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

Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Hopefully this isn't all for naught.

Will it do a damn thing to stop PBJ and the BOT? Who knows? They do what they want, but they are not immune to scrutiny. Having their dirty dealings dragged out in the light does tend to slow them up. They're accustomed to dirty dealings in back rooms no one knows about.

So we're all doing all we can. I don't know of much else I can do but write my representatives, the UAB administration, and show up at the games and things like this city council meeting.

If they shut it down, I'll at least know that I didn't just sit on my hands, bitching and doing nothing to fight back.

I'm sure losing 90% of the football fans financial support and their offspring as students is a pittance to the 3 dillweeds, but if it could sour the universities relationship with the city, that might carry some weight.

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

(11-18-2014 06:51 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

I think for some, it's 1, and for others it's 2.

(11-18-2014 06:51 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

I know first-hand of many cases where people have had their businesses or livelihoods threatened by the powers that be in Tuscaloosa to ensure their money and/or decisions go in the desired direction. Sure, that's illegal and speaking up should shield an individual to do what they feel is right, but how many UAT football players do we know that everyone from the media to the NCAA knows get/got illegal benefits yet no one speaks up? Which side do you think the majority of this state's population is going to take? Even if there's clear, egregious wrongdoing, how long is the outrage of the majority of this state's population going to remain pointed anywhere near Tuscaloosa?

In a nutshell - politics of the boardroom & politics in Alabama. The Triumvirate are proUAT/antiUAB while the rest don't care one way or the other or have only a slight proUAT lean but will act more like sheep to maintain the position they have on the board (much power/prestige comes w/ that) lest they get tossed off & replaced w/ someone more pliable. The Gov should be the highest authority in this state, yet he's subservient to the Triumvirate & rules by their whim which isn't a good thing either.

(11-18-2014 06:51 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

Everyone of those 12 "others" was selected with the approval of those already on the Board. Does anyone really believe they were selected for their independence of thought or actions? It is probably not very difficult to find in Alabama those for whom the "Crimson Faith" is paramount, and it may help if they are employees of Bryant Bank.

I know those references to Smith Lake are (hopefully) exaggerations, but it is also true that persons of great wealth and power can make a person's life less enjoyable if they feel like it. This is not a state economy where the "good jobs" are plentiful so they are a resource to be protected by compliance with powerful leaders.

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

IMHO the fate of football is more in the hand of President Watts - this attack originated from the medical school side. Not saying the BOT loves us. The SOM main objective is $$$$$. It is not focused on ending football as the BOT might be. But on shifting resources to Research from undergraduate side.

The best thread is from 58-60 letter to doctor Watts. Raise money and Develop plans and creative ways to increase athletic revenue are the way to stop it

(11-18-2014 06:51 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

PBJ is one of the richest and most influential people in Alabama. He keeps a low profile so that few know that, but its true. You're talking about people who are business partners of, attorneys of, Milton McGregor.

As an easy for instance that has been talked about here recently - Bryant Bank is PBJ. The current president pro tem of the BoT is a director of Bryant Bank. Humphreys, the UAB representative on the BoT, is married to Bobby Humphrey - who is employed by Bryant bank. That's 10% of the board right there.

There are other corrupt interlinks, but that's how it works. Companies that get crosswise get the business version of the old Mafia "Nice place you have here, it would be a pity if something happened to it." Long time customers decide to change suppliers. Suppliers have sudden last minute delays delivering needed materials. Financing falls through.

Stuff... happens. Nothing overt and traceable, just... stuff.

The other members of the board either have common interests, deals that they don't want threatened, or they are outright bought or intimidated. I don't know all the ins and outs, but if the DoJ really looked at it hard I bet they could make a RICO case.

(11-18-2014 10:14 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 06:51 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:36 PM)dragonbreath Wrote:  Doesn't the fate of football still come down to the BOT and PBJ?
Or does all the excellent work students, alumni, faculty, and business leaders really have a effect and weight on the decision at hand? Keep up the good work guys.

Ok, someone explain this to me. Everyone talks about Bryant, St. John, and Espy. Assuming as a given that they are Evil Incarnate, there are 15 people on the BOT. Either (1) the other 12 are afraid/intimidated by the Evil Three or (2) the other 12 really aren't standing up for UAB either and are just letting those Three be the bad guys. There may be some kind of rift on the BOT, but there sure isn't any evidence of it. What gives?

PBJ is one of the richest and most influential people in Alabama. He keeps a low profile so that few know that, but its true. You're talking about people who are business partners of, attorneys of, Milton McGregor.

As an easy for instance that has been talked about here recently - Bryant Bank is PBJ. The current president pro tem of the BoT is a director of Bryant Bank. Humphreys, the UAB representative on the BoT, is married to Bobby Humphrey - who is employed by Bryant bank. That's 10% of the board right there.

There are other corrupt interlinks, but that's how it works. Companies that get crosswise get the business version of the old Mafia "Nice place you have here, it would be a pity if something happened to it." Long time customers decide to change suppliers. Suppliers have sudden last minute delays delivering needed materials. Financing falls through.

Stuff... happens. Nothing overt and traceable, just... stuff.

The other members of the board either have common interests, deals that they don't want threatened, or they are outright bought or intimidated. I don't know all the ins and outs, but if the DoJ really looked at it hard I bet they could make a RICO case.

Wouldn't AU and UA be turning each other in all the time? It's hard to believe the DOJ would be intimidated by some Alabama shenanigans. What's "big fish" in Alabama would be "small potatoes" to the DOJ.

(11-18-2014 03:02 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  Will it do a damn thing to stop PBJ and the BOT? Who knows? They do what they want, but they are not immune to scrutiny. Having their dirty dealings dragged out in the light does tend to slow them up. They're accustomed to dirty dealings in back rooms no one knows about.

So we're all doing all we can. I don't know of much else I can do but write my representatives, the UAB administration, and show up at the games and things like this city council meeting.

If they shut it down, I'll at least know that I didn't just sit on my hands, bitching and doing nothing to fight back.

Well said...My sentiments exactly...And if they do in fact, destroy our football program, many of us are not just going to go quietly into the night without a personalized "parting shot" of our own, as evidenced in the thread on BT about what we'll do if the hammer comes down on our football team...I believe the follow-up will be profound and voluminous.

All this talk reminds me of an event of the 1960s when a south Alabama "segregation academy" suddenly had newly painted football helmets right after the county's public high school was robbed of -- all its football equipment - including helmets. No one ever solved that case either. Is it any wonder that the state's Speaker of the House with 23 grand jury felony indictments won his election by a 2-1 margin?