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

There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

Who do you want as AD instead ?

Remember, Dr. Watts and the BOT get to pick.

As weak as Mackin may be percieved right now, he is our best hope.

Mackin has been compromised. If he's our best hope, it's over.

(11-08-2014 07:46 PM)tibber Wrote:  Mackin has been compromised. If he's our best hope, it's over.

Dude, you've had us dead and buried for years.

Ever see Platoon?

"I was wrong!"
"You ain't never been right about nothin'!"

Yeah.

That said, I do not trust Brian Mackin anymore. It's obvious he is working for the enemy.

I have three degrees from UAB and so does my wife but the decision is made to discontinue the football program I think I'm done as well. We have no control over our own university and that's the kicker. My son loves UAB, if this negative idea advances forward I can't see myself recommending to my son the university on the south side. This is truly painful!

(11-08-2014 07:20 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

same for me

(11-08-2014 09:29 PM)UABFRENCHY Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 07:20 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

same for me

That's what should be happening right now.

Ive Said it before, will say it again... No football... no support... Period!

(11-08-2014 09:29 PM)UABFRENCHY Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 07:20 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

same for me

Have you told Mackin yet Frenchy? I have have asked Brad to pass on my message, but I intend to talk to him personally Monday.

I sent Brad an email, CC'ing Mackin stating my intent.

I rode a bicycle with Frenchy from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa in 2011. It was in the rain in protest of the stadium debacle. The frailty of the fight from our administration was more than I displayed on my bike. Geez. Frenchy can ride! I will not endure wasted effort and money anymore. I'm with Cajun and Frenchy. The rarity and lack of justification for the measure of eliminating an FBS program would signal to me that we cannot win without major changes to our self control. This president is clearly a pawn. I miss the leadership, wisdom, and backbone of his predecessors. Much has changed in my life in the last year. The exciting new era in UAB athletics" would be minus myself.

Not only no football, no me, but no football directed by Coach Clark, no me.

I pretty much told the both of them #2 in my email to them last week.

(11-09-2014 02:06 AM)od4uab Wrote:  I rode a bicycle with Frenchy from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa in 2011. It was in the rain in protest of the stadium debacle. The frailty of the fight from our administration was more than I displayed on my bike. Geez. Frenchy can ride! I will not endure wasted effort and money anymore. I'm with Cajun and Frenchy. The rarity and lack of justification for the measure of eliminating an FBS program would signal to me that we cannot win without major changes to our self control. This president is clearly a pawn. I miss the leadership, wisdom, and backbone of his predecessors. Much has changed in my life in the last year. The exciting new era in UAB athletics" would be minus myself.

Agree 100 %

Many of us must choose what UAB funding we will support since we get solicitations from so many parts every year and our funds are so limited. I stepped up to Blazer Club at the Club level at Legion Field so that my wife can use the elevator and not the stairs or ramps. If there is no football, there will not be any impulse to move that funding to another school area. I can find personal uses for the money that will be more immediately beneficial.

(11-08-2014 07:20 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

Cajun, Mackin makes a lot more than $300k. I agree also. If UAB football is gone, then I hope he is also. If UAB football survives, then I hope the President fixes the overpriced salary situation and reduces staff in the department to cut cost.

As we know, athletic salaries are set by the prevailing rate in the field for each job area. Now one can argue whether a particular administrator or coach is over or under paid, but in general their pay is set by what "everybody else at our level of school is making for that job".

As with teachers, one can get "someone" to work for whatever you wish to pay, but you may not get the quality of persons you want - only the ones you can get.

It is my feeling that if UAB doesn't come to some kind of decision by this winter, we may be finding out who we can get to replace who we presently have - and we might not like our choices.

(11-09-2014 10:44 PM)RBB Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 07:20 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  There is too much smoke, including Watt's non-denial, for there not to be flames somewhere. In the corporate world when a company wants to make a decision which will be very unpopular, they often hire a consultant to tell them to make it in order to deflect blame. Then, when people get hurt they can say, "It's not personal, it was a necessary financial decision; it was data driven".

I'll bet there is one set of data that the consulting company is not currently considering because it would "complicate" their calculations. That is the effect of the death of UAB football on booster financial support. We have taken one BOT hit after another and if we lose this fight for many it will be the last straw. The university president and AD are not only failing to defend the program, they are instead actively participating in its destruction. Some defend Mackin saying he is "a UAB man". Then why isn't his $300,000 a year salary starting to feel like 30 pieces of silver in his pocket. We have to make the administration understand that they can't expect us to allow the BOT to screw us over one last time, and this time royally, and still prop up their athletic program.

I saw posts from many on this board that if Watts and the BOT do away with UAB football, they are gone and I completely understand why they feel that way. I have one last good fight in me, but if we lose this one, I'm done, because there will no longer be anything to fight for. UAB football will be gone, and UAB basketball will be so diminished to the point we won't even recognize it. Gene Bartow's dream will be dead, and so will mine. I cannot continue to contribute thousands of dollars a year to and leave a sizable portion of my estate to an athletic administration which will not fight for its program and its fans. Oh, it will hurt, and it will hurt a lot for a long time. I love UAB athletics, and without it a part of me will wither away and die. Hopefully I will eventually find other causes on which to spend my time and my money.

But meanwhile there is at least one last fight to fight, and I intend to give it my all. I truly believe that the only things these guys understand it the loss of power and/or money. So in my humble opinion here is what we should do:

1) We should call our state senators and state representatives and tell them that it is time for the Birmingham and Huntsville delegations to pull both UAB and UAH out of the UA system and provide them with separate Boards of Trustees. The threat of losing the UAB's cash alone may be enough, but if it isn’t they should pull the trigger so UAB can finally grow to its true potential.

2) If you are a financial supporter of UAB, write both Mackin and Watts and remind them how much you give yearly to their program and how much you had intended to give in the future. Then promise them that you and your money are gone if they cut football. If enough boosters do that, it will get their attention and blow out their carefully planned calculations. They know that an athletic program cannot survive without booster financial support. They also know that a campus environment cannot thrive without an athletic program and a university cannot grow and thrive without a good campus environment.

Yep, I know I am calling drastic action. Some will say it is threatening to kill the baby in order to save it. But these are drastic times and the baby is going to die any way or at best be condemned to live a miserable existence if it lives, so what does it matter. If you don't like my tactics, use your own, but this is the last game,. We have to leave everything on the field!

Cajun

Cajun, Mackin makes a lot more than $300k. I agree also. If UAB football is gone, then I hope he is also. If UAB football survives, then I hope the President fixes the overpriced salary situation and reduces staff in the department to cut cost.

His salary is $25,750 a month = $309,000 a year. He may have other sources of income though.

I am still very unclear of what y'all expect Brian to do ?


You expect him to ride out and retake Osgiliath ?