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This is my latest email to Dr. Watts:

What are you doing?

I will try my best to be civil, but this is getting ridiculous. Keeping the student athletes, coaches, boosters, fans, and student body of UAB in limbo while you put out meaningless statements is not only cruel, but also totally unwise. Either you are not taking the advice of your public relations staff or you need to fire all of those who are advising you. Even rank amateurs would tell you that you should never intentionally prolong a disastrous situation like this one.

However, it still could be worse. If you dismantle the football program, UAB will be the laughing stock of college athletics. More importantly, you will make it obvious that establishing a healthy college atmosphere for the undergraduate students at UAB is not one of your priorities. That would seriously jeopardize our entire undergraduate program. You will also demonstrate disrespect for Birmingham city officials and the Birmingham area legislative delegation; these are people you definitely want in total support of you and your University. You have already upset many people who over the years have made substantial contributions not only to the athletic programs, but also to the academic and medical programs as well. This is not what you do in the middle of a major funding drive. The question now is whether you will totally alienate these loyal supporters of the University. If you do, your ability to continue to lead will be suspect.

I strongly suggest that you cut your losses, end the suspense now and reassure everyone as quickly as possible that UAB athletic program will remain in totally intact. And may God help you if make the wrong decision.

Yours (for now)
Richard Guilbeau
MBA class of 1984

Outstanding

Yep.

It's really embarrassing to hear about all this crap while watching and listening to UAB football. The whole thing has been a disaster in public relations.

Watts and MacKin have totally screwed this whole thing up.

A screw up is causing something when you really didn't mean to cause it.

This was worse.

(11-30-2014 12:28 AM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  Yep.

It's really embarrassing to hear about all this crap while watching and listening to UAB football. The whole thing has been a disaster in public relations.

Watts and MacKin have totally screwed this whole thing up.

I thought the same thing. Embarrassing to hear that crap during a game.

Nice letter! I loved the '(for now)' more than anything. :D

My emails were more harsh than that and I was being nice.

I guess that's about is nasty as I get.

Good letter. This is what I sent to watts today:

Dr. Watts,

Did you happen to catch the results of the UAB football game yesterday? We won our sixth game of the year, becoming bowl eligible, all while dealing with accusations of the impending closure of the program and lack of support from the UAB President, UAB athletics director, and UA BOT. Imagine what this football program could accomplish without people actively trying to sabotage it? Do the right thing. Support UAB, Birmingham's team, by extending coach Clark's contract, publicly voicing support for the program, accepting money donated from the football foundation, and investing in facility and infrastructure support for the football program. UAB has taken immeasurable hits in reputation from this debacle. End the insanity. Again, I implore you to do what is obviously right and good in this situation. If you do so, you would unlock a treasure trove of potential and success at UAB.

Sincerely,

Xxx

Copy and forward all to Witt witt@uasystem.ua.edu