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

That "100 lb gorilla" is holding a "Royal Flush" in decision-making power while UAB holds a "pair of deuces". No one in Alabama is going to even question their decisions as things stand now. They just recently flaunted the state's "open meetings" law (in dealing with our OCS) and not a word of protest was heard from anyone - who counted -- including the media.

When it comes to political power, we live in a totalitarian state not unlike Germany in the mid1930s. It used to be run by conservative Democrats until new voters appeared after 1965, and now it is run by conservative Republicans in the same self serving and dominant ways. Only the label has changed, not the culture of the state ruling bodies.

Sometimes I read posts on here and I leave more confused than if I had watched Cloud Atlas in Chinese.

(12-22-2013 02:33 PM)blazr Wrote:  TWO SCENARIOS:
...
UAB fans/allies take the initiative to flip the script, circle the wagons, etc.
UAB bank acccount:
Mackin to BOT: "We're doing 'X'. Here's the plan. Here's the cash."
Mackin press conference (same day): "UAB is building 'X'. We have the cash."
Public: "Hey, thing's are finally shaking down at UAB."

This sounds a lot like how the OCS went down and it still wasn't approved.

Blazr,
I cannot believe I am saying this but I agree 100%.
What we need is some guys like in the early days that would fight the red army on i65 if needed. I can take losing I just want us to lose fighting to the last second.

(12-22-2013 07:08 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  That "100 lb gorilla" is holding a "Royal Flush" in decision-making power while UAB holds a "pair of deuces". No one in Alabama is going to even question their decisions as things stand now. They just recently flaunted the state's "open meetings" law (in dealing with our OCS) and not a word of protest was heard from anyone - who counted -- including the media.

When it comes to political power, we live in a totalitarian state not unlike Germany in the mid1930s. It used to be run by conservative Democrats until new voters appeared after 1965, and now it is run by conservative Republicans in the same self serving and dominant ways. Only the label has changed, not the culture of the state ruling bodies.

(12-22-2013 07:08 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  That "100 lb gorilla" is holding a "Royal Flush" in decision-making power while UAB holds a "pair of deuces". No one in Alabama is going to even question their decisions as things stand now. They just recently flaunted the state's "open meetings" law (in dealing with our OCS) and not a word of protest was heard from anyone - who counted -- including the media.

When it comes to political power, we live in a totalitarian state not unlike Germany in the mid1930s. It used to be run by conservative Democrats until new voters appeared after 1965, and now it is run by conservative Republicans in the same self serving and dominant ways. Only the label has changed, not the culture of the state ruling bodies.

You are a complete and total fool if you think present day Alabama is like Nazi Germany.

Question. Do you guys have a dedicated football practice complex with football weightroom, player lounge and locker rooms? If not, could you raise money for one and build one or would it require BOT approval?

(12-22-2013 07:08 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  That "100 lb gorilla" is holding a "Royal Flush" in decision-making power while UAB holds a "pair of deuces". No one in Alabama is going to even question their decisions as things stand now. They just recently flaunted the state's "open meetings" law (in dealing with our OCS) and not a word of protest was heard from anyone - who counted -- including the media.

When it comes to political power, we live in a totalitarian state not unlike Germany in the mid1930s. It used to be run by conservative Democrats until new voters appeared after 1965, and now it is run by conservative Republicans in the same self serving and dominant ways. Only the label has changed, not the culture of the state ruling bodies.

What the ******* **** is this? I am for God's sake, this **** is simply ridiculous. I mean we are all well aware of where your political viewpoints, but this is just some dumb*** ignorant ****. Anybody who is even related to somebody who lived through Nazi Germany should be highly offended by this.

In the MID 30s (not during WWII - 1939-1945), Germany was a one party state that tolerated no opposing opinions that their political machine did not abide. The present leadership of Alabama has a similar approach towards any opposition to its state policies. The difference is that it doesn't have the national clout (yet) to suppress any expression of opposing viewpoints, but it has the votes where it counts to run roughshod over them.

What part of using the "State Troopers" as a private governor directed army to raid and shut down gaming establishments - including those set up under state Constitutional Amendments - in Alabama indicates restraint of power? The UA System BOT operates under the protection of these same state powers that enables them to make their own rules and do things their own way.

(12-23-2013 03:20 PM)panama Wrote:  Question. Do you guys have a dedicated football practice complex with football weightroom, player lounge and locker rooms? If not, could you raise money for one and build one or would it require BOT approval?

Best sources that can answer that question from here, "Attallablaze" & "Frenchy", they're closer to the inner circle of Blazer athletics than most of us are. Beyond those gentlemen, I'd reach out to the Assistant Director of Development for the Athletics Department.

I talked with him at-length last month and was somewhat satisfied with the dialogue, enough to renew my Blazer Boosters membership and continue purchasing season tickets, still awaiting that "announcement" to come "soon" regarding improvements in football facilities, wouldn't go so far as to expect anything along the lines of a "complex" or "fieldhouse", I have zero confidence in that board of trustees to do the right thing by UAB Football. Their track record over the years in relation to that will bear me out.

His name is Paul Kabbes, (205) 996-5994, email: pkabbes@uab.edu, Twitter: @paulkabbes

(12-24-2013 07:47 AM)Matrix Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 03:20 PM)panama Wrote:  Question. Do you guys have a dedicated football practice complex with football weightroom, player lounge and locker rooms? If not, could you raise money for one and build one or would it require BOT approval?

