The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Their failure didn't start in the move to the Big East, but has been a steady decline. Ray Meyer had the Blue Demons as one of the premier programs in the country. Between 1977 and 1982, their record was 132-15 and was a consistent top 5 team. Ray Meyer helped UAB tremendously in recognition and played us home and home for the first decade of our existence. That is a brand new program having a top 5 program coming into our house every other year. It helped build interest.

I think their decline is mirrored by other big city programs. St. John's in New York City has struggled. With the exception of Villanova, the Big 5 in Phildelphia isn't the powerhouses they used to be. The big cities still produce top talent, but they don't stay home like they used to. Those players have discovered that basketball means they can move out of the inner city and start over as a king at some college outside of the urban area.