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So many articles today, might already be posted...
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index....ncart_2box

Headline's wrong. Watts did no such thing. It's the small first crack we've seen in his Wall of Arrogance, but he never backed away from Wattsolini Is Always Right. He announced he was forming a committee to choose a new firm to look at the CarrSports numbers.

If we want to protect the UAB we have, and see it grow and flourish, Ray Watts must go. What we got today was proof that there is no compromise with Benito.

We fight.

(01-09-2015 10:09 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Headline's wrong. Watts did no such thing. It's the small first crack we've seen in his Wall of Arrogance, but he never backed away from Wattsolini Is Always Right. He announced he was forming a committee to choose a new firm to look at the CarrSports numbers.

If we want to protect the UAB we have, and see it grow and flourish, Ray Watts must go. What we got today was proof that there is no compromise with Benito.

We fight.

+1 Fight!

What amazes me is through it all he has NEVER said he was wrong about anything...

One would have to think that he was wrong first before being able to admit it.

We have to make sure the committee is not limited in scope to just making sure the "numbers" in the Carr report are valid. Carr did not address many of the issues that we all know are important because it was outside the scope they were given. If I'm reading Ray's statement correctly it sounds more like he wants these guys to find spreadsheet errors and validate Carr's findings. The scope needs to include every stakeholder group and the effects of his decision.

(01-09-2015 10:29 PM)biglizard Wrote:  We have to make sure the committee is not limited in scope to just making sure the "numbers" in the Carr report are valid. Carr did not address many of the issues that we all know are important because it was outside the scope they were given. If I'm reading Ray's statement correctly it sounds more like he wants these guys to find spreadsheet errors and validate Carr's findings. The scope needs to include every stakeholder group and the effects of his decision.

Exactly. We need to get the UAB football foundation to get organized and raise funds so this can be considered when looking at the revenue streams. Also, we need to meet with the athletic coaches and have them revise their wish list since we now know how Watts et al intend to use this wish list. There is a lot of work to do and short amount of time but we can do it if we will all chip in and help however we can.

Our "wish list" cannot be shortened since we all know all items on it are long overdue and were needed 2 decades ago. Any major surrender will tell Clark that his time at UAB is over. I doubt he will enthusiastically embrace a D3 level program no matter how we try to dress it up. Not to mention how Shoop, Getman, Townshend, Haase, Norton and others will take it as their programs are cut back to fit the new realities. If UAB cannot show that it can return to its 2014 level in a quick schedule, we will be in big trouble with our coaches and our better players (who, as we saw in football, are young enough to get invited elsewhere)..

(01-09-2015 11:22 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Our "wish list" cannot be shortened since we all know all items on it are long overdue and were needed 2 decades ago. Any major surrender will tell Clark that his time at UAB is over. I doubt he will enthusiastically embrace a D3 level program no matter how we try to dress it up. Not to mention how Shoop, Getman, Townshend, Haase, Norton and others will take it as their programs are cut back to fit the new realities. If UAB cannot show that it can return to its 2014 level in a quick schedule, we will be in big trouble with our coaches and our better players (who, as we saw in football, are young enough to get invited elsewhere)..

I think the drive from the true UAB community is to return football in 2016 in CUSA. This coming season Charoltte can take our spot in the east and we'll move to the west once we return

(01-09-2015 11:22 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Our "wish list" cannot be shortened since we all know all items on it are long overdue and were needed 2 decades ago. Any major surrender will tell Clark that his time at UAB is over. I doubt he will enthusiastically embrace a D3 level program no matter how we try to dress it up. Not to mention how Shoop, Townshend, Haase, Norton and others will take it as their programs are cut back to fit the new realities. If UAB cannot show that it can return to its 2014 level in a quick schedule, we will be in big trouble with our coaches and our better players (who, as we saw in football, are young enough to get invited elsewhere)..

The "wish list " is what it is but there needs to be priority set. Not everything has or could be built at once. Clark said he needed an field turf ASAP and that's the first. Next is an IPF. That's well beyond 2014 level of commitment and doable quickly.

Agreed. Give Coach Clark a proper 5-year deal (with a pay raise for putting up with this BS). Then, construct the IPF in 2015 and begin accepting players to return to CUSA in 2016.

(01-09-2015 11:34 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Agreed. Give Coach Clark a proper 5-year deal (with a pay raise for putting up with this BS). Then, construct the IPF in 2015 and begin accepting players to return to CUSA in 2016.

