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

Mentioning men's track and aquatic sports brings up making a list of potential new sports programs UAB might consider adding in the future to make its sports programs more attractive to other conferences. There is literally a plethora of sports UAB might consider to broaden its appeal - some more expensive than others. What sports are found common in the AAC that UAB might make a priority?

The AP's @RalphDRussoAP says why UAB is a good replacement for UConn in the AAC

https://audioboom.com/posts/7297752-the-...eviews-the

This is a huge opportunity for UAB, but I just hope to see them mentioned more as this stretches on. I think ESPN listed them as one of the up and coming options, however I haven't seen other schools mentioned besides Army & BYU as football only. Even AL.com hasn't reported on this. I'm pretty confident that Army & BYU will both turn down the AAC for various reasons. After that, it's on UAB to make sure they're at the top of the pile, and I feel like having their names in every article about the subject is a key to getting an invite.

(06-24-2019 12:36 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Mentioning men's track and aquatic sports brings up making a list of potential new sports programs UAB might consider adding in the future to make its sports programs more attractive to other conferences. There is literally a plethora of sports UAB might consider to broaden its appeal - some more expensive than others. What sports are found common in the AAC that UAB might make a priority?

You don't do it before the fact because there isn't a conference for you to play that sport in.

(06-24-2019 12:45 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  This is a huge opportunity for UAB, but I just hope to see them mentioned more as this stretches on. I think ESPN listed them as one of the up and coming options, however I haven't seen other schools mentioned besides Army & BYU as football only. Even AL.com hasn't reported on this. I'm pretty confident that Army & BYU will both turn down the AAC for various reasons. After that, it's on UAB to make sure they're at the top of the pile, and I feel like having their names in every article about the subject is a key to getting an invite.

Don't wait for the al.com mention.

(06-24-2019 01:05 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 12:45 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  This is a huge opportunity for UAB, but I just hope to see them mentioned more as this stretches on. I think ESPN listed them as one of the up and coming options, however I haven't seen other schools mentioned besides Army & BYU as football only. Even AL.com hasn't reported on this. I'm pretty confident that Army & BYU will both turn down the AAC for various reasons. After that, it's on UAB to make sure they're at the top of the pile, and I feel like having their names in every article about the subject is a key to getting an invite.

Don't wait for the al.com mention.

Absolutely, and that's kind of my point. I emailed their sports reporters and said they were missing an opportunity, but there's still no article.

(06-24-2019 11:20 AM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 07:38 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(06-23-2019 06:19 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Someone educate me on how UAB's Olympic sports would blend into the AAC. Does UAB have enough of them to satisfy the AAC?

I think the only sport we don’t offer scholarships for is men’s track. No aquatic sports at all. Full compliment of other sports

UAB doesn't have men's track.

My bad I thought we had some non scholarship guys going to meets

The AAC has a new media rights deal, UCONN leaving isnt expected to effect that. I'm not sure that they would even look to add a team until its time for them to start renegotiating that deal in a few years.

You guys, ESPN is not surprised and shocked by this. Believe me ESPN had a plan before signing this deal.

Brett McMurphy is reporting that if the AAC strikes out on adding a service academy or BYU that they're likely to stay at 11 members.

https://watchstadium.com/news/how-uconns...6-24-2019/

Don't count UAB out. Someone did that before and they underestimated the power of the Dragon. The "Gang of 7" didn't make that kind of investment in UAB Athletics for us to remain in C-USA. If they are involved... I like our chances.

Navy has had a rough couple of years (3-10, 2-6 last year) so what I think you're seeing is the attrition associated with playing that level of competition consistently with a limited recruiting pool. If I'm Army, I let Navy stay right where they are and I'll stay right right where I am. It's not like they need the money and there's no real advantage in joining a conference where you swap Colgate for Central Florida

Army has already exited stage left once from CUSA.

(06-24-2019 12:04 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  I don't believe that the AAC is surprised by this. I believe they have been prepared to replace UConn for quite a while.

UConn's attendance was hovering around 10k. The state put up $90m for their stadium, but they're still on the hook for I dunno, 20, 30, 40m. Their pulling the plug on football isn't much of a shock, and the AAC wasn't going to allow them to stay without it, so I agree with you on this.

I'm sure that their decision makers and power brokers already had a short list. I don't know that we were on it, but once the various schools started the lobbying, UAB clearly rises to somewhere around the top. They may grab Buffalo or Akron, or Boise/BYU/Army may decide to go for it, or they may just leave it open for a bit, I have no way to know.

What I do know is that we are in a far, far better position to be considered then we ever have been. Once the new stadium opens we'll look even better.

We need our fans to rise to the challenge, to talk it up, to be positive, to buy season tickets. That sort of thing is all that we, as fans, can do to help things out.

(06-24-2019 02:26 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  Brett McMurphy is reporting that if the AAC strikes out on adding a service academy or BYU that they're likely to stay at 11 members.

https://watchstadium.com/news/how-uconns...6-24-2019/

That is entirely possible - stay at eleven and simply split the money that once went to UConn. Nothing is set in stone this early, though. I can't help but think that they'll look at a number of angles.

We're positioned pretty well, with what is already done and the Bell Gym rehab already going and the new Fieldhouse for baseball/softball on the way. The intended revamp of Bartow Arena and the opening of Protective Life Stadium will make things better still.

All we can do is to improve things as much as we can. If nothing else, the TV contracts of the various leagues may touch off yet another round of conference realignment. We need to be ready for whatever happens, whenever it does.

There's no guarantee that a bid comes from the AAC, but that does not mean that we shouldn't get our ducks in a row in case it does, or from another conference.

We look better than we ever have. We need to keep that ball rolling.

If UAB is a candidate, then the athletic director or president has already been contacted.

(06-24-2019 03:01 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  If UAB is a candidate, then the athletic director or president has already been contacted.

I really hope so. I actually miss playing you guys. I've almost recovered from the emotional trauma of that hail mary

(06-24-2019 03:01 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  If UAB is a candidate, then the athletic director or president has already been contacted.

I hope they have. For once I have some confidence in them trying to make things happen.

For Ingram, pushing for this is not only good for UAB, it fits his self-interest. He's done a lot to improve our facilities across the board. He was the AD when the program came back and thrived. If he's the AD when we move up to a better conference he gets the credit for that as well. UAB would owe the guy a raise and vocal praise, and he'd be positioned as an up and comer if an AD slot comes open in the P5.

For Watts, this sort of move would make him look very good. Getting into a conference with schools like Houston, Cincinnati, Temple, and South Florida would be an upgrade, and put us among schools that are more like peers of UAB on the university level. Helping boost UAB into the AAC would also remove some of the stain and hard feelings over the football shutdown. I'm sure that with his retirement somewhere on the horizon he'd prefer to go out on a high note. Again, if he can get this done, he would have earned and would deserve praise for it.

Lord knows that I've thrown brickbats at both of these men over the years. Making this happens would both be doing their jobs at a high level, and it would be a boost to their performance and credibility. I know that they don't make the decision about getting in, but a sincere effort to make it happen would go a long way toward mending some fences.

(06-24-2019 03:05 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 03:01 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  If UAB is a candidate, then the athletic director or president has already been contacted.

I really hope so. I actually miss playing you guys. I've almost recovered from the emotional trauma of that hail mary

I have not. Not even close

It doesn't bother me much until someone mentions it.