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

I am also getting traction for the Georgia coaching job.

It's on the internet now!

Vic Salem is a candidate. I said it on a message board so it’s true.

(03-09-2022 04:15 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Vic Salem is a candidate. I said it on a message board so it’s true.

Better coach, Vic Salem or Rob Ehsan???

(03-09-2022 11:52 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 11:45 AM)BlazerDave Jr Wrote:  Am I the only one who saw Andy’s return to the southside as his final coaching destination?

This is kinda my thought as well. I’m guessing he could’ve taken bigger opportunities than UAB while he was at ESPN, but he chose to come here. He continually talks about getting the program back to the “Bartow Standard”, so I don’t think he leaves until it’s back there, if ever, before retiring.

+1

(03-09-2022 04:58 PM)The Answer UAB Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 04:15 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Vic Salem is a candidate. I said it on a message board so it’s true.

Better coach, Vic Salem or Rob Ehsan???

Actual true fact: My right ankle was the first ankle ever taped by Victor Salem (he went by "Victor" in HS).

I liked Ehsan, as a person. I hope that this weekend he can reclaim the distinction of "only Blazer head coach never to take a team to the NCAA Tournament."

(03-09-2022 11:22 AM)BlazinBham Wrote:  He was getting 1.9 mil in Oxford. Doing us a really big favor, right now. I know the majority like to pay up front for future results. But I’m still on the earn your pay and you’ll get a raise mindset. That shouldn’t come, without meaningful postseason success.

3 of the 4 losses in conference play alone, killing off at large bid hopes makes “raise” talks a non-starter for me.

I don’t come her very often anymore, but now that I have, I must ask you guys. Is this some sort of crypto-comedic character this poster is playing?

This might be one of the worst takes I’ve ever seen for a coach on half pay with 24 wins in the regular season in year 2. “Non starter for me.” Hilarious, but not in the way that makes you wish for more.

I have an acquaintance named Moe. Moe Ron. He comes to mind as I read posts like this.

They should triple AKs salary tomorrow.

It doesn’t take long for an old timer who remembers the football club team era and AK on the court to remember why it’s so disappointing to read this board in these days of remarkable athletic program success.

Now I need to go tell some kids to get off my grass. I bet one of them is named Moe also.

Nobody thinks UAB is a destination job. There is no such thing.

All I know is that Gene, AK’s mentor, hung an Elite Eight Banner before Georgia (like their rivals down I-85) had even landed their name on the bracket.

(03-11-2022 01:06 AM)FNblazer Wrote:  All I know is that Gene, AK’s mentor, hung an Elite Eight Banner before Georgia (like their rivals down I-85) had even landed their name on the bracket.

UAB was the first program in this state to reach an Elite 8.

(03-11-2022 09:55 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 01:06 AM)FNblazer Wrote:  All I know is that Gene, AK’s mentor, hung an Elite Eight Banner before Georgia (like their rivals down I-85) had even landed their name on the bracket.

UAB was the first program in this state to reach an Elite 8.

We went to the elite 8 when the entire field was 48 teams not 64. And the Sun Belt was getting multiple teams in every year. Think about that. Makes you appreciate coach Bartow even more.

I don't think there is another program that had the success UAB had in their first 10 years of existence as a Div 1 b-ball program. UAB made the NIT in their 3rd season as a program and then proceeded to make 7 straight NCAA appearances from 81 to 87. The Sweet 16 in their 4th year and Elite 8 in their 5th year of existence. At that time 48 teams made the field for the Dance.

(03-11-2022 01:11 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I don't think there is another program that had the success UAB had in their first 10 years of existence as a Div 1 b-ball program. UAB made the NIT in their 3rd season as a program and then proceeded to make 7 straight NCAA appearances from 81 to 87. The Sweet 16 in their 4th year and Elite 8 in their 5th year of existence. At that time 48 teams made the field for the Dance.

Gene took UAB to the NIT in the team's first season of eligibility, second of existence. And he liked orange juice.

(03-11-2022 01:11 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I don't think there is another program that had the success UAB had in their first 10 years of existence as a Div 1 b-ball program. UAB made the NIT in their 3rd season as a program and then proceeded to make 7 straight NCAA appearances from 81 to 87. The Sweet 16 in their 4th year and Elite 8 in their 5th year of existence. At that time 48 teams made the field for the Dance.

UAB actually made the NIT in its 2nd season (1979-80) losing to what was then known as Southwestern Louisiana and Birmingham native Andrew Toney by 2 points in the first round. The Blazers made the NCAA in the 3rd season (1980-81) defeating Western Kentucky and Kentucky before losing to eventual national champion Indiana in the Sweet 16.

The Elite 8 was the 4th season (1981-82). The Blazers defeated Indiana and a Ralph Sampson led Virginia before losing to Louisville. The Louisville game included what I still consider a bad call that was important to the outcome of the game. There was a loose ball near mid court, Oliver Robinson and one of the McCray brothers (Louisville had two brothers, Rodney and Scooter McCray) - I can't remember which - dove for the ball, McCray ended up diving on top of Robinson but somehow Robinson was called for the foul.

What UAB did in basketball is unprecedented in NCAA sports history and it was incredibly close to being so much more. But the world changed almost immediately at the time UAB reached that Elite Eight. What UAB did in the 1980s could never be duplicated. It was a unique set of circumstances and timing. There is never going to be a Gonzaga of the South, either.

And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. So it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

(03-11-2022 04:04 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. so it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

Crazy, wasn’t it!?!

Gene Bartow was able to come in to Birmingham and immediately be one of the biggest names in coaching in the south. He was able to immediately ly walk into an almost new civic center better than almost every sec arena, do a local tv deal better than most sec teams had, schedule home and homes with elite programs, be on ESPN regularly and recruit top players.


By 1984, ESPN was moving the dollars toward what would become the power conferences, by 1985 the tournament would expand to 64, tv was deregulated and literally billions of dollars would flow into the hands of a handful of schools.

What happened with Gene Bartow was unique to the time and place. It would never be possible in todays world.

Can a brand new athletic department begin life at D1 now?

Yes. There is no requirement to start at a lower level. But conference membership means something very different today

(03-11-2022 04:04 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. So it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

Actually, 7 NCAA’s and 1 NIT in our first 9 years….and post season every year we were eligible.