"Jeremy
Thank you for your email and I appreciate your passion for UAB athletics.
Brian"
Just got this. Didn't see a post regarding Mackin's reply's. Feel free to move if I am wrong
No problem. I got the same sort of reply.
(11-14-2014 12:32 PM)Rocket City Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]"Jeremy
Thank you for your email and I appreciate your passion for UAB athletics.
Brian"
Just got this. Didn't see a post regarding Mackin's reply's. Feel free to move if I am wrong
Sounds like a shorter version of Watts' response...
(11-12-2014 04:07 PM)ElliotBreakingnewsBrindley Wrote: [ -> ]Dear Mr. Brindley,
Good afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I value your input and support for the Athletic Department, and it is helpful to hear from our supporters, like you, as we work through our comprehensive, institution-wide strategic planning process that includes our Athletic Department.
We have appreciated the input from all of our supporters.
Sincerely,
Ray L. Watts, M.D.
President, UAB
(11-14-2014 12:32 PM)Rocket City Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]"Jeremy
Thank you for your email and I appreciate your passion for UAB athletics.
Brian"
Just got this. Didn't see a post regarding Mackin's reply's. Feel free to move if I am wrong
Wow I was expecting something enlightening when I read the topic. Not the OP's fault though. But, I expect a little more from the AD of a major University.
(11-14-2014 12:41 PM)nicknitro19 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-14-2014 12:32 PM)Rocket City Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]"Jeremy
Thank you for your email and I appreciate your passion for UAB athletics.
Brian"
Just got this. Didn't see a post regarding Mackin's reply's. Feel free to move if I am wrong
Wow I was expecting something enlightening when I read the topic. Not the OP's fault though. But, I expect a little more from the AD of a major University.
At $300k a year, you'd think he could type two sentences to a supporter that helps pay his salary.
Copy, paste, send. Copy, paste, send. Copy, paste, send.
(11-14-2014 12:59 PM)BlazerFire Wrote: [ -> ] (11-14-2014 12:41 PM)nicknitro19 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-14-2014 12:32 PM)Rocket City Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]"Jeremy
Thank you for your email and I appreciate your passion for UAB athletics.
Brian"
Just got this. Didn't see a post regarding Mackin's reply's. Feel free to move if I am wrong
Wow I was expecting something enlightening when I read the topic. Not the OP's fault though. But, I expect a little more from the AD of a major University.
At $300k a year, you'd think he could type two sentences to a supporter that helps pay his salary.
Copy, paste, send. Copy, paste, send. Copy, paste, send.
No doubt. I am losing confidence in Mackin rather quickly. I have lost all confidence in Watts.
I ran into him the other day on campus while getting tickets for the Marshall game.
Spoke to him politely and once I mentioned the football team and supporting it, his whole stance and expression changed. Lets just say he doesn't instill confidence right now.
(11-14-2014 01:12 PM)rook360 Wrote: [ -> ]I ran into him the other day on campus while getting tickets for the Marshall game.
Spoke to him politely and once I mentioned the football team and supporting it, his whole stance and expression changed. Lets just say he doesn't instill confidence right now.
Instances like this say volumes.
got one from BM also,, same version as mentioned above.
My response from Mackin was in blue.
Maybe his responses now are because he has been allowed to respond finally.
One tries to find at least glimmers of hope here & there.
I got the same response. I'm tempted to respond and it won't be nice.
And to think, that response took a week to put together.
Come on guys, give Mackin a break, as he is really busy. Do you have any idea how large a hole you have to dig, in order to bury a football program?
I sent an email to Mackin telling him that I hope that our administration was not untruthful to Coach Clark when he was hired at UAB. I'm not holding back and playing nice anymore- even with the UAB folks. Gene Bartow would not have allowed this kind of dishonesty in his athletic department.
(11-14-2014 04:04 PM)BandGrad Wrote: [ -> ]I sent an email to Mackin telling him that I hope that our administration was not untruthful to Coach Clark when he was hired at UAB. I'm not holding back and playing nice anymore- even with the UAB folks. Gene Bartow would not have allowed this kind of dishonesty in his athletic department.
