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

(12-02-2013 09:39 PM)Uncle BLAZER Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 07:26 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  Remember the money argument is a red herring. Don't get into it any further than football being the only sport with a significant potential upside dollars wise.

The "Million Dollar Band" doesn't make any money, but it exists.

UAB has a library and a university center - those aren't profit centers.

The high school football teams in the state aren't making money.

The reason those things exist is for the pleasure/convenience of the students, alums, and to a lesser extent, the local communities. Amateur athletics were never supposed to turn profits. If they do, that's great, but it's a rather recent development (and only for an anointed few). The only justification that UAB needs for a football team is that UAB wants a football team.

Everything else UAB touches has turned to gold/been wildly successful - especially given the age of the institution. What's different about football? Who has dropped the ball (or been active saboteurs)? This BOT controls the most storied college football program in the country. They should be experts at this. Where is their leadership?

That's the argument... not profits.

Their (valid?) counter is that the students, alums, community, etc. doesn't appear to want a football team. Fair enough (except of course that certain actions have caused the product to decline considerably) - argue about that, not the money stuff.

Great post.

Exactly. This is the truth and the talking point that bears repeating by the media. If only they would, but they take the low and easy road instead.

The point about "them" being experts is really something that I've thought of but haven't really heard anyone say before. It is a great point. We all have our feelings towards Bama but they are a national brand. The same people that built that brand are the ones with a brand at the other end of the spectrum. It's obvious to all of us but gets lost on the media and average shitheads.

(12-02-2013 07:26 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  Remember the money argument is a red herring. Don't get into it any further than football being the only sport with a significant potential upside dollars wise.

The "Million Dollar Band" doesn't make any money, but it exists.

UAB has a library and a university center - those aren't profit centers.

The high school football teams in the state aren't making money.

The reason those things exist is for the pleasure/convenience of the students, alums, and to a lesser extent, the local communities. Amateur athletics were never supposed to turn profits. If they do, that's great, but it's a rather recent development (and only for an anointed few). The only justification that UAB needs for a football team is that UAB wants a football team.

Everything else UAB touches has turned to gold/been wildly successful - especially given the age of the institution. What's different about football? Who has dropped the ball (or been active saboteurs)? This BOT controls the most storied college football program in the country. They should be experts at this. Where is their leadership?

That's the argument... not profits.

Their (valid?) counter is that the students, alums, community, etc. doesn't appear to want a football team. Fair enough (except of course that certain actions have caused the product to decline considerably) - argue about that, not the money stuff.

Yes.

It'd be nice if the media went after the real story. Sadly, if we want real journalism, it will have to come from out of this state.

Well until we put more than 7,000 in the building we will get no sympathy or fair coverage from any one. Show up to games folks. Bama and Auburn fans can afford to stay home. We can't.

(12-02-2013 10:42 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Well until we put more than 7,000 in the building we will get no sympathy or fair coverage from any one. Show up to games folks. Bama and Auburn fans can afford to stay home. We can't.

After the 2 humiliating losses (Marshall/ECU) everybody knew the attendance would be very poor the final 2 games (Thursday night/Iron Bowl timeframe didn't help)...........good thing we didn't have another game after the USM debacle.

(12-02-2013 10:45 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 10:42 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Well until we put more than 7,000 in the building we will get no sympathy or fair coverage from any one. Show up to games folks. Bama and Auburn fans can afford to stay home. We can't.

After the 2 humiliating losses (Marshall/ECU) everybody knew the attendance would be very poor the final 2 games (Thursday night/Iron Bowl timeframe didn't help)...........good thing we didn't have another game after the USM debacle.

No kidding. The disappointing season couldn't end soon enough.

We should play USM at 2 p.m. on the day after Thanksgiving.

(12-02-2013 09:41 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 07:14 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  The only conference we would even want to be a part of if football wasn't a factor would be the Big East and there's certainly no guarantee we would get in.

A-10

Missouri Valley Conference

(12-02-2013 05:36 PM)Montgomery Blazer Wrote:  Alabama lost - all the more reason to kick the dog.

...honestly, whatever happens with the other football program in the UA system doesn't really seem to faze the BOT's agenda against us...

with them being so fat and happy (well, until a few days ago, anyway ) , you would think they would let us do whatever... but the personal vendettas and power plays are what's really going on... like I need to tell y'all that...

I wish one of those interview-seekers would have stopped me and asked about it... my response would have never made the cut, I know that...

(12-02-2013 11:16 PM)dragonzden Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 09:41 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 07:14 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  The only conference we would even want to be a part of if football wasn't a factor would be the Big East and there's certainly no guarantee we would get in.

A-10

Missouri Valley Conference

...I'm down with the MVC...heck, isn't the Horizon pretty strong as well?

I'd rather play the Roadrunners than the Purple Aces.

