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So if the worst happens would watts be the first president of a div1 school to self impose a football death penalty on his own school? If so that might be a good talking point for public discourse.

Good football is good for uab and uab is good for the state of alabama.

In our southern culture the future impact of uab is much brighter with football than without. Sports such as soccer and bball are great but will always have lower public status and social impact than football.

The University of the Pacific gave up football years ago, but I don't know what division they were in.

Terminating football is not a singular event. It will have effects beyond that one program. The elimination of 85 male scholarships will have an effect on scholarships for females too. the national visibility of the whole school will be diminished and if the BOT is involved in the program's death, it will be nationally seen as less than intelligent.

I know from life experience that Alabamians are trained culturally not to care about national reputation, but combined with a perception of increased backwardness, might have results in getting businesses to locate in this state unless we can "buy" them with permanent tax breaks.

(11-07-2014 04:43 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  The University of the Pacific gave up football years ago, but I don't know what division they were in.

1A. The Big West

Pacific pulled the plug in 1995. At that time, they were in the "Big West" conference, which featured, Nevada, ULL, Utah State, Arkansas State, Northern Illinois, New Mexico State, San Jose State, La Tech, and UNLV.

(11-07-2014 04:43 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  The University of the Pacific gave up football years ago, but I don't know what division they were in.

Pacific was I-A.
Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton also gave up football in the 1980s. They both were I-A. I actually was at Fullerton when they quit. Nobody really cared. Long Beach State folks took it pretty hard. Neither has particularly prospered as an athletic program since, other than baseball and, to a point, softball and volleyball (at LBSU). But all those programs were also good at both school when football was still alive).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewanee:_Th...#Athletics

(11-07-2014 05:15 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewanee:_Th...#Athletics

Sewanee was a charter member of the SEC and a member for several years. One of its most famous FB coaches was Shirley Majors, the father of several prominent football coaches including Johnny Majors of the U of Tenn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Maroons_football

If Watts does pull the trigger, he will probably be the domino to start the talk for other FBS schools to close down their programs. He'll be a big hit with other fans

(11-07-2014 05:35 PM)rook360 Wrote:  If Watts does pull the trigger, he will probably be the domino to start the talk for other FBS schools to close down their programs. He'll be a big hit with other fans

I was thinking this as well...it reminds me of the "austerity economics" arguments that have done nothing to improve economies around the world. Cutting expenses does not and cannot lead directly to sustained growth, and the same can be said for athletics at a major university. Of course football is an expensive proposition, but it's also the most marketable and the one with the most potential financial upside. The revenue and prestige lost from the dismantling of the football program would directly impact basketball as well; it would not take long until the same arguments pushed by the BoT (supposed lack of fan interest and poor attendance) could become their argument to end or seriously damage the basketball program as well.

(11-07-2014 05:31 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 05:15 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewanee:_Th...#Athletics

Sewanee was a charter member of the SEC and a member for several years. One of its most famous FB coaches was Shirley Majors, the father of several prominent football coaches including Johnny Majors of the U of Tenn.

Up until the early 2000s when Tennessee did it, Sewanne was the only team to have beaten the Mighty Tahd 6 straight times...

Also, UCSB shut down their football program in 1992 I believe it was. Their football stadium is now used for soccer. I went to a game when I was out there. The school bookstore sells "UCSB Football... Undefeated since 1992" shirts.

(11-07-2014 04:56 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Terminating football is not a singular event. It will have effects beyond that one program. The elimination of 85 male scholarships will have an effect on scholarships for females too. the national visibility of the whole school will be diminished and if the BOT is involved in the program's death, it will be nationally seen as less than intelligent.

I know from life experience that Alabamians are trained culturally not to care about national reputation, but combined with a perception of increased backwardness, might have results in getting businesses to locate in this state unless we can "buy" them with permanent tax breaks.

Did you even read the question or did you just need an opportunity to post this somewhere?

Boston University killed football years ago.

(11-07-2014 05:31 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 05:15 PM)legalblazer Wrote:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewanee:_Th...#Athletics

Sewanee was a charter member of the SEC and a member for several years. One of its most famous FB coaches was Shirley Majors, the father of several prominent football coaches including Johnny Majors of the U of Tenn.

And the University of Pittsburgh.

Wichita State in the 80's.

Hawaii is or was considering it, but they're kind of a unique case.

Hofstra dropped theirs a few years ago I think.

Indiana State is seriously considering it after this year. I think Boston University quit football a couple of years ago. To my knowledge giving up football has not enhanced others sports at the university...

(11-07-2014 11:32 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Indiana State is seriously considering it after this year. I think Boston University quit football a couple of years ago. To my knowledge giving up football has not enhanced others sports at the university...

I know a guy who went to Boston U. He said giving up football killed their university donor program.

That would happen here too.

(11-08-2014 12:01 AM)the Dragon Wrote:  

(11-07-2014 11:32 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Indiana State is seriously considering it after this year. I think Boston University quit football a couple of years ago. To my knowledge giving up football has not enhanced others sports at the university...

I know a guy who went to Boston U. He said giving up football killed their university donor program.

That would happen here too.

Might want to check endowments of U.S. universities. They are 82 with endowments of more than 1 billion dollars (although some are systems UF, UTex, UMizzou, etc). One of the stand-alone universities in the list is Boston U. with an endowment of 1.3 billion (and it has increased from 2004--first year of the chart). Not saying some didn't stop giving--but it doesn't seem to have hurt them in any substantial way.