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

(11-06-2014 02:05 PM)BlazerPhil Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:26 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:21 PM)ICB Wrote:  Huntsville saved UAH's hockey program.

Guts and determination on their part, their Mayor(Battle) has a brass set!

Tommy Battle = Bill Battle's brother. I like Tommy, but don't trust him.

Actually they are cousins...from al.com article
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Bill Battle, the 71-year-old Atlanta businessman in line to replace retiring University of Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore, has deep family ties to Huntsville.

He is first cousins with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. Another cousin, Joe Battle, is a retired Madison County Circuit Court Judge. A sister, LeMerle, and nephew Rick Black - ironically, a former Auburn cheerleader -- also call the Rocket City home.

Tommy Battle said his father and Bill Battle's father - longtime Birmingham Southern Athletics Director Bill Battle Sr. -- were brothers.

(11-06-2014 02:03 PM)KSUBlazer Wrote:  Attalla,

I'm not sure you can post specific details here, but can you provide any additional insight as to your source and its reliability on this matter? PBJ openly lobbying for the closure of the program is a pretty significant escalation, even for a snake oil P.O.S. like him. Is there any reasonable chance that it's a misunderstanding or perhaps a misinterpretation of comments made recently?

Don't get me wrong, I hate the bastage as much as anyone can...he and his ilk have done more damage over the years to UAB than losing every football and basketball game ever could have.

No offense, but most people on this board need to learn that Attalla is not a 20-year-old pimply kid in his mom's basement moderating a fan message board. How much of his info, of which he shares a fraction, has to be proven fact before you'll drop the "skepticism" and fight when he tells you it's time to fight? Donate when he tells you the time is critical?

(11-06-2014 01:38 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:17 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:11 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Don't take this the wrong way but what can y'all do about it? It's just a really f'd up situation all around.

It's a good question, and rather perplexing if you're on the outside looking in as a lot of UAB Football fans feel they are, like myself. Is East Carolina's Board Of Regents/Trustees connected all the way to state house in North Carolina as it appears to be here in Alabama with UAB/ua? If not, it's no wonder your football program has evolved and flourished like it has.

Yes, all NC pubic universities are part of one system. Alabama at least has more than one but you're on the wrong side. We were fortunate enough to have had excellent leadership in the 70's that pushed really hard for our football program and medical school. There's also not a cult-like college football following in our state either. Maybe that's the biggest difference.

Don't get me wrong, UNC takes more than their fair share of the pie but NCSU, ECU and UNCC are treated somewhat fairly in comparison to y'all.

At least all have our own Board of Trustees. The BoG generally goes along with whatever the BoT of each campus decides as long as they aren't requesting additional money from the state or anything like that.

When Erskine Bowles was the BoG president, we were trying to start football. He said he was fine with whatever our trustees. I believe he was also asked about a name change to University of Charlotte and he was fine with that as well (but I may be making this up after convincing myself it actually happened, I can't remember for sure).

Charlotte is treated the worst of the big 4 in the state (we don't have anyone on the BoG to represent us), but we're treated like royalty compared to UAB.

(11-06-2014 01:53 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:47 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:38 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:17 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:11 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Don't take this the wrong way but what can y'all do about it? It's just a really f'd up situation all around.

It's a good question, and rather perplexing if you're on the outside looking in as a lot of UAB Football fans feel they are, like myself. Is East Carolina's Board Of Regents/Trustees connected all the way to state house in North Carolina as it appears to be here in Alabama with UAB/ua? If not, it's no wonder your football program has evolved and flourished like it has.

Yes, all NC pubic universities are part of one system. Alabama at least has more than one but you're on the wrong side. We were fortunate enough to have had excellent leadership in the 70's that pushed really hard for our football program and medical school. There's also not a cult-like college football following in our state either. Maybe that's the biggest difference.

Don't get me wrong, UNC takes more than their fair share of the pie but NCSU, ECU and UNCC are treated somewhat fairly in comparison to y'all.

On the surface at least, that sounds like the system used in Florida for all state universities. No one state school has special power over another state school. That difference from the "fiefdom organization" like we have in Alabama may have more to do with the growth of their several schools than just a difference in population - or state wealth.

Yes, it's pretty similar. Of course the flagship and landgrant will get the biggest slices of the pie from the state BUT we've got our own BOT and are allowed a good amount of autonomy. For example, we've got approval to expand our stadium to 60K provided we can raise the funds for it.

EDIT - And you root for 'Bama?

Yes, I want the Bama teams to have success because they are not involved in any administrative assassination of UAB's programs. Now the system BOT is a different matter. As Anthony Grant stated during the Knox BB transfer mess, "That decision (to block Knox's transfer to UAB) was made at a level above me". He did not say how far above him - AD to BOT - the decision to block was made. As far as I know, the decisions about playing UAB have never been discussed by any players in any sport at Bama.

