🏈 UAB Blazers football program ends

[We All Bleed Crimson]

I have had mixed feelings on this one..... BUT, losing $17M per year?! That's a business decision that is rather easy to make.

 

[rick4bama]

@rick4bama, losing the program or dropping down to the FCS level, I believe affects all of the other sports when it comes to conference affiliations. Title IX statutes also come into play I believe. Got to have equal number of male and female schollies.

That a shame, that this is going to happen. I do think UAB, when to fast to the big boys football. But, it going to be the BOT of Bama that it happen. I bet if you did a poll on the staffs that over half didn't go to any games. But if I lost that much money a year, I would stop too.

 

[planomateo]

Think UAB leaders researched this one??

Bylaw 3.01 of the C-USA bylaws require conference members to be members of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. So UAB would no longer be eligible to be a member of the conference and would need a rule change to stay in Conference USA as a non-football playing member.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

And that rule change will not happen.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

This is reportedly the text of an email the President of UAB sent out regarding this.

Dear UAB Family,

More than a year ago, UAB began the largest, most comprehensive strategic planning process in the university's history. Designed to identify areas of excellence and set priorities for investment and growth, this strategic review has empowered leaders across campus to think critically about how to best invest resources and position UAB as a premier and sustainable institution for the future.

Today, we announced results of the Athletic Department's strategic planning process. In order for us to more effectively reinvest in athletic programs that are most likely to bring growth, prolonged success and national prominence to UAB, the 2014-2015 academic year will be the final season for UAB football, bowling and rifle.

After an extensive review of current and future financial data, it became clear that, despite noteworthy success this season under Coach Bill Clark, investments in football were unlikely to produce a sustainable return relative to the required investment. This is especially the case with the rapidly evolving NCAA landscape and the soaring costs associated with maintaining a competitive team.

UAB already subsidizes $20 million of the roughly $30 million annual Athletic Department budget, which is the fifth-largest budget and subsidy in Conference USA. We will continue to support Athletics at this level, which amounts to an institutional investment of at least $100 million over the next five years. According to expert analysis by CarrSports Consulting, UAB would have to substantially increase our operating budget and our capital investments in facilities to support an Athletic Department that fields a competitive Conference USA football team.

The difference between our future Athletic Department with and without football is an additional $49 million investment on top of the $100 million UAB will already invest in Athletics in the next five years. From an operating budget standpoint alone, the difference between the scenario in which we maintain a competitive Conference USA football program and eliminate it is more than $27 million over the next five years. This does not include additional needed capital investments of $22 million for football facilities alone. These capital projects would include a field house, an indoor practice facility and a turf field, but not a stadium.

We have considered many options to fill this financial gap, including through philanthropic support; but our informed analysis of current and past support and interest concluded that the gap is simply too wide.

It would be fiscally irresponsible and virtually impossible to keep pace with these growing financial demands without sacrificing the financial health and sustainability of Athletics, or redirecting funds from other critical areas of importance, like education, research, patient care or student services.

This decision is not about cutting the Athletics budget, but instead is about reallocating resources to more fully support and reinvest in athletic programs in which we have an opportunity to achieve a high level of success. Many of our programs have been on the cusp, and redirecting funds from football can propel them to the next level.

With this strategy, I am confident that UAB's best days for Athletics are ahead. But the coming days and months will be difficult for those most affected. We couldn't be more proud of how well our student-athletes and coaches have represented the institution, even in the midst of recent, very regrettable distractions. They have earned our respect and appreciation, which makes this necessary financial decision all the more difficult.

I have met with impacted student-athletes and coaches, and will meet with others affected. It is my top priority to make this transition as easy as possible. We will honor scholarships for those who choose to stay at UAB beyond this season, and we will honor coaches' contracts. When a program is discontinued, per NCAA bylaws, players who decide to leave UAB to play elsewhere will not be required to sit out of competition the following season.

To those who are losing something they hold dear with this decision, I am truly sorry. I know many are saddened by this news. As a Birmingham native, a sports fan, and a UAB graduate who loves this university and its people, I am among those disappointed in the necessity of this decision. While it is the right one for the financial future of UAB Athletics and UAB as a whole, it is an agonizing one to make.

