((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...
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Video Of Gurley Signing Now Public
((HT: ESPN/McMurphy))
Brett McMurphy and Andy Staples caught up with the sports memorabilia collector that caused all the grief in and around Todd Gurley's ineligibility with the University of Georgia.
Bryan Allen says he didn't mean it and hates all the grief the incident caused:
"I can't change any of that stuff -- any of those emails, me talking to the school, how it was handled -- I can't change any of that," Bryan Allen said in his first interview since Gurley was suspended for four games after admitting he accepted money for autographs. "If I could, I would.
"Because I never wanted to screw over Gurley. I never wanted to screw over their fans or anything like that. That was never my intention. I wish I had never even gone down there. It's not worth it."
Here's the video of the signing
It's a whole bunch of inches where Allen apologizes for everything short of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby...
Good read and a lot mf mea culpas...
Brett McMurphy and Andy Staples caught up with the sports memorabilia collector that caused all the grief in and around Todd Gurley's ineligibility with the University of Georgia.
Bryan Allen says he didn't mean it and hates all the grief the incident caused:
"I can't change any of that stuff -- any of those emails, me talking to the school, how it was handled -- I can't change any of that," Bryan Allen said in his first interview since Gurley was suspended for four games after admitting he accepted money for autographs. "If I could, I would.
"Because I never wanted to screw over Gurley. I never wanted to screw over their fans or anything like that. That was never my intention. I wish I had never even gone down there. It's not worth it."
Here's the video of the signing
It's a whole bunch of inches where Allen apologizes for everything short of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby...
Good read and a lot mf mea culpas...
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))
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))
Morning Wrap: Sixers Lose 17th Straight Game--Barely
The Philadelphia 76ers continued their losing ways Monday night, dropping a close game at home to the San Antonio Spurs.
The final score was 109-103, but it should be noted the Spurs played without their two best players, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Third wheel Manu Ginobilli only played 12 minutes.
But all that meant is that it was time for Kawhi Leonard to shine.
Leonard had 26 points and 10 rebounds leading the Spurs to their 13th win of the season.
For the Sixers, quite possibly the worst team in NBA history, it's their 17th straight loss which puts them just a game away from tying an NBA record. They were led Monday night by Michael Carter-Williams who scored 24 points and had 11 boards.
They face Minnesota Wednesday and could break the record with a game against Oklahoma City at the end of the week.
Highlights from NBA.com:
The final score was 109-103, but it should be noted the Spurs played without their two best players, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Third wheel Manu Ginobilli only played 12 minutes.
But all that meant is that it was time for Kawhi Leonard to shine.
Leonard had 26 points and 10 rebounds leading the Spurs to their 13th win of the season.
For the Sixers, quite possibly the worst team in NBA history, it's their 17th straight loss which puts them just a game away from tying an NBA record. They were led Monday night by Michael Carter-Williams who scored 24 points and had 11 boards.
They face Minnesota Wednesday and could break the record with a game against Oklahoma City at the end of the week.
Highlights from NBA.com:
Morning Wrap: Hugh Freeze Agrees To Ole Miss Contract Extension
((ht: espn.com))
If you are asking yourself why are we posting a story on a college football coach getting a contract extension, then you aren't paying attention to the Coaching Carousel season.
Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze got his extension Tuesday morning. Complete with a pay bump--up to $4 million a year per reports.
And it's newsworthy because several blogs/outlets reported that he was the leader for the University of Florida open coaching job.
Those reports were obviously incorrect.
Freeze has gotten results each year with the Rebels, this year the team has been in the Top 10 most of the season and just beat arch rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, knocking the Bulldogs out of playoff contention.
Freeze announced the contract on Twitter:
His boss, Athletic Director Ross Bjork confirmed it:
If you are asking yourself why are we posting a story on a college football coach getting a contract extension, then you aren't paying attention to the Coaching Carousel season.
Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze got his extension Tuesday morning. Complete with a pay bump--up to $4 million a year per reports.
And it's newsworthy because several blogs/outlets reported that he was the leader for the University of Florida open coaching job.
Those reports were obviously incorrect.
Freeze has gotten results each year with the Rebels, this year the team has been in the Top 10 most of the season and just beat arch rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, knocking the Bulldogs out of playoff contention.
Freeze announced the contract on Twitter:
Very blessed to be at THE University of Miss & work for and with great people and fans! REBELNATION, say it with me, I AM AN OLE MISS REBEL
— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) December 2, 2014
His boss, Athletic Director Ross Bjork confirmed it:
Proud that we have @CoachHughFreeze leading our program & young men for a long time to come. Agreement is in place & future is bright!
— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) December 2, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
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
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
2014 Iron Bowl: The Shopping Version
((ht: saturdaydownsouth.com))
This is pretty funny. We've never heard of it, so we're going to share because we always appreciate a good joke.
And this is not holy crap funny, but chuckling all the way through it funny.
A pair of comedians has put together a YouTube page called "SEC Shorts". And the "Shorts" are a series of parody video that have a little fun with the manic obsessiveness of SEC football fans.
They are pretty funny and for the most part--spot on.
The latest video: The 2014 Iron Bowl Shopping Show--where you can see items fresh from Saturday nights game.
Enjoy:
This is pretty funny. We've never heard of it, so we're going to share because we always appreciate a good joke.
And this is not holy crap funny, but chuckling all the way through it funny.
A pair of comedians has put together a YouTube page called "SEC Shorts". And the "Shorts" are a series of parody video that have a little fun with the manic obsessiveness of SEC football fans.
They are pretty funny and for the most part--spot on.
The latest video: The 2014 Iron Bowl Shopping Show--where you can see items fresh from Saturday nights game.
Enjoy:
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