FYI - I go back to the 1950s as a Bama fan, long decades before a UAB team ever existed. I graduated from Bama in 1963 (and added a MA from UAB in 1972) and I am a Coach Bryant fan though he was wrong about opposing UAB FB in his later years. I feel he was more "pro Bama" than "anti UAB" in his opinions (Remember that he died about a decade before UAB played its first D1 FB game).

(11-06-2014 01:13 PM)nicknitro19 Wrote:  Well I need some hard evidence because I am skeptical of this. Bryant Jr already has the power to shut us down why does he need the Governor?

I agree. I doubt seriously the Governor would want this type of mess on his hands.

Ask him. (If you can get him to return messages because he doesn't) All I can do is report what my sources have given me. I can't step into their minds.

Bryant Jr doesn't want to make it appear that it is coming from him.

(11-06-2014 02:22 PM)blzrclub80 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:13 PM)nicknitro19 Wrote:  Well I need some hard evidence because I am skeptical of this. Bryant Jr already has the power to shut us down why does he need the Governor?

I agree. I doubt seriously the Governor would want this type of mess on his hands.

Never met the Guv…. but don't underestimate what the dark forces can do. yes sir, I see little bear trying to pull the trigger. And I'd bet a donut to a nickel that the Guv will jump. If the Guv wants to retire in peace, he'll have to accommodate little bear's wishes – or the Guv will have to move out of state for his retirement.

Little bear has seen what Clark can do. Clark is lb's biggest enemy right now. Clark is giving folks around here hope and encouragement. lb can't stand for that. He has to make his move NOW before Clark has more success, which he most certainly will.

(11-06-2014 02:26 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Bryant Jr doesn't want to make it appear that it is coming from him.

He's not fooling anybody.

(11-06-2014 01:50 PM)Montgomery Blazer Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:35 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  He is also a member of and big fan of the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

"If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that motivated your Confederate ancestor, the SCV needs you. The memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier, as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice, are being consciously distorted by some in an attempt to alter history. Unless the descendants of Southern soldiers resist those efforts, a unique part of our nations' cultural heritage will cease to exist."
Columbia, Tennessee 38402-0059

What does that have to do with anything?

Well it is...
"is dedicated to the promotion of traditional Southern ideals ... to hold in perpetual remembrance all that was great and good."

Precisely what about 1860 Alabama was "great and good" that was lost as a result of the Civil War?

(11-06-2014 02:15 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 02:03 PM)KSUBlazer Wrote:  Attalla,

I'm not sure you can post specific details here, but can you provide any additional insight as to your source and its reliability on this matter? PBJ openly lobbying for the closure of the program is a pretty significant escalation, even for a snake oil P.O.S. like him. Is there any reasonable chance that it's a misunderstanding or perhaps a misinterpretation of comments made recently?

Don't get me wrong, I hate the bastage as much as anyone can...he and his ilk have done more damage over the years to UAB than losing every football and basketball game ever could have.

No offense, but most people on this board need to learn that Attalla is not a 20-year-old pimply kid in his mom's basement moderating a fan message board. How much of his info, of which he shares a fraction, has to be proven fact before you'll drop the "skepticism" and fight when he tells you it's time to fight? Donate when he tells you the time is critical?

None taken, but it always helps to understand the problem in front of you with the most details available. For instance, if Attalla had obtained a copy of a damning letter signed by PBJ and Finis, that's easily something to use to go out and persuade others. It's hard proof of shenanigans that go beyond something that can be dismissed as paranoia.

On the other hand, no matter how reliable the source (and certainly no offense to Attalla or any of the other guys that are closer to the horse's mouth than most of us), if it's a verbal conversation relayed second or third hand, the offending parties have that plausible deniability and can more or less pretend it's all a tempest in a teapot that will go away in a few weeks so they can get back to scheming.

Much more than doubting Attalla, or even playing devil's advocate, I'm a tax/accounting guy, so I have a very conservative approach to how I interpret data. The more specific data I have in hand, the better I can respond to a situation. Currently, we know the following information that can be independently confirmed:
1) Carr Associates et al have been commissioned to do a study pertaining to UAB athletics
2) It APPEARS to be at the behest of the administration, not the BoT (again, something independently confirmed regardless of what we believe to be the reality)
3) We do not have any football activities confirmed beyond fall of 2015.
4) We have not received assurances one way or the other from parties in official capacities.

These things, at a minimum, add up to an incomplete picture. They do not in and of themselves equal PBJ petitioning the Guv'nor for the ending of UAB football. As I stated elsewhere, that's a dramatic step even for him. So, if there are additional details that can shed light on all of the specific goings-on in this sordid story, the more that we know (without possibly subjecting someone to termination of employment if it's a matter of legal confidentiality), the better we can react, including the coordination of a response that has an actual impact.

