point-of-view...

Anita Padilla is outside with Lester Munson
Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Northwestern football-playing alums even went as far as sending a letter to the school's Board of Directors supporting Kain Colter and what his fellow players are doing as a talking point for change.

Not necessarily supporting unionization, just talking about change...

From the letter, given to CBSSports:

Collegiate Alumni Athletes for Change believes that as a private NCAA institution, Northwestern University is in a
unique position to lead. The University should begin by making modifications to the governance process to give
players a greater voice and a substantive stake in the creation of policies and regulations that impact their
interests. We believe that a greater voice for players creates an equity that is in both the University's and the
player's interests. It protects and preserves the game that we love, and also initiates a new model and practice for
the business of college sports. It will create an even more intelligent and reasonable model and framework where
schools can substantively address athletically related revenues with the individuals that are largely responsible for
producing those revenues.

And the HQ knows this is just the beginning of a long process- just ask Ed O'Bannon about that...

OSG Prem: FA Rejects Hull City Name Change Request

And, now, it's in the court of Hull City Tigers owner Assem Allam as to what will happen next...

Ben Smith at the BBC, through his Twitter, says 63.5% of FA Council members voted to block changing the name to Hull Tigers. Not as unanimous as I had expected

But Assem Allam, who took charge of the club in in December 2010, has threatened to sell if he is not allowed to change the 110-year-old name. Here's an interview that is all puppy dogs and roses from a few weeks ago about the Allam's time with the club...
((HT: Hull City their own selves))


Contrary to what he says in this clip...


There was a vote earlier this week involving Hull City cardholders where the name change was narrowly approved, but look at the numbers...

2,565: Yes to Hull Tigers with the Allam Family continuing to lead the club

792: I am not too concerned and will continue to support the club either way

9,159: Number of season card holders who did not vote

2,517: No to Hull Tigers

More than almost two times the numbers of card holders DID NOT EVEN VOTE in the process than actual votes were recorded...

That should tell you something about the process...