Best sources that can answer that question from here, "Attallablaze" & "Frenchy", they're closer to the inner circle of Blazer athletics than most of us are. Beyond those gentlemen, I'd reach out to the Assistant Director of Development for the Athletics Department.

I talked with him at-length last month and was somewhat satisfied with the dialogue, enough to renew my Blazer Boosters membership and continue purchasing season tickets, still awaiting that "announcement" to come "soon" regarding improvements in football facilities, wouldn't go so far as to expect anything along the lines of a "complex" or "fieldhouse", I have zero confidence in that board of trustees to do the right thing by UAB Football. Their track record over the years in relation to that will bear me out.

His name is Paul Kabbes, (205) 996-5994, email: pkabbes@uab.edu, Twitter: @paulkabbes

Not sure why you are on such a tear about Paul Kabbes lately, but I don't want someone to tell me something in secret that can't be confirmed that they're working on. I want a public plan in writing with the support of the University. The types of plans needed don't necessarily need to be approved by the Board of Trustees.

panama, to answer your question, no, there are no dedicated football facilities aside from the building with the coaches offices, and I suppose there are what you could call lockers in there. The athletics department as a whole has a pretty nice academic center and weight room, however, that is shared between sports. And, even if a donor helicoptered $100 million into UAB and said it had to be spent on football facilities, every facilities contract at UAB has to be approved by the Board of Trustees. Even contracts over a certain amount have to be approved. The only way to 100% avoid Board of Trustees approval on something would be for some unrelated entity to build and own it (but UAB already owns all the land where these facilities would be built so that is already screwed) and to give UAB a rent-free lease, and even then I'm not sure the Board wouldn't have to approve the contract.

They are working on a plan. When they are complete it will be announced. Dear Lord let them at least get done and announce it before we get out the pitch forks.

(12-24-2013 09:20 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(12-24-2013 07:47 AM)Matrix Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 03:20 PM)panama Wrote:  Question. Do you guys have a dedicated football practice complex with football weightroom, player lounge and locker rooms? If not, could you raise money for one and build one or would it require BOT approval?

Best sources that can answer that question from here, "Attallablaze" & "Frenchy", they're closer to the inner circle of Blazer athletics than most of us are. Beyond those gentlemen, I'd reach out to the Assistant Director of Development for the Athletics Department.

I talked with him at-length last month and was somewhat satisfied with the dialogue, enough to renew my Blazer Boosters membership and continue purchasing season tickets, still awaiting that "announcement" to come "soon" regarding improvements in football facilities, wouldn't go so far as to expect anything along the lines of a "complex" or "fieldhouse", I have zero confidence in that board of trustees to do the right thing by UAB Football. Their track record over the years in relation to that will bear me out.

His name is Paul Kabbes, (205) 996-5994, email: pkabbes@uab.edu, Twitter: @paulkabbes

Not sure why you are on such a tear about Paul Kabbes lately, but I don't want someone to tell me something in secret that can't be confirmed that they're working on. I want a public plan in writing with the support of the University. The types of plans needed don't necessarily need to be approved by the Board of Trustees.

panama, to answer your question, no, there are no dedicated football facilities aside from the building with the coaches offices, and I suppose there are what you could call lockers in there. The athletics department as a whole has a pretty nice academic center and weight room, however, that is shared between sports. And, even if a donor helicoptered $100 million into UAB and said it had to be spent on football facilities, every facilities contract at UAB has to be approved by the Board of Trustees. Even contracts over a certain amount have to be approved. The only way to 100% avoid Board of Trustees approval on something would be for some unrelated entity to build and own it (but UAB already owns all the land where these facilities would be built so that is already screwed) and to give UAB a rent-free lease, and even then I'm not sure the Board wouldn't have to approve the contract.

Well that certainly sucks. I see that as a bigger obstacle to competing than Legion Field. Recruits these days are all about amenities. After all they will spend maybe 7 or 8 days a year at Legion Field. They will spend 300 days at a field house/practice complex. So they notice that stuff on recruiting visits. We have a practice complex we built 3 years ago but ever we are having to adjust due to the arms race. We dont have a dedicated football weight room and the all sports weight room is in the Arena three blocks away. So we are building a 7k sq ft weight room for football at the practice complex. Even so we're just keeping pace as even Appalachian State has these things already built and they are just moving to FBS next year. Its going to be hard for McGee to recruit if he doesnt even have the dedicated facilities like football auditorium and break out rooms for position groups and then that prospective recruit visits Appalachian State or Arkansas State next.

We have a very nice weight room right across the street from the Bart in Wallace/Bell. Have you been there?

The football building will be coach's offices and new locker room facilities, and that we desperately need. As is so very often said here, there are high schools in this town with better. Ours *may* not be at the Grambling level, but if they are not they're not much better. Our other crying need is upgrades to the practice field, as it is a dump. The team has to bus over to Legion Field to practice when it rains or the practice field is soaked, both to avoid chopping it up and to prevent injuries. The surface of that thing is just awful and I can't help but think that it contributes to injuries. Fixing the practice field with good drainage and a quality synthetic surface would be a large and often used upgrade. It probably needs the lights upgraded too, as I imagine that they are just as old and crappy as the rest of the place.

And yes, we need facilities. This is news?