This. This 100 times.
(11-14-2014 12:37 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote: [ -> ]No problem. I got the same sort of reply.
Yep me too: Here is the text of my email to one of the booster coordinators with a copy to Brian and Watts. It is followed by Mackin's reply.
I regret the necessity of writing this email, but I am greatly distressed by the reports that I have received both from the media and other UAB boosters and members of the newly formed UAB Foundation. Since when given ample opportunity to do so, Dr. Watts and Brian have both refused to deny that the future existence of UAB football program is currently being decided, I have to assume that this is indeed the case. This is personally very distressing.
I know all of the arguments for disbanding the football program – lack of attendance, the expense of the program, the assumption that without football UAB could concentrate on making other programs such as basketball and soccer even more successful. However, as you are well aware, those arguments fall flat in the face of the reality that UAB football has never been given a decent chance to succeed.
Gene Bartow and then Brian, along with past UAB administrations, have fought hard to provide adequate facilities and good coaching for the program, but in many cases their best efforts were turned aside by elements within the UA system. Many boosters and fans joined the fight, helping whenever and wherever we could. However most of us are worn out from battling forces over which we have no control. We have but one fight left in us, the fight to save UAB football once and for all, and we will put everything we have left into that fight. Like our current crop of UAB football players, we will leave everything on the field.
One of the most distressing elements of this whole sordid affair is that it appears that the administration’s support is being withdrawn from the program at a time when Coach Clark has proven that UAB football can be successful despite the numerous disadvantages not suffered by other members of our conference. City and county elected officials and members of Birmingham congressional delegation understand what Coach Clark could do if the team were provided with adequate facilities in which to train and play. They know how such facilities would greatly improve UAB recruiting, and with the assistance of the recently formed UAB Football Foundation, they are ready to step forward to help provide those facilities. Boosters and fans thought that they had at last they were seeing the light at the end of a very long tunnel, but now all we see is an oncoming train. You cannot imagine how demoralizing that is.
It is for all of these reasons that I deeply regret that I must inform you that if the UAB football program is to be dismantled, as soon as that decision is announced I will immediately withdraw all of my financial support from the UAB athletic program. That decision will remain final in effect until and unless the program is fully restored to its current status. This was not an easy decision for me to make. As you know I bleed green and gold. I went to many UAB basketball games in the early years and I have been a basketball season ticket holder since the Arena opened. I joined the Golden 100 soon thereafter. I went to many club football games and I have been a football season ticket holder since the first year of the Division III team. I have contributed all that I could afford each year ever since in support of both sports.
However, if a decision is made to cut UAB’s football, I will feel betrayed. If the university President and our athletic administration are no longer willing to defend the athletic program, it no longer deserves my support. I assure you that no plans for the athletic program which do not include UAB football will “excite” me and cause me to return to the fold.
I know that I only contribute a few thousand dollars a year to the to UAB athletics, and that probably will not be missed. However as you are well aware Brad, since my wife and I have no children, you and I have been discussing leaving a sizable portion of my estate to the program and that would at probably amount to several hundred thousand dollars. Those plans must be put on hold until and unless everyone can be assured that the football program will not only survive, but be properly supported by the university. I will let others speak for themselves, but as I am sure you are already aware, there are many other UAB fans and boosters who are equally fed up with the situation and who will also walk away if the football program is dismantled. The consultant company needs to include in its “data driven model” the very real possibility that if football is cut, there will no longer be enough booster and fan support to sustain what remains of the program.
I sincerely hope and pray that this email has been totally unnecessary. I certainly don’t mind looking like a fool if that proves to be the case. However, if the fate of UAB football is indeed being decided, I sincerely pray that Dr. Watts has the wisdom to make the right decision. Otherwise there will be far fewer fans and boosters to pick up the pieces of the UAB athletic program if he chooses unwisely.
Brian's reply:
I have always appreciated your opinion and support of UAB athletics.
If they do anything or don't do anything to cause Clark to leave I am finished with everything.
They know the stakes of this.