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

This is huge from a recruiting perspective as well. Headlines like "UA trustees vote in support of UAB football facility" only help coach Clark and the staff.

It is huge. The downtown stadium puts us on another level recruiting. Not my words but the man himself to me.

Phelps just approved as Cubby's replacement.

(11-06-2015 12:13 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Phelps just approved as Cubby's replacement.

Are you serious?

BOT saying there was never this kind of support before and that clearly there is a major change with respect to support. While I disagree with their assumptions that very little support was present before, I agree that the degree of support is something which I have never seen.

I think the winds of change are swirling and UAB may be poised for some dynamic growth unlike we have ever seen.

(11-06-2015 11:50 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Champlin
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/...roval.html

Story Updated with comments/reactions from Ingram, St. John, and HC Bill Clark...

(11-06-2015 11:48 AM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  This sounds great, but I think those of us who didn't join the call might not yet have a good understanding of what if anything was approved today.

It's sounds like they might have approved the bond issue for the project, but the plans for the project still need to be approved at the next meeting. Is that the case?

Or did they just discuss the facility in a preliminary fashion and bond issue and plans will be up for approval at the next meeting?

In normal BOT procedure this an informational item to be discussed in detail at next meeting. This tells UAB to develop a presentation preliminary plans for program such as sketch, Project cost (based on industry standards), with plan on financing based at least in part on using bond funds backed by UAB athletic foundation pledges This is a big positive change I had assumed before that all the cash would have to be on hand to begin construction. Normally will still have to have the planned "down payment" and have actual pledges for the full amount before actual construction begins but would start design and planning after next meeting approval
We still need to fund raise our butts off for facilities and make sure the big boys come through.

At the next meeting an authorization to use future bond funding would be granted. Normally this amount (15 Million) is too small for a separate bond issue and would be consolidated with other projects in a future bond usually 100 to 150 million is the minimum. 250 or above is usually the most cost effective

PS I used normally because I still find it hard to trust or actually believe this is happening but it appears we actually won. :cheers:

(11-06-2015 12:18 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(11-06-2015 12:13 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Phelps just approved as Cubby's replacement.

Are you serious?

Yep.

(11-06-2015 12:13 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Phelps just approved as Cubby's replacement.

who is he ?
he is his dog track partner ?

I think so.

Remain vigilant. They're willing to give a few concessions to UAB Football in order to keep the overall "mission" in check.

The bond issue shouldn't be that big of a deal. We know the BOT has done this countless times for projects at UA. The part that makes it a big deal is that to my knowledge they have never really allowed that for UAB football projects of any sort in the past.

Looks like what some on this board have been saying all along is at last coming true after all.

I think that's the first time I've ever seen St. John say something positive about UAB football/athletics.

Quote:"There is support now that has never existed before," St. John said. "I don't think anybody can argue that. As difficult as this year as been, nobody can argue that UAB athletics is not in a much better shape than it bwas before.

"It's a success story. It wasn't for many, many years. Now, it appears that it's got a great future."

I think I just dropped dead from shock...

I think the BOT also knows that if they want to hold on to UAB (their crown jewel, though they would never publicly call it such), then they are going to have to appease the masses to some degree. Just how vigorously they will continue to actively support UAB athletics over the long term remains to be seen.

Social media blowing up with this news BTW.

Folks like St John know that if the tick off that list of money people he may lose a boatload of business

We have donors that donate to both schools and they know now not to piss them off.

(11-06-2015 12:36 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  I think the BOT also knows that if they want to hold on to UAB (their crown jewel, though they would never publicly call it such), then they are going to have to appease the masses to some degree. Just how vigorously they will continue to actively support UAB athletics over the long term remains to be seen.

Social media blowing up with this news BTW.

(11-06-2015 12:41 PM)linus Wrote:  Folks like St John know that if the tick off that list of money people he may lose a boatload of business

1st rule of politics: if things aren't going the way you want and change is in the air, get out in front of the new movement and stay in charge. You can turn the tide (pun intended) back the way you want later.

Huge day for UAB, and the people who care about UAB.

Well done, Blazers!