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

I don't know what the chances of either of them passing are, but hopefully it will scare the BoT into respecting UAB.

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index....rip_o.html

Just shared on Twitter, and since I'm following CNN now, they have it, too.

It may not do a bit of good but what's left to lose but to try anyway?

Interesting comments from the Huntsville rep.

But then, I don't think there was the venom between them and the Tuscaloosa Country Club that UAB has with them.

Huntsville has been appeased a little by the BOT just to shut them up some.

Well, hell, by all means. Appease me and shut me up.

LOL. I don't often laugh reading this board of late, but that did it. Thanks, Smaug.

(11-16-2014 11:11 AM)Smaug Wrote:  Well, hell, by all means. Appease me and shut me up.

I could see the equal representation bill being an easier political fight. I don't think either have to actually pass, hopeful the threat is enough to cause the BoT to start treating UAB right.

(11-16-2014 10:59 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Huntsville has been appeased a little by the BOT just to shut them up some.

They raised more hell about their hockey team than UAB did about the OCS.

I just wish it was someone besides John Rogers.

Then there's this:

"The UA System is established by the state Constitution," said Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills. "To change the makeup of that board, or to sever one entity's relationship with that board would require an amendment to the Alabama Constitution."

That means, Williams says, "62 votes in the House, 21 votes in the Senate, and a majority vote at the polls."


Do you really think that the 85% will vote for that? Even if we can fight our way through the lege?

(11-16-2014 11:18 AM)JxGx78 Wrote:  I could see the equal representation bill being an easier political fight. I don't think either have to actually pass, hopeful the threat is enough to cause the BoT to start treating UAB right.

I just thought of something...Isn't Rogers a UAB employee to some extent? If so, it doesn't seem like he's worried about BOT reprisals by offering up these bills to fight them. He has tried to offer these up in the past, to no avail, they've got buddies on that legislature that are going to protect them.

The issue though about appeasing is that in the bigger picture nothing changes.

If the BOT gives UAH their hockey back yet all of the funding for frat houses, etc. go to Tuscaloosa it would be 1 step forward for UAH then several steps back.

I believe UAH & UAB constantly are being overlooked in regards to new stuff.

I don't think "they" expected the hornets nest they shook to be quite this aggressive.

On the benefits of equal rep, I'll say this: I wouldn't bring a biotech company to Birmingham unless UAB has equal rep or independence. A strong, consistent and well funded undergrad program is key for local talent pool. I don't trust the current group to keep UAB undergrad science on a stable upward trajectory.

Then let them stay with the BOT. Sooner than later the Bot will come after them again and again and again.

Self-governance and autonomy only work if you want them.

If your thing is to be an abused dog on a chain in the BOT's yard, that is your business. The next time they come and take your bone from you, keep your yap shut and accept it.

I stop reading it after Rep John Rogers. I would feel much better if someone had presented these bills.

(11-16-2014 11:21 AM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  I just wish it was someone besides John Rogers.

Then there's this:

"The UA System is established by the state Constitution," said Rep. Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills. "To change the makeup of that board, or to sever one entity's relationship with that board would require an amendment to the Alabama Constitution."

That means, Williams says, "62 votes in the House, 21 votes in the Senate, and a majority vote at the polls."

A state-wide referendum for something that will give the city of Birmingham a progressive victory? In this state? With Football/Athletics a key component? That bill is before the ink dries on the paper.
Do you really think that the 85% will vote for that? Even if we can fight our way through the lege?

I just emailed a letter to my State Senator (not Rogers). Contact your representatives people. This is the only way we will ever break free.

(11-16-2014 11:31 AM)GreenMississippi Wrote:  I don't think "they" expected the hornets nest they shook to be quite this aggressive.

we can only hope that to some degree, they're feeling the "stings"...

In the 1960s the American Man in Space Program was in full swing with Apollo and the Space Shuttle coming along. Von Braun threatened to move the U.S. program to Texas if the state did not build a major engineering school in or near Huntsville to support it. Since there was no way the political climate of the state would support building up Alabama A&M to that stature at the time, a new school had to be built and it became UAH.

UAB was thrown into the mix as an afterthought at the same time, based upon the UA Extension Center (in Tidwell Hall) and the UA medical school (moved to B'ham in the 1940s). No one even imagined that a D1 sports program might take root at either site.

Today we have no major Man in Space program (Russia launches most of the support missions to the ISS) and NASA funding at Redstone has shrunk accordingly. Huntsville remains one of the "darling cities" of the state government which is why Senator Shelby got federal funding for that biomedical research building for UAH (not UAB) and the state has continued to recruit businesses for it (like Remington).

In order for UAB to get any relief from the system BOT, it would have to sell the idea that the Crimson Mafia (BOT) was not operating for the good of someplace and something that mattered to them. Given the heavy influence of UA among the state's present leadership, I am not optimistic this can happen.