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The University of Alabama at Birmingham is reportedly shuttering its football program, becoming the first FBS football program to close since University of the Pacific in 1995.

Blazers athletic director Brian Mackin is also being fired.

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees oversees funding for Alabama, Alabama at Birmingham, and Alabama in Huntsville, which doesn't have a football team. Earlier this month, Jon Solomon of CBS Sports wrote about the feud between trustee (and Bear Bryant's son) Paul Bryant Jr., and the late Gene Bartow, known as the father of UAB's athletics:

"Gene Bartow, out of his mouth, told me on many, many occasions that the aim of the board of trustees was to kill UAB football in the last 8-10 years," said Jimmy Filler, UAB's biggest booster and the creator of the UAB Football Foundation. "They're going to get the recommendation from [UAB President Ray Watts], and they'll accept what he brings to them."

Alabama state Rep. Jack Williams, a longtime supporter of UAB, said the board has always been opposed to UAB football.

"It's been a thorn in their flesh since day one," Williams said. "I think they've done everything to kill it. I'll be honest: I think the program's success this year may be what leads to its demise if the board goes through with this because people are excited."
The Blazers became bowl-eligible for the third time in school history after Saturday's win over Southern Miss.

DSUrocks07 wrote:The new reality. Who's next?

89Hen wrote:

DSUrocks07 wrote:The new reality. Who's next?

No kidding. My guess is nobody wanted to be the first in the last 20 years. This could open the door for quite a few more.

Pwns wrote:

89Hen wrote: No kidding. My guess is nobody wanted to be the first in the last 20 years. This could open the door for quite a few more.

Even if this is true I doubt there's any domino effect as UAB's program is basically getting shut down by UA, and not because UAB itself is giving up on the program.

SDHornet wrote:I think the bad/scary thing in all of this is many people thought that with the recent P5 money/power grab that they would just carry on their merry way and leave everyone else alone since they got their pie and are eating it too. So much for that. For smaller programs in the same organization/institution as P5 programs I would be a little concerned with this move if I were them.

TribeFanInNC wrote:Was shutting down the program the only option?

From what I've heard, they will have to find a new conference for the remainder of their teams, since C-USA doesn't want them without football.

So why not drop down to FCS and join the OVC? They fit in the geographic footprint very well, and could have a natural rivalry with Jacksonville State, located just 75 miles away.

They averaged 21,800 in attendance this year, which would have put them #2 in the FCS behind only Montana. The OVC attendance ranged from 3,800 to 16,500. With more home opponents within driving distance, their home revenue should rise. Moving to a conference that isn't spread from El Paso, TX, to Norfolk, VA, would also reduce the travel expenses of the non-revenue sports.

In the end they could be a big fish in a small pond, which would establish a fan base over time. The decreased expense of operating an FCS program should move them toward financial viability. And maybe in 10 years they can reevaluate based on whatever the conference playing field looks like at that time.

TribeFanInNC wrote:Was shutting down the program the only option?

From what I've heard, they will have to find a new conference for the remainder of their teams, since C-USA doesn't want them without football.

So why not drop down to FCS and join the OVC? They fit in the geographic footprint very well, and could have a natural rivalry with Jacksonville State, located just 75 miles away.

They averaged 21,800 in attendance this year, which would have put them #2 in the FCS behind only Montana. The OVC attendance ranged from 3,800 to 16,500. With more home opponents within driving distance, their home revenue should rise. Moving to a conference that isn't spread from El Paso, TX, to Norfolk, VA, would also reduce the travel expenses of the non-revenue sports.

In the end they could be a big fish in a small pond, which would establish a fan base over time. The decreased expense of operating an FCS program should move them toward financial viability. And maybe in 10 years they can reevaluate based on whatever the conference playing field looks like at that time.

CAA Flagship wrote:UAB Football is officially dead. RIP

Here is a video of the UAB President (A UA BOT puppet) addressing the team, and the team addressing him.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAvSuQEh6lI[/youtube]

bonarae wrote:

TribeFanInNC wrote:Was shutting down the program the only option?

From what I've heard, they will have to find a new conference for the remainder of their teams, since C-USA doesn't want them without football.

So why not drop down to FCS and join the OVC? They fit in the geographic footprint very well, and could have a natural rivalry with Jacksonville State, located just 75 miles away.

They averaged 21,800 in attendance this year, which would have put them #2 in the FCS behind only Montana. The OVC attendance ranged from 3,800 to 16,500. With more home opponents within driving distance, their home revenue should rise. Moving to a conference that isn't spread from El Paso, TX, to Norfolk, VA, would also reduce the travel expenses of the non-revenue sports.

In the end they could be a big fish in a small pond, which would establish a fan base over time. The decreased expense of operating an FCS program should move them toward financial viability. And maybe in 10 years they can reevaluate based on whatever the conference playing field looks like at that time.

If UAB were located in another state, they would've become the first program to move down in subdivision terms since the 1980's.

DSUrocks07 wrote:Report: UAB To Shut Down Its Football Program

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is reportedly shuttering its football program, becoming the first FBS football program to close since University of the Pacific in 1995.

Blazers athletic director Brian Mackin is also being fired.

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees oversees funding for Alabama, Alabama at Birmingham, and Alabama in Huntsville, which doesn't have a football team. Earlier this month, Jon Solomon of CBS Sports wrote about the feud between trustee (and Bear Bryant's son) Paul Bryant Jr., and the late Gene Bartow, known as the father of UAB's athletics:

"Gene Bartow, out of his mouth, told me on many, many occasions that the aim of the board of trustees was to kill UAB football in the last 8-10 years," said Jimmy Filler, UAB's biggest booster and the creator of the UAB Football Foundation. "They're going to get the recommendation from [UAB President Ray Watts], and they'll accept what he brings to them."

Alabama state Rep. Jack Williams, a longtime supporter of UAB, said the board has always been opposed to UAB football.

"It's been a thorn in their flesh since day one," Williams said. "I think they've done everything to kill it. I'll be honest: I think the program's success this year may be what leads to its demise if the board goes through with this because people are excited."
The Blazers became bowl-eligible for the third time in school history after Saturday's win over Southern Miss.

The new reality. Who's next?

dal4018 wrote:

DSUrocks07 wrote:Report: UAB To Shut Down Its Football Program



The new reality. Who's next?

What was the problem why did the board have a beef with football program?!?!?!?!