We are about to learn a lot about how C-USA values UAB's membership over the next several months. While the UA BOT may be able to duck SACS due to a lack of what they consider "hard evidence", none of the nation's conferences are so easily played.

The present demonstration of UAB's inability to be captain of its own ship may put UAB into their "high risk" list of schools who want to join their conference - and we no longer have Gene Bartow to speak on our behalf. There are many others who can make and keep promises without waiting to see if anyone 60 miles away is willing to give them a permission slip.

(01-09-2015 10:23 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  One would have to think that he was wrong first before being able to admit it.

Exactly. I see this everyday with entry level people, up to managers and bosses.
For some reason, our culture and society today just increasingly has people who will not admit to their mistakes or ever being wrong. It's disgusting.

Based upon carefully phrased responses, Watts is having a firm confirm the Carr report. We need to keep the pressure on. Please make no mistake about that. His remarks were well prepared and specific, which is why he left questions unanswered so as not to veer off script. Not to mention the timing. The only way to fight this is through political pressure, decrease in funding and any legal/procedural violations. This is why we saw the presser; 1, 2 and 3 (SACS) have happened. Don't let up, this is only a stall for the no confidence vote and the Jack Williams legislation push in March.

If others have covered this in other posts, I haven't been able to catch up today.

(01-09-2015 10:09 PM)58-56 Wrote:  Headline's wrong. Watts did no such thing. It's the small first crack we've seen in his Wall of Arrogance, but he never backed away from Wattsolini Is Always Right. He announced he was forming a committee to choose a new firm to look at the CarrSports numbers.

If we want to protect the UAB we have, and see it grow and flourish, Ray Watts must go. What we got today was proof that there is no compromise with Benito.

We fight.

Only "door" open should be the one that his sorry butt is escorted out of UAB and Birmingham for good after "No Confidence Day" on 1/15...**** Watts and his empty promises!

#WeFight

(01-10-2015 09:26 AM)Uncle BLAZER Wrote:  

(01-09-2015 10:23 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  One would have to think that he was wrong first before being able to admit it.

Exactly. I see this everyday with entry level people, up to managers and bosses.
For some reason, our culture and society today just increasingly has people who will not admit to their mistakes or ever being wrong. It's disgusting.

as disgusting as it may be, admitting fault in a decision is more than likely going to come back to bite you in the future. My first thought was to remember the "Read my lips" pledge by President G.H.W. Bush who had to later admit error on taxes and how it helped cost him reelection. With ALL jobs getting harder to keep, any admitted breach of competency can be costly to one's future.

(01-09-2015 11:34 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Agreed. Give Coach Clark a proper 5-year deal (with a pay raise for putting up with this BS). Then, construct the IPF in 2015 and begin accepting players to return to CUSA in 2016.

+1000 And finish the plans for the OCS with a start date on construction. We should plan activities for the fall of 2015 to maintain and build fan and community interest and support. We need to keep the fire stoked until we field a UAB Blazer team again!

(01-11-2015 08:59 PM)blzrclub80 Wrote:  

(01-09-2015 11:34 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  Agreed. Give Coach Clark a proper 5-year deal (with a pay raise for putting up with this BS). Then, construct the IPF in 2015 and begin accepting players to return to CUSA in 2016.

+1000 And finish the plans for the OCS with a start date on construction. We should plan activities for the fall of 2015 to maintain and build fan and community interest and support. We need to keep the fire stoked until we field a UAB Blazer team again!

A couple of assumptions(I know, makes an "ASS" of "U" & "ME"...):
1) Since Coach Clark was reportedly paid out his entire remaining salary plus all possible bonuses I think its more realistic he would have the same salary and keep the payout;
2) The new "study" should be complete within 90 days and, assuming reinstatement and no team in 2016, it would be in time for at least some Spring training activities. Even w/o a team for 2015 we could still have a Fall season as a "club" team playing various JUCOs and DII and DIII schools to keep the fire burning and develop whatever players might be here. This is what startups do. I don't think that would affect anyone's NCAA eligibility;

I believe we'll field a team in 2016. I like the idea of a "club" team to play other teams in 2015 but don't know if that would affect eligibility of existing players for NCAA Div-I play in 2016 or even if Coach would want anything to do with it. Just beyond my knowledge.