How Does UAB Keep Their FBS Status?

KrAzY3

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The one good thing about them being in FBS is that you can play an FCS team without it counting as an FCS team.
Here's the bad part though, and don't get me wrong I believe in the notion of not just stacking your schedule with tough games...
The bad part is they have a seat at the table and technically they can count as a conference game. It's these types of teams that programs like Boise State (who average a mighty 30K) feasted on to give themselves their false credentials as a football powerhouse. It's also these types of programs that enable the NCAA to do things like place scholarship limits. Alabama can't offer more scholarships and ultimately, why? So programs like UAB can afford to keep their football program...

I say up the attendance requirements, up the scholarship limits to 90 or more, make these jokes actually prove they are worthy...
 

AlistarWills

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You all know that it's the BoT's fault that UAB is in the shape it's in. They wouldn't let UAB hire Jimbo Fisher. [/removetonguefromcheek]

FWIW...they have plans to drop like $75mil to build an on campus stadium next to where the Baron's new stadium is going. To seat 27,000 or so, complete with luxury suites etc.
 

uaintn

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Aug 2, 2000
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If they want to have a football team to boost school spirit, etc., that's fine and they should. BUT, it should not be at taxpayer expense, which it currently is x2 (they get the above-mentioned money from the BOT, which it doesn't have to waste, and from City of B'ham -- which also doesn't have money to waste -- buying tickets so they can claim FBS I status.) I find it embarrassing when they try to do crowd shots and there is no crowd.

It was a dumb idea that has gotten worse in execution. Drop back a division, build an on-campus stadium, and play with the money you generate.

Note: I do not limit these comments to UAB. My guess is Division I is too large by at least a third, maybe more like half.
 

conturbo

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:BigA: One of the posters on this thread commented about South Alabama football being in the same category as UAB. IMO South Alabama and UAB are completely different, if for no other reason than USA is a starter program. UAB has a consistent history of not supporting football and it's obvious that metro Birmingham could not care less. I've always thought that USA and the southern part of Alabama needed college football. IMO USA football will be a big success, if for no other reason than because that don't have a team anywhere close to Mobile.
Give it a few years. You will see. USA football will become irrelevant.
 

ALA2262

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If they want to have a football team to boost school spirit, etc., that's fine and they should. BUT, it should not be at taxpayer expense, which it currently is x2 (they get the above-mentioned money from the BOT, which it doesn't have to waste, and from City of B'ham -- which also doesn't have money to waste -- buying tickets so they can claim FBS I status.) I find it embarrassing when they try to do crowd shots and there is no crowd.

It was a dumb idea that has gotten worse in execution. Drop back a division, build an on-campus stadium, and play with the money you generate.

Note: I do not limit these comments to UAB. My guess is Division I is too large by at least a third, maybe more like half.
Division 1A should be limited to 64 teams in four 16 team conferences. Winners of those 4 conferences play in 2 of the BCS Bowls, rotating between the 4 EOY. Plus One game in BCSNCG.

Would rather have a Plus Three games with the winners of the 4 conferences playing a runner up in the 4 BCS bowls, but that ain't gonna happen.
 

KrAzY3

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Note: I do not limit these comments to UAB. My guess is Division I is too large by at least a third, maybe more like half.
Absolutely, and it's not hard to fix but the NCAA likes having these do nothings around because it ultimately gives them more power over programs like Alabama.

Also, the taxpayer situation is of great significance. The idea that taxpayers in the state are footing the bill for this program so they can have their school spirit or what ever if offensive to me. The idea that people that want a football program within the university can basically force the entire state to pay for it is just disgusting. It's not just UAB, but I was upset when South Alabama got their program for a reason, it's bad for us on multiple levels. All so the people that want to watch an inferior level of football can pretend it's not. And I get to pay for it even if I don't want to watch it?

If a third of these programs vanished, or went to a lower level, it would be good for "FBS" football, it would be good for the college postseason and it would be good for taxpayers all over the US.
 

BamaJama17

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Sep 17, 2006
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UAB football is a joke. If they would just drop football and concentrate on basketball, they could be a power again like they were in the 80's.
 

Ldlane

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Nov 26, 2002
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I assume that UAB is doing like South Alabama and the students are paying a fee every semester that funds the football team and they get money from playing BCS schools. It is utterly ridiculous for commuter schools like UAB & USA to have football teams. Both play in dumps that are off campus and both are ill attended. There is no point in having a football program if it exists solely to be a punching bag for BCS schools.
Yeah, it happens at FSU also. Even if you don't go to the game you have to pay an "Athletic Fee" as part of your tuition. You can redeem coupons for Tickets the day of the game. However, you aren't guaranteed seats.
 

RollTideMang

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Yeah, it happens at FSU also. Even if you don't go to the game you have to pay an "Athletic Fee" as part of your tuition. You can redeem coupons for Tickets the day of the game. However, you aren't guaranteed seats.
The thing with UAB is that you have to pay an athletics fee and $5 for a ticket if you go to the game.
 

RollTideMang

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I was told UAB students get in the games for free.
Hmmm maybe we do. I go to UAB, and I thought I heard that tickets were $5 at the door. I know they used to be free, and attendance was terrible, so I was wondering why they would charge and make attendance even worse.
 

Redwood Forrest

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The rule is 15,000 and if it was enforced things would be a lot better for college football. It doesn't seem to be though, there are conferences that average around that.

If anything good can come out of all this realignment, it's that the WAC, MAC and Sun Belt might be relegated to such obscurity that they finally get the idea and go down to the appropriate level of football.
You are so right. I wonder why so many organizations want to make rules they know they will never enforce? The cow bell rule, for example. This rule, for example. I suppose it make them feel "all powerful" or something.
 

conturbo

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What is South Alabama's Attendance like? Has to be better than UAB.
It is. They get between 14 - 20 thousand a game. It will change though. I imagine in a few years the attendance will be down in the low thousands. Football, hell all athletics in my opinion, do not belong at commuter schools. No one goes to South or UAB for the atmosphere or experience.
 

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