UAB fires AD and is planning to shut down UAB football program

[rolltide_21]

It's losing money. It's as simple as that. I feel bad for the players but at least it went out with a 6-6 season. Bill Clark did a great job there this year. He will be fine.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I am sure the NCAA will grant all the players a waiver to transfer to any school of their choice without having to sit out.

 

[KrAzY3]

Several more programs should follow suit. If their own fans don't care, why should millions of dollars be wasted to continue the program?

 

[Crimson1967]

This could threaten their status as a Division I program. The NCAA requires DI members to sponsor at least six sports for men and eight for women.

If they drop football, they will be down to:
basketball
baseball
soccer
golf
tennis

The women have:
basketball
softball
soccer
golf
tennis
indoor track
outdoor track
cross country
volleyball
sand volleyball
bowling
rifle

If they are trying to save money, they may drop a couple women's sports that are just there to balance out football. I suppose they could add track for men (which can count as three sports) to maintain Division I membership.

They would have to honor all scholarships for players who choose not to transfer as well as any coaching contracts. And the NCAA would let people transfer without sitting out.

They have a pretty good place kicker. Maybe we can grab him.

 

[Nothingfaced]

Pretty messed up... no clue what I'll do on Saturdays next fall anymore. Guess I'll have a lot more free time.

 

[Jessica4Bama]

I am sure the NCAA will grant all the players a waiver to transfer to any school of their choice without having to sit out.

Just curious about this cause I'm not sure how it all works. If a player has a full ride to school and gets to transfer to continue playing, which school pays for the scholarship?

 

[CoachJeff]

Are you sure track would count as 3 sports? The scholarships all count together.

 

[JPT4Bama]

About time.

 

[AUDub]

Pretty messed up... no clue what I'll do on Saturdays next fall anymore. Guess I'll have a lot more free time.

Hate it for you, dude. I've seen some great UAB games at Legion Field.

 

[Crimson1967]

Are you sure track would count as 3 sports? The scholarships all count together.

It is one scholarship, but indoor and outdoor track are considered separate sports by the NCAA along with cross country. So they have one group of people, but they all do both indoor and outdoor and I'd imagine the distance track guys do cross country.

 

[TrampLineman]

Pretty messed up... no clue what I'll do on Saturdays next fall anymore. Guess I'll have a lot more free time.

Not trying to be a butthole but y'all should have recruited more alumni and fans to support the program and chances are they wouldn't have been in that spot. Sadly when fan support is that bad, the brass will give up on them in a heart beat. Bill Clark proved they could put a decent product on the field, but those days of nobody being in the stands really killed UAB's hopes of playing with the big boys.

 

[GP for Bama]

Actually, UAB basketball did its best when they were in the Sunbelt conference.

 

[uaintn]

It is a harsh but really obvious decision. Bad for players, coaches and other employees whose jobs depended on football. They had no business trying to make the big jump. It's just impossible to justify the money that has gone to support UAB football with all the needs of higher education in the state. If it's losing, say, $100,000 a year, then maybe you can justify it on exposure, school spirit, potential to break even, etc. Losing in the millions every year? Wasn't an easy decision, but an obvious one.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

so will C-USA go after a team from the Sun Belt to pick up another team?

also what will happen to some teams that have the Blazers scheduled as an opponent? I looked it up and they have their OOC schedules set thru 2016. maybe they might wait until then?

 

[RollTideMang]

so will C-USA go after a team from the Sun Belt to pick up another team?

also what will happen to some teams that have the Blazers scheduled as an opponent? I looked it up and they have their OOC schedules set thru 2016. maybe they might wait until then?

No, they will just have to find replacements for them. Might have to book FCS opponents if no one else is available.

As for the CUSA, I think their divisions are lopsided by one team anyway, so this would even them out. I doubt they look for a replacement.

 

[RollTideMang]

Guess I'll hold on to the replica uab helmet I bought a few years back. It might be worth more of nothing one day.

 

[Crimson1967]

They had home and homes with Troy, South Ala. and Georgia St and money games with Tennessee next year and Kentucky in 2016. There is likely a buy out clause for backing out unless the others decide to be nice and waive it. Tennessee already has an FCS for next year, so I guess they'll call one of UAB's other three opponents.

C-USA had 13 this year, but aw adding Charlotte next year so they'll be back at an odd number if UAB shuts down.

 

[theballguy]

Correct. They're membership in C-USA is likely contingent on having a FB program.

Glad to hear they're keeping at least basketball. My cousin's son who had childhood cancer is an honorary team-member. My cousin and wife are huge fans of the basketball team. Wonder if this will move them to Sunbelt or something else?

 

[AUDub]

Glad to hear they're keeping at least basketball. My cousin's son who had childhood cancer is an honorary team-member. My cousin and wife are huge fans of the basketball team. Wonder if this will move them to Sunbelt or something else?

Sun Belt would be a good soft landing. A step down, but what wouldn't be?

Just noticed my typo in that post. There, their, they're.:mad2:

 

[RollTideMang]

Glad to hear they're keeping at least basketball. My cousin's son who had childhood cancer is an honorary team-member. My cousin and wife are huge fans of the basketball team. Wonder if this will move them to Sunbelt or something else?

They should have been focusing all their money on the bball program from the start. They have a very nice on campus arena, and would have been a force if they had kept Mike Anderson from leaving for Mizzou.