(12-02-2013 11:38 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  

I'd rather play the Roadrunners than the Purple Aces.

yeah, on second thought... I think with ODU, Charlotte and WKU coming in, and the potential for some of these 'newer' programs also coming in to improve, I think the BBall side should be in pretty good shape...

and it looks like Haase isn't messing around with ooc scheduling, getting us in the Atlantis tourney for 2014, and with his connections otherwise... for example, I was just watching ESPN-something, and they showed where UCONN has already played Kansas, Florida, Indiana, and someone else of note... that's how to schedule... It looks like that's Haase's philosophy as well.

(12-02-2013 09:41 PM)DragonClaw Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 07:14 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  The only conference we would even want to be a part of if football wasn't a factor would be the Big East and there's certainly no guarantee we would get in.

A-10

Or MVC...

Seriously, I think football (unintentionally of course) has held basketball back.

Not in today's environment.

1) UAB is not a Catholic school. Therefore, we can't associate with our friends from Xavier, Creighton, and Marquette in the New Big East.

2) The best choices for our entire sports program happen to also be football-playing conferences. The Bammers know that if football folds, all of UAB Athletics becomes marginalized. It *may* have been possible for us to stay 1-AA back in the mid-90s and be in a good situation basketball-wise, but even then, I think UAB would be trying to do what Charlotte and ODU are doing now: Going FBS.

(12-02-2013 11:48 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 11:38 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  

I'd rather play the Roadrunners than the Purple Aces.

yeah, on second thought... I think with ODU, Charlotte and WKU coming in, and the potential for some of these 'newer' programs also coming in to improve, I think the BBall side should be in pretty good shape...

and it looks like Haase isn't messing around with ooc scheduling, getting us in the Atlantis tourney for 2014, and with his connections otherwise... for example, I was just watching ESPN-something, and they showed where UCONN has already played Kansas, Florida, Indiana, and someone else of note... that's how to schedule... It looks like that's Haase's philosophy as well.

First of all, UConn can schedule like that. They have national championships to back up their pedigree. And the reason UAB is in the Battle for Atlantis is because Roy Williams pulled some strings for Haase.

(12-02-2013 11:56 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Not in today's environment.

1) UAB is not a Catholic school. Therefore, we can't associate with our friends from Xavier, Creighton, and Marquette in the New Big East.

2) The best choices for our entire sports program happen to also be football-playing conferences. The Bammers know that if football folds, all of UAB Athletics becomes marginalized. It *may* have been possible for us to stay 1-AA back in the mid-90s and be in a good situation basketball-wise, but even then, I think UAB would be trying to do what Charlotte and ODU are doing now: Going FBS.

Just asking a question, why does Gonzaga, Wichita St, Xavier, Dayton and many other basketball programs does so well without a Div I football program?

(12-03-2013 12:02 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 11:56 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Not in today's environment.

1) UAB is not a Catholic school. Therefore, we can't associate with our friends from Xavier, Creighton, and Marquette in the New Big East.

2) The best choices for our entire sports program happen to also be football-playing conferences. The Bammers know that if football folds, all of UAB Athletics becomes marginalized. It *may* have been possible for us to stay 1-AA back in the mid-90s and be in a good situation basketball-wise, but even then, I think UAB would be trying to do what Charlotte and ODU are doing now: Going FBS.

Just asking a question, why does Gonzaga, Wichita St, Xavier, Dayton and many other basketball programs does so well without a Div I football program?

Another question: could they do better if they had an FBS football program?

Answer: We can't know.

So, as for football, do we want an FBS team?

Answer: Yes.

(12-03-2013 12:02 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 11:56 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Not in today's environment.

1) UAB is not a Catholic school. Therefore, we can't associate with our friends from Xavier, Creighton, and Marquette in the New Big East.

2) The best choices for our entire sports program happen to also be football-playing conferences. The Bammers know that if football folds, all of UAB Athletics becomes marginalized. It *may* have been possible for us to stay 1-AA back in the mid-90s and be in a good situation basketball-wise, but even then, I think UAB would be trying to do what Charlotte and ODU are doing now: Going FBS.

Just asking a question, why does Gonzaga, Wichita St, Xavier, Dayton and many other basketball programs does so well without a Div I football program?

Didn't hire XCMD.

(12-02-2013 09:55 PM)braish Wrote:  It'd be nice if the media went after the real story. Sadly, if we want real journalism, it will have to come from out of this state.

That's the only downside to the outcome of the big SEC game on Saturday. Had Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban faced each other in the National Championship game, the tale of the former assistant getting hosed by the BOT would have made for a good backstory.

Under those circumstances it's possible someone would have picked up on it and run. The problem there is that (again) no one with a first hand account really seems to be willing to talk openly about it. Everyone is apparently too worried about political consequences of some sort.

Here's the question I want asked by the peons in the local media (got your pencils ready, kids?):

Is the UA Board of Trustees equally committed to the success of both its football programs? And if not, Why not?

Unless/until they are willing to pursue THIS question, I really don't give a damn what they think about whether or not MY football program should be shut down.