I know many will be interested in following developments during this transition. For more information, and updates as they become available, I encourage you to visitwww.uab.edu/athleticsplan.

Very sincerely,

Ray L. Watts

Ray L. Watts President UAB '76

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

The decision to kill the program isn't the mistake, the mistake was the decision to start up the football program to begin with... It's kinda a shame Gene Bartow isn't around to see the destruction though...

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Think UAB leaders researched this one??

South Alabama, would you please pick up the red courtesy phone?

 

[UAgrad93]

A spokesperson for the BOT said that it was the President Ray Watts that made the decision, not the BOT. This still won't convince those blinded by green and gold that the BOT and Bryant, Jr. were behind this to get pay back.

 

[bama alum]

Madison Underwood @MadisonU 59s60 seconds ago Birmingham, AL
Students mob Ray Watts car., punch it, flip him off, and chant "F*** Ray Watts!" as he tries to leave ‪#‎FreeUAB

 

[RollllTide!]

South Alabama, would you please pick up the red courtesy phone?

USA is doing fine. 6 wins with losses against. Miss State, Ga Southern, La Lafayette, Arky State, South Carolina, and Navy. I don't know about their finances, but they have a lot of support in the Mobile area. They play home games at Ladd Peebles Stadium. Seating for about 33,000. I went to the Miss State game and the stadium was full.

The local business support is fantastic. There were booths for every company you know in Mobile.

 

[rick4bama]

Now that look bad I see more around his car than at a UAB football game.

 

[planomateo]

Worth a read.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

USA is doing fine. 6 wins with losses against. Miss State, Ga Southern, La Lafayette, Arky State, South Carolina, and Navy. I don't know about their finances, but they have a lot of support in the Mobile area. They play home games at Ladd Peebles Stadium. Seating for about 33,000. I went to the Miss State game and the stadium was full.

The local business support is fantastic. There were booths for every company you know in Mobile.

I know. Sorry for the confusion... my reply was suggesting that USA replace UAB in Conference USA.

 

[planomateo]

LOL, Alabama is losing fans over this. Obviously he can't see the forest for the trees and isn't an Alabama fan.

 

[bama alum]

I know. Sorry for the confusion... my reply was suggesting that USA replace UAB in Conference USA.

I think that is a great idea!

 

[PhillyGirl]

I really feel for the players. I saw footage of them weeping and hugging. It sucks to lose your team, your family like that. They had a home at UAB. And if they want to continue to play, they will have to transfer.

 

[JoshB]

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

LOL, Alabama is losing fans over this. Obviously he can't see the forest for the trees and isn't an Alabama fan.

I have seen a lot of this elsewhere. Common wisdom is that Bryant Jr has a vendetta against UAB football and has rallied the other BOT members to his cause before he has to retire next year. That is the only reason they blocked the stadium (which was "fully funded through donations" but denied anyway) and refused hiring Jimbo Fisher (because Bama might want him as an assistant). And of course they average over 21,000 a game and could not be losing money.

 

[Max]

I have seen a lot of this elsewhere. Common wisdom is that Bryant Jr has a vendetta against UAB football and has rallied the other BOT members to his cause before he has to retire next year. That is the only reason they blocked the stadium (which was "fully funded through donations" but denied anyway) and refused hiring Jimbo Fisher (because Bama might want him as an assistant). And of course they average over 21,000 a game and could not be losing money.

This isn't the case. Part of the funding was going to done under bonds issued and part through private donations. The bond would fall under "debt service" forecasted to take 30 years to repay. The individual donations/pledges hadn't reached the halfway mark.

 

[TerryP]

This isn't the case. Part of the funding was going to done under bonds issued and part through private donations. The bond would fall under "debt service" forecasted to take 30 years to repay. The individual donations/pledges hadn't reached the halfway mark.

I'm not going to find the reports but here's enough information if you want to go on a google search.

The proposal was in the fall of 2011. I want to say it was September. AT that time cost was estimated at 75million, 60 of that coming through bonds and 15 through private donations. At the time it was presented to the BOT they didn't have the 15 million.

As I recall, they had around 7 of the 15 pledged.