So, again, no offense to any of the guys with knowledge, and I certainly take none at your comment - it's not that I doubt the info so far, but instead that I believe a paper trail or recording or equally convincing evidence is how we persuade those who are not already on our side to HAVE to pay attention. Until we have something concrete (either evidence or a response from Watts acknowledging that UAB football is on the line), we have a propensity for people to start believing we are the football fandom that cried "Wolf!". If we are preparing for a battle against politicians and board members, we are well served to have concise, persuasive data on our side. It's not the Bammers we have to persuade, it's the people who have the power to shine the light on the cockroaches who run the system.

I realize not everyone agrees with me, and I accept that we can have differences of opinion, but I do think we all love UAB and UAB football and want to make sure it succeeds.

(11-06-2014 02:22 PM)blzrclub80 Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:13 PM)nicknitro19 Wrote:  Well I need some hard evidence because I am skeptical of this. Bryant Jr already has the power to shut us down why does he need the Governor?

I agree. I doubt seriously the Governor would want this type of mess on his hands.

The Governor won't be campaigning again, its his second term. Oh, by the way, PBJ was his campaign manager in the first election.

One, the Governor is the nominal head of the BoT. Two, this whole thing was being orchestrated so that the BoT, and PBJ in particular, could accept the UAB President's recommendation to close UAB Football in the name of fiscal responsibility. It sets up as Watts ordering a study - and I cynically think that often the person who pays for a study tends to get the desired report. He publicly mentions that the football program might be closed, which kills Bill Clark's most crucial recruiting class and lets teams recruit against us by saying we won't even HAVE a team. Watts then goes to the board at the February meeting and presents the report and requests the program be closed in the name of financial responsibility.

PBJ looks very sad and says it is his duty to close the UAB Football program at the request of the UAB President. His hands are clean (riiiiight) as he walks away from his final meeting before his forced retirement due to his age with the scalp of UAB Football on his belt. So sad.

Of course, this implies a little dirty back room dealing, and we all know that the BoT is above such things.

This falls in line with what I posted last night that Dr. Watt's may be using the study to go to the BOT to justify building the OCS. The group doing the study has done well by UAB by bring in HC Clark. PBJ may see the writing on the wall and is trying to preempt something he doesn't want to see the light of day because it might force the BOT hand and result in approving the OCS. It this is actually what PBJ has done, the Governor should immediately through him off the UA BOT because he does not have the best interest of UAB in mind in his actions!

(11-06-2014 02:41 PM)Montgomery Blazer Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 02:33 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:50 PM)Montgomery Blazer Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:35 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  He is also a member of and big fan of the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

"If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that motivated your Confederate ancestor, the SCV needs you. The memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier, as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice, are being consciously distorted by some in an attempt to alter history. Unless the descendants of Southern soldiers resist those efforts, a unique part of our nations' cultural heritage will cease to exist."
Columbia, Tennessee 38402-0059

What does that have to do with anything?

Well it is...
"is dedicated to the promotion of traditional Southern ideals ... to hold in perpetual remembrance all that was great and good."

Precisely what about 1860 Alabama was "great and good" that was lost as a result of the Civil War?

The Confederates were freedom fighters.

go a-w-a-y.

Ok, that did it. No matter how you trolled I have never given you negative rep. You damn sure get it now.

I'm in no mood for your tripe today, troll.

Agreed. This is no time for BS-ing.

Time to fight.

For those of you questioning Attalla. I have known him for years. He knows a *lot* of people, and he hears a lot of things. Many times he hears things and tells no one, or only a few people he can trust to keep their yaps shut. That respect for confidential information is why he continues to hear things.

On something this important, at a time as sensitive and crucial as this, there is no way in hell he would have posted that on the front page of Blazertalk unless he was damned certain of his source.

(11-06-2014 02:00 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(11-06-2014 01:40 PM)imjustafatkid Wrote:  All I can think about through all this is how badly all this talk is going to hurt Coach Clark when it comes to recruiting. There have been no official statements saying UAB football is being shut down so why are we talking about it? What recruit would commit to a football team he believes won't exist past 2016? This is perfect fuel for negative recruiting and we have given it to our opponents all on our own based purely on a study that hasn't even been released yet.

YOU can go pound sand, fatkid, and go back to your Bammer board. What you were "skeptical" ever happened, regardless of how many people took the time to explain to you that it did, is now happening in front of your fat face. Your idols are being exposed for what they really are. I faced the decision nearly 2 decades ago over whether I wanted to be associated with people of that ilk or 100% support the kids and fans at UAB busting their ass to succeed the RIGHT way in the face of extreme prejudice. It's your choice and I don't give a ****, but don't expect to waddle around this board with your head up your fat ass and get a free pass.

Idols? This is amateur college football. I don't have any idols here. You're crazy dude.

Edit: We also don't have any idea what will happen until the report is released next month.

What will the feasability study show? For starters it is towards the entire academic program and cutting football will cause us to lose our conference standings with other sports like basketball and soccer. I think the positive momentum of football and this fact about conference affiliation will lead the study to conclude support for football must continue. This is the same firm that hired Bill Clark as well. I am worried but I don't see the reason to go to defcon 4 yet.