(11-03-2014 08:03 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: [ -> ]First order will be to email watts and positively show support. We will stick something at top. Soon. Any suggestions for letters?
Two points to hit:
1. Contract extension for Clark
2. Schedule beyond 2016
Write what you are comfortable writing. It's better if we don't all use the same format. It's truly grassroots.
The desired result is that Watts and Mackin realize the UAB support is big and they bring that info to the board, and the board re-evaluates their scheme. I don't expect that, but at least they can't say no one cares or reached out. We can hammer against that statement. This sets us up for the next phase, which depends on the board meetings Th and F.
Ray Watts - rlwatts@uab.edu & president@uab.edu
Brian Mackin - bmackin@uab.edu
We also need to e-mail the following showing support for UAB football.
Mayor William Bell - william.bell@birminghamal.gov
Tony Petelos, County Manager - petelost@jccal.org
It can't hurt, and I'm not going to discourage it by any means, but I don't see where contacting Watts makes any difference whatsoever. There is no scenario I can imagine where the President of a university is going to be remotely influenced by what the masses think. His is not an elected position and he's not emotionally, or professionally, invested in making the vast majority of us happy. Mackin is bound and gagged so what he truly thinks is moot.
Well theres no agenda up yet for the meeting, what do we expect?
Armageddon
We also need to flood the board meeting.
(11-03-2014 09:48 PM)Blazer Engineer Wrote: [ -> ]Well theres no agenda up yet for the meeting, what do we expect?
When is the agenda normally published?
Usually the week before.
Odd that the agenda is not up. This is the first time I have seen this happen but admit I don't always look at them every quarter.
November 6-7, 2014
UA Institutional Meeting, Tuscaloosa
Agenda
February 5-6, 2015
UAB Institutional Meeting, Birmingham
I sent a letter to watts tonight.
(11-03-2014 09:50 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: [ -> ]Armageddon
Since we're having a serious discussion. If they even bring up the motion we are as good as dead, no? Blazers barely survived last time and I don't think recruiting can take another hit like that. The previous attempt and the BOT's lack of support affects recruiting to this day.
Hopefully the foundation will make a preemptive strike to prevent it from happening.
lets get this viral (e-mail campaign) use twitter and facebook but let's not spread panic.
I agree AB--the masses need to hear it from the BOT, not us. The email campaign can center around positive statements such as "I support UAB Football," "Give Coach Clark an extension," "I'm excited about the future of the program," etc.
If the threat to disband the football program is as real as some of you make it out to be, then why is there an undercover effort to save it? The number of supporters that visit this exclusive board is so minute in comparison to the general overall supporters of UAB. I know we don't want to spread panic, but if there is a real attempt to destroy UAB football... It's time to panic. After it happens is too late.
Also If true... And Coach Clark would know better than we would... He'd be a fool not to take the Troy job. Troy football is not going anywhere. And he could build there, get his 3 years in ARS and get his next big job in a few years.
Personally I'm tired of writing, calling, protesting when the leaders are saying nothing, doing nothing that we can see. I've never seen a grassroots movement be successful without clear defined issues, objectives, and leadership. Maybe it's just me... But if this is true, and the President, who we all said was pro UAB athletics when he was selected, and he knows how to play the game... Is now out to destroy UAB football... And Mackin is just gonna sit back and do nothing (presumably) but continue to collect his check... I'm throwing a flag... Unsportsmanlike conduct!
Find another job, and speak out! When I was put in a similar position at my job... Things going on, not illegal, but wasn't morally right... I could have stayed, collected nice salary... And kept quiet... Nope my integrity was more important, I left, taking a pay cut and was able to uncover some of the dirt within the organization.
If this latest attempt of BOT foolishness is real... Which I am not 100% convinced it is... Then it's time for the AD, Legislators, Mayor, and other leaders to either POOP or get off the pot.
