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

(03-21-2014 12:20 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Don't be ridiculous. We have outnumbered every time we have played them in Bartow. We even outnumbered them when we played them at the BJCC the day before the Iron bowl. Auburn may have more fans, but they don't have more basketball fans.

Well, that was before my time, so I don't have that as a reference point. I just don't think it would be good for recruiting and team morale if Bartow is anywhere near 50% Auburn fans. As long as we win, it'll sort itself out.

With that said, I would rather see us play Auburn than some D2 schools.

We didn't outnumber them at Auburn the night before the Iron Bowl in '89, but we did have a rather decent crowd even with Barners floating all around outside the arena.

The first UAB game that I remember was against Auburn. Bartow was packed, it was loud, and a close game. UAB won and I was hooked!

Bring back the series! After what we pulled off at Troy, we've got just as good a chance to outnumber them in their arena as they do at ours.

We join the sec and all issues solved! JK.

I believe it AU and UAB played at Bartow next year AU fans would outnumber UAB fans. The hiring of Pearl has created a lot of buzz about the program and if he has success there, the way he did at UT, they will become the preeminent program in the state. UAB basketball is also at the lowest point its been at in awhile.

(03-21-2014 10:02 AM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I believe it AU and UAB played at Bartow next year AU fans would outnumber UAB fans. The hiring of Pearl has created a lot of buzz about the program and if he has success there, the way he did at UT, they will become the preeminent program in the state. UAB basketball is also at the lowest point its been at in awhile.

Completely disagree on them outnumbering us. not gonna happen.

Agree with MB.

(03-21-2014 08:09 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Some people always bring up the Arby's Classic, yet they forget why it went under.

Auburn was tired of losing to us & Alabama didn't want to play us.

Like I mentioned in another thread, Auburn has our phone number & is free to call us.

I'm sure Mackin wouldn't turn down any decent agreement.

The thing is that Pearl changes things. He's a showman and knows how to work publicity. He probably would not want to do it in his first year, but getting his team a chance to play in Birmingham, to charge up the AU fans and for recruiting exposure? I would not put it past him, not for a minute.

(03-21-2014 10:02 AM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I believe it AU and UAB played at Bartow next year AU fans would outnumber UAB fans.

I don't.

I think the place would sell out, but them outnumbering us would not happen.

As our dear departed brother, 58-56, would have said:

"You lack Belief".

Someone could put together a 3-day tournament(Friday-Sunday) featuring the 9 D1 teams in the state guaranteeing 3 games each and still allow teams to avoid other teams. The numbers would work our perfectly for 8 teams; 9 would be a problem. Perhaps, a series with 8 teams/year with one state team sitting out each year...

Oh, I'm pretty sure at least one would find some reason not to get involved.

What happened to 58-56?

I'd be all for playing auburn. With pearl it's just a matter of time
Before they are good.

It would be great to have a tourney involving UAB auburn USA Troy bama state, bama am, samford

(03-21-2014 10:55 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Someone could put together a 3-day tournament(Friday-Sunday) featuring the 9 D1 teams in the state guaranteeing 3 games each and still allow teams to avoid other teams. The numbers would work our perfectly for 8 teams; 9 would be a problem. Perhaps, a series with 8 teams/year with one state team sitting out each year...

I imagine there would be a lot of games that teams wouldn't want during this though: off the top of my head I have State/A&M, Bama/UAB, USA/Troy, Bama/Auburn

I'm also not sure how well this would draw. UAB has played all these teams in recent years except Bama and Auburn, right? I really wouldn't see a benefit to UAB doing this unless it had a chance to play the SEC teams.

Hell even throw in UWA, UAH, UNA, as well. Would be great to generate some interest in bball for a state that desperately needs it. I'm already assuming Bama won't participate

(03-21-2014 08:09 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Some people always bring up the Arby's Classic, yet they forget why it went under.

Auburn was tired of losing to us & Alabama didn't want to play us.

Like I mentioned in another thread, Auburn has our phone number & is free to call us.

I'm sure Mackin wouldn't turn down any decent agreement.

UAB only played Auburn once as a part of the Arby's Classic. The rest of them were double headers. The reason it went under is the organizers squeezed UAB out in order to get Alabama play in a double header with Auburn. It backfired because Alabama and Auburn fans didn't care about basketball in December.

(03-21-2014 11:47 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(03-21-2014 10:55 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Someone could put together a 3-day tournament(Friday-Sunday) featuring the 9 D1 teams in the state guaranteeing 3 games each and still allow teams to avoid other teams. The numbers would work our perfectly for 8 teams; 9 would be a problem. Perhaps, a series with 8 teams/year with one state team sitting out each year...

I imagine there would be a lot of games that teams wouldn't want during this though: off the top of my head I have State/A&M, Bama/UAB, USA/Troy, Bama/Auburn

I'm also not sure how well this would draw. UAB has played all these teams in recent years except Bama and Auburn, right? I really wouldn't see a benefit to UAB doing this unless it had a chance to play the SEC teams.

UAB - Auburn, A&M, Troy
Auburn - UAB, USA, Al St
Alabama - Samford, A&M, Troy
Samford -Alabama, A&M, USA
USA - Auburn, Samford, AL St
Troy - UAB, Alabama, AL St
A&M - UAB, Alabama, Samford
Al St - Auburn, USA, Troy

I left out Jax St but they should easily be switched in for anyone else...

This becomes my issue. Assuming we play in one tournament a year, and have 12 OOC games to play, do we want to use 3 of them on this, especially if the games are played at a neutral site? It would all depend on who we got to play and the set up of the tournament in my opinion, but unfortunately most of the state schools offer us little help in terms of being able to get to the tournament.

I think it is a horrible idea, and one that even if it was a good idea would not work. RPI killer.

(03-21-2014 12:15 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  This becomes my issue. Assuming we play in one tournament a year, and have 12 OOC games to play, do we want to use 3 of them on this, especially if the games are played at a neutral site? It would all depend on who we got to play and the set up of the tournament in my opinion, but unfortunately most of the state schools offer us little help in terms of being able to get to the tournament.

NCAA allows these games to count as a single game so has same affect as single OOC game numbers-wise. Each team plays every night(4 games) with UAB, Auburn, and Alabama being involved in last 3 games. I do agree it would probably negatively affect our RPI. And it would be played during the tail end of football season so that is also a problem attendance-wise. I think teams would like it and attend. I even think Alabama would play because they wouldn't want Auburn to gain any foothold in the area. It would be difficult to do but it could be done...