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Full Version: USA Today: College football's 10 most surprising teams through Week 3
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc...678485001/

7. Alabama-Birmingham

UAB was nearly the consensus pick this summer as team No. 130 in the 130-team Football Bowl Subdivision. That would suggest a one-win season, or thereabouts, as the Blazers picked up where they left off after a two-season absence from play. Instead, UAB sits at 2-1 through three games after a nice win against Coastal Carolina.
We should have all pooled our money for a mega bet and sent someone to Vegas. I feel good about winning at least one more...... ;-)
I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

At least the author was trying to do it correctly. Why would USA Today have a style book that knowingly conflicts with the own school's media guide? Seems like the style book is a relic that needs updating.
(09-19-2017 03:39 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: [ -> ]We should have all pooled our money for a mega bet and sent someone to Vegas. I feel good about winning at least one more...... ;-)

the sports books wouldnt take more than a small bet on that
Kinda like how the New York Times has to stylize the university as U.A.B.

And yes, AB, aren't we all kicking ourselves for not pooling the megabet in Vegas? Oh well, it's a nice week to take the underdog and the over.
(09-19-2017 04:22 PM)hooverblazer Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

At least the author was trying to do it correctly. Why would USA Today have a style book that knowingly conflicts with the own school's media guide? Seems like the style book is a relic that needs updating.

because many of their readers outside of the states UAB, ULM, ULL the GSU's et are located in have no idea what those letters stand for. UAB is not UCLA or USC
(09-20-2017 06:50 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:22 PM)hooverblazer Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

At least the author was trying to do it correctly. Why would USA Today have a style book that knowingly conflicts with the own school's media guide? Seems like the style book is a relic that needs updating.

because many of their readers outside of the states UAB, ULM, ULL the GSU's et are located in have no idea what those letters stand for. UAB is not UCLA or USC

True. For years I told people that I went to UAB, but I got tired of answering "what's that"--I caved and finally started giving the full name right from the start
In this day and age, it isn't difficult for the reader to Google search what the acronym UAB means. They should use UAB period! It is just pure laziness not to write UAB and then give the excuse that the readers don't know what the letters stand for. UAB is known all over the world for their medical research and hospital. I'm betting the author of the article wrote Alabama-Birmingham and is now blaming the editor. If not, then the editor is being lazy. I've seen multiple articles where they list the team as USC but don't explain if it is University of South Carolina or University of Southern California. I used Google or the content of the article to figure it out. Use UAB!!!
(09-20-2017 01:57 PM)GreenGiant67 Wrote: [ -> ]In this day and age, it isn't difficult for the reader to Google search what the acronym UAB means. They should use UAB period! It is just pure laziness not to write UAB and then give the excuse that the readers don't know what the letters stand for. UAB is known all over the world for their medical research and hospital. I'm betting the author of the article wrote Alabama-Birmingham and is now blaming the editor. If not, then the editor is being lazy. I've seen multiple articles where they list the team as USC but don't explain if it is University of South Carolina or University of Southern California. I used Google or the content of the article to figure it out. Use UAB!!!

i used to think the same thing...until i moved 900 miles away, working in the medical field, and realized how few people had any idea what UAB meant. i think you might also be very surprised how many people think UAB somehow stands for the University of Alabama.

I recently had a short magazine piece written about me and was told that I could review and give any input i wanted. it said that i went to Alabama-Birmingham. i told her that we much preferred to use the name UAB, and have it left at that. she said there was no way her editor would let that fly...we finally compromised on "went to college at UAB (The University of Alabama at Birmingham)"--so i find his excuse very realistic
(09-20-2017 06:50 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:22 PM)hooverblazer Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

At least the author was trying to do it correctly. Why would USA Today have a style book that knowingly conflicts with the own school's media guide? Seems like the style book is a relic that needs updating.

because many of their readers outside of the states UAB, ULM, ULL the GSU's et are located in have no idea what those letters stand for. UAB is not UCLA or USC

THIS! I moved to the West Coast and half of my wardrobe is UAB T shirts or polos. I have to explain what UAB is at least twice a day. It's hard to do it quickly without us sounding like a DII school
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

This doesn't make since to me. UNCC used to be called North Carlolina-Charlotte but are just called Charlotte by USA today now. How did they, get the name change?
(09-21-2017 05:34 PM)dragonzden Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-19-2017 04:17 PM)blazinrunner Wrote: [ -> ]I wrote the author of the article an email first thanking him for the mention and then sending him the description from UAB Media Guide regarding the name (We are UAB or University of Alabama at Birmingham etc.). His response was this:

"I get this a lot about a few teams ... UAB, UTSA, ULL, ULM. Unfortunately I've found we have a style book that says we have to write these names out on first reference. I hate it. So I sent that in as UAB but the editor changed it to Alabama-Birmingham. Wish that wasn't the case. But thanks for your note."

Interesting to see that first reference for them has to be Alabama-Birmingham.

This doesn't make since to me. UNCC used to be called North Carlolina-Charlotte but are just called Charlotte by USA today now. How did they, get the name change?

Charlotte is a well known city in North Carolina, no explanation needed.

Alabama-Birmingham, you know exactly where it is. Not so with UAB.
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