The other side of that coin is that if we don't have evidence, if the BOT has not actually made a move at a time when the program is visibly improving, we risk looking paranoid again. We have to keep our mouths shut, get ready to react, but not tip our hand in advance. Last time, the BOT meeting regarding the OCS, we ran our mouths on the main board. The knew what was coming and were able to plan their approach with that in mind and knew what they were going to say.
We have to be more careful this time.
The Foundation can probably help on that front. I don't know what they are thinking about doing, but there are people there who can afford lawyers and formal opposition far better than most of us.
I think that it is very important to wait until the board actually takes some actions that make their malfeasance obvious, rather than whining that the bad men are out to get us. They'll find a way to make it sound reasonable. We need to give them enough rope to be able to catch them overreaching.
(11-04-2014 06:18 AM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: [ -> ]The other side of that coin is that if we don't have evidence, if the BOT has not actually made a move at a time when the program is visibly improving, we risk looking paranoid again. We have to keep our mouths shut, get ready to react, but not tip our hand in advance. Last time, the BOT meeting regarding the OCS, we ran our mouths on the main board. The knew what was coming and were able to plan their approach with that in mind and knew what they were going to say.
We have to be more careful this time.
The Foundation can probably help on that front. I don't know what they are thinking about doing, but there are people there who can afford lawyers and formal opposition far better than most of us.
I think that it is very important to wait until the board actually takes some actions that make their malfeasance obvious, rather than whining that the bad men are out to get us. They'll find a way to make it sound reasonable. We need to give them enough rope to be able to catch them overreaching.
I agree totally... I think that's my point as well, why are we getting worked up over something that we have no evidence to substantiate.
The threat is real. That said the foundation is working on a plan to prevent it from ever becoming an agenda item. Part of that plan is for us to send letters of support. Anything publicly right now would be disastrous for the football program. I cannot get into detail it this time but step one is sending letters. I would really hate for this not to be on the agenda yet we make a big issue on the main board and pictures of posts are spread the recruits.
I know who some of these posters are that are warning people I personally know them. Their information is legitimate. Right now it does not need to be a public **** storm. Let the foundation do it's job but assist them by sending letters we will let you know what step two is.
I would like Taylor blazer and old blazer to chime in.
AB is right. There are a lot of things at play, and it changes daily. We have some support from some people in powerful positions, but the question is how strong they will stand. The other problem is that we don't know exactly what the BOT is planning to do. But there's a lot of smoke, so you can bet that somewhere there's a fire. We'll find out soon.
When something big happens and they try to say no one supports the program, we can call bs and say you've received dozens of emails and letters in the past week supporting Coach Clark and the program. Also, look at the attendance numbers, which is why Saturday's attendance is HUGE!
(11-04-2014 08:09 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: [ -> ]I would like Taylor blazer and old blazer to chime in.
This threat is as real as it gets. It has been confirmed by multiple sources which is why everything has been accelerated. Here is the working theory as of 8:15am. Watts was going to use the Carr and Associates study to recommend to the BOT the vacating of Football. In fact, I am not certain he ever planned to go to the BOT. Remember they want their hands absolutely clean on this. It appears they found a president who was willing to do what is necessary to destroy our program. It also appears that Watts was going to make the announcement when the season ended and when students were gone. It appears Watts believes that if we drop football, then we can make it into the A-10.
The problem for Watts is that HCBC is winning and he is demanding a contract extension and facilities. Further, HCBC showed initiative and got people, boosters and community to buy in to the program. THis is why we need to create a revolution of support for this program and in a REAL hurry.
This is our "We Are Marshall" moment.
Well then part of my emails will include that we aren't likely to even get in the A10; They are at 14 already. Dropping football would send us to an even worse conference that would significantly damage all other sports. Which fans are going to spend extra time & money coming back to watch us play Lipscomb, Stetson, Longwood, or Furman? It's primarily about football but it would hurt the entire athletic department.
I sent Watts an email expressing enthusiasm of this season's success, thanking him for hiring Clark, and saying we need to invest in football.