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(12-05-2014 03:27 PM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 02:24 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  I don't "feel" for him. He's falling in line and doing just as Mackin trained him. Did he order the music to start when Tim Alexander was talking on the court last night? If he didn't, who did?

The football players were told before the game started they were NOT going to be allowed to address the crowd. Leading a protest in the streets is one thing, you do NOT give a bunch of upset students an open mic at an NCAA event.

I'm surprised they were allowed on the court.

When the halftime activities continued it was because the student activity from the football players was not authorized and the music & commercials continued that were a part of the scheduled event.

WHO GIVES A **** IF THEY WERE AUTHORIZED??? This a fight for freaking survival and you want to talk about getting protests authorized? Whoever started the music and tried to drown Tim out is another tool of Watts and his minions.

(12-05-2014 03:27 PM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 02:24 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  I don't "feel" for him. He's falling in line and doing just as Mackin trained him. Did he order the music to start when Tim Alexander was talking on the court last night? If he didn't, who did?

The football players were told before the game started they were NOT going to be allowed to address the crowd. Leading a protest in the streets is one thing, you do NOT give a bunch of upset students an open mic at an NCAA event.

I'm surprised they were allowed on the court.

When the halftime activities continued it was because the student activity from the football players was not authorized and the music & commercials continued that were a part of the scheduled event.

They let the silence happen just long enough to get something out, but the boo's coming from that student base tells you how serious this is to them.

(12-05-2014 03:47 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 03:27 PM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 02:24 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  I don't "feel" for him. He's falling in line and doing just as Mackin trained him. Did he order the music to start when Tim Alexander was talking on the court last night? If he didn't, who did?

The football players were told before the game started they were NOT going to be allowed to address the crowd. Leading a protest in the streets is one thing, you do NOT give a bunch of upset students an open mic at an NCAA event.

I'm surprised they were allowed on the court.

When the halftime activities continued it was because the student activity from the football players was not authorized and the music & commercials continued that were a part of the scheduled event.

They let the silence happen just long enough to get something out, but the boo's coming from that student base tells you how serious this is to them.

It wasn't just the students. There lots of older Blazers there too that went crazy when they cut Tim off.

Regardless of how and why it was done, cutting Mr. Alexander off was not the act of a member of our Blazer Family. For better or worse, things like this are going to happen for a while. Watts broke open a hornet's nest and it is impossible to put the hornets back in it.

(12-05-2014 11:38 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  Cutting football is the first public step in the death of UAB and Blazer athletics as we have known and loved them. We are headed back to a Med School with an extension center tacked on.

If the people working in athletics really loved UAB, they would all walk out, lock the door behind them, and join the student protests. I understand they are jeopardizing their paychecks but that is the difference between just punching the clock and actually caring about UAB. They can get another job. There may never be another chance to fight for UAB when it really matters.

Students are putting their academic careers on the line by protesting instead of studying and going face to face with Watts at the football building. If the people getting paid by UAB Athletics really bleed Green and Gold, they'll join the fight instead of meekly falling in line.

If this is truly the case, why not encourage all UAB employees to resign? It's extremely easy to tell others what they should do when it costs you nothing.

The student turnout was tremendous. Easily the best in years. Do it again on Sunday. Then again on Sun the 14th. Show up for the LSU game and go nuts in the stands. Chant about firing Watts, keeping football, or whatever.

If Bill Clark had wanted to address the crowd, I guarantee he would have been afforded a microphone and plenty of time.

The silence that occurred when Tim was speaking was when everyone was getting back on schedule. It caught the entire production team by surprise. Yes, he was cut offf because he was not an authorized speaker for UAB. Everything that is said on the PA system is subject to NCAA scrutiny.

(12-05-2014 04:04 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 11:38 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  Cutting football is the first public step in the death of UAB and Blazer athletics as we have known and loved them. We are headed back to a Med School with an extension center tacked on.

If the people working in athletics really loved UAB, they would all walk out, lock the door behind them, and join the student protests. I understand they are jeopardizing their paychecks but that is the difference between just punching the clock and actually caring about UAB. They can get another job. There may never be another chance to fight for UAB when it really matters.

Students are putting their academic careers on the line by protesting instead of studying and going face to face with Watts at the football building. If the people getting paid by UAB Athletics really bleed Green and Gold, they'll join the fight instead of meekly falling in line.

If this is truly the case, why not encourage all UAB employees to resign? It's extremely easy to tell others what they should do when it costs you nothing.

I didn't say resign, I said walk off the job and protest unfair and incompetent management with the student athletes they say they care so much about.

It would be great if there was SOME KIND of campus wide protest by employees but I know that ain't ever gonna happen.

(12-05-2014 04:19 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 04:04 PM)Blazeramo Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 11:38 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  Cutting football is the first public step in the death of UAB and Blazer athletics as we have known and loved them. We are headed back to a Med School with an extension center tacked on.

If the people working in athletics really loved UAB, they would all walk out, lock the door behind them, and join the student protests. I understand they are jeopardizing their paychecks but that is the difference between just punching the clock and actually caring about UAB. They can get another job. There may never be another chance to fight for UAB when it really matters.

Students are putting their academic careers on the line by protesting instead of studying and going face to face with Watts at the football building. If the people getting paid by UAB Athletics really bleed Green and Gold, they'll join the fight instead of meekly falling in line.

If this is truly the case, why not encourage all UAB employees to resign? It's extremely easy to tell others what they should do when it costs you nothing.

I didn't say resign, I said walk off the job and protest unfair and incompetent management with the student athletes they say they care so much about.

It would be great if there was SOME KIND of campus wide protest by employees but I know that ain't ever gonna happen.

This is a ludicrous post. UAB athletics staff is the last group that should be called out for this disaster. They received the information when the general public did.

Whatever staff that does not leave on their own will be facing reductions in their departments. When you lose a net total of 88 athletes there will be staff reductions from any departments that weren't already understaffed. From the strength staff to the training room to academic support to marketing they will lose people/positions. No matter what the President says they will not be able to justify keeping those people when the budget comes around without football student athletes to support.

Also last time I checked it's not easy to break into working in collegiate athletics so walking off a job/career dream you've fought for is not as easy as "getting another job". If they are working in athletics at UAB it's not for the money that's for sure...

We all agree this sucks - but don't target those who were hurt by it too by asking them to give up how they support their families. Put your anger on those responsible - not the other victims.

Well said. It's easy to say someone else should sacrifice *their* career.

I quit a good job once over a disagreement that would have violated my personal code of ethics, and the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.

I was unemployed six days, at which point I had five different job offers, four as a direct result of my standing up for my principles.

As a result of that, I feel I can say that usually, that kind of "sacrifice" often leads to greener pastures than the sacrifice of one's morals and ethics.

(12-05-2014 06:09 PM)Grammar-Nazi Wrote:  I quit a good job once over a disagreement that would have violated my personal code of ethics, and the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.

I was unemployed six days, at which point I had five different job offers, four as a direct result of my standing up for my principles.

As a result of that, I feel I can say that usually, that kind of "sacrifice" often leads to greener pastures than the sacrifice of one's morals and ethics.

And as I've written on here elsewhere, sometimes it means you'll spend the next four decades in bitterness, anger and strong drink.

Turning up the PA system to drown out the chanting was a petty move, but I noticed more "mistakes" creeping in after the Alexander incident.

The games are an important protest venue. We need them to go on, and that requires a staff in Bartow. Ray Watts has proven his spite and stupidity: if these people quit they will not be replaced.

Ealy has looked players in the eye and apologized. No one above him had the moral courage to do that.