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

Sources tell me Rick Heartsill of Direct Communications is who they are hearing as the person and firm contracted to manage the Ray Watts crisis. Heartsill apparently managed a crisis at Auburn a while back.

AND THIS FROM AL.COM ON JAN.21, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Direct Communications has moved from Cahaba Heights to its new home in downtown Birmingham.

Direct Communications is now headquartered at 2316 First Ave. South, Suite C, adjacent to the planned $4.5 million Rotary Trail extension of Railroad Park.

“We are thrilled to be downtown, and thrilled even more to be connected to the new greenway,” said Collier Craft, senior vice president of Direct Communications. “With the park, baseball field and now the extension of the park, this is an exciting time for Birmingham’s Southside, and we are happy to be part of it.”

The strategic public relations firm is led by Rick Heartsill, who founded Direct Communications in 1992. It does consulting and public relations work for clients statewide, including businesses, associations, nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Direct Communications also includes senior account managers A.J. Jongewaard, Robin DeMonia and Eddie Lard, as well as chief operating officer Charlotte Smith.

#30#

So, to review, Direct Communications is THRILLED to be on Southside now, but they've been hired to help torpedo the revitalization of Southside.

Go to work gentlemen.

When you can't lead you hire a PR firm. I'm buying stock in cosmetics because they are going to need a trainload of lipstick for this pig.

During the stadium debacle, AJ was on our side. Funny how money talks.

IF it's true, who's paying for this?

(12-12-2014 11:57 AM)BlazerRob Wrote:  When you can't lead you hire a PR firm. I'm buying stock in cosmetics because they are going to need a trainload of lipstick for this pig.

What we need to do is fight fire with fire. The UAB Football Foundation should hire a PR Firm to help push this issue locally and nationally. It's so blatantly disgusting what Watts & BOTs have done, and are planning to do. This is f---- war, gentlemen. Adapt or die.

A waste of money. Watts is a doctor and he is too arrogant to heed their advice. Keep up the pressure and he will continue doing what he has done so well these past few weeks.

Oh, there is no doubt this is war.

Seriously though. What can a PR firm do? All they can do is basically tell Watts to hunker down and hope this blows over.

(12-12-2014 12:04 PM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 11:57 AM)BlazerRob Wrote:  When you can't lead you hire a PR firm. I'm buying stock in cosmetics because they are going to need a trainload of lipstick for this pig.

What we need to do is fight fire with fire. The UAB Football Foundation should hire a PR Firm to help push this issue locally and nationally. It's so blatantly disgusting what Watts & BOTs have done, and are planning to do. This is f---- war, gentlemen. Adapt or die.

I wouldn't even go that far.

Dr. Watts, by himself, is our best agent in efforts of PR. Every time he releases a statement or shows up somewhere, he generates the exact kind of scrutiny that he is trying to avoid.

There are people mining away as we speak and, bit by bit, getting closer and closer to the truth of the matter. No what kind of PR firm he hires, they can't change the truth. They can obscure at best, but the truth is there. No amount of money, people trolling in comments, or rehashed talking points will change that.

I can hear them now "Shelter in place!!" Just look at the bunker, the building formerly referred to as the Administration Building, how can you PR your way out of such?

(12-12-2014 12:28 PM)Hopeful Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 12:04 PM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 11:57 AM)BlazerRob Wrote:  When you can't lead you hire a PR firm. I'm buying stock in cosmetics because they are going to need a trainload of lipstick for this pig.

What we need to do is fight fire with fire. The UAB Football Foundation should hire a PR Firm to help push this issue locally and nationally. It's so blatantly disgusting what Watts & BOTs have done, and are planning to do. This is f---- war, gentlemen. Adapt or die.

I wouldn't even go that far.

Dr. Watts, by himself, is our best agent in efforts of PR. Every time he releases a statement or shows up somewhere, he generates the exact kind of scrutiny that he is trying to avoid.

There are people mining away as we speak and, bit by bit, getting closer and closer to the truth of the matter. No what kind of PR firm he hires, they can't change the truth. They can obscure at best, but the truth is there. No amount of money, people trolling in comments, or rehashed talking points will change that.

* Or doesn't show up somewhere *

What can a PR firm do? Ever watch "Scandal"?

They can tell him to stay in his office and keep his big flappy mouth shut, for a start.

A PR firm can try to keep him from making more mistakes and that's a shame because he was the best player on our side.

Can someone find out who is paying the bill? If it is UAB, that will be another PR debacle for him. If it is someone connected with the BOT, all the better. If it is Watts himself, at least we will have the satisfaction that we are costing him money.

Is the name, "Eddie Lard" on that list just a coincidence, or is it the same Eddie Lard that used to write for the Birmingham "Noose?" I hope it's not the one I have in mind, can't imagine him being in on this crap to try and polish this turd!

(12-12-2014 11:49 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  Sources tell me Rick Heartsill of Direct Communications is who they are hearing as the person and firm contracted to manage the Ray Watts crisis. Heartsill apparently managed a crisis at Auburn a while back.

AND THIS FROM AL.COM ON JAN.21, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Direct Communications has moved from Cahaba Heights to its new home in downtown Birmingham.

Direct Communications is now headquartered at 2316 First Ave. South, Suite C, adjacent to the planned $4.5 million Rotary Trail extension of Railroad Park.

“We are thrilled to be downtown, and thrilled even more to be connected to the new greenway,” said Collier Craft, senior vice president of Direct Communications. “With the park, baseball field and now the extension of the park, this is an exciting time for Birmingham’s Southside, and we are happy to be part of it.”

The strategic public relations firm is led by Rick Heartsill, who founded Direct Communications in 1992. It does consulting and public relations work for clients statewide, including businesses, associations, nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Direct Communications also includes senior account managers A.J. Jongewaard, Robin DeMonia and Eddie Lard, as well as chief operating officer Charlotte Smith.

#30#

So, to review, Direct Communications is THRILLED to be on Southside now, but they've been hired to help torpedo the revitalization of Southside.

Go to work gentlemen.

This is like buying a bullet-proof vest after you've already been shot multiple times. Watts should get in touch with 50 Cent cuz he can probably relate!

(12-12-2014 02:21 PM)EnviroBlazerD Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 11:49 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  Sources tell me Rick Heartsill of Direct Communications is who they are hearing as the person and firm contracted to manage the Ray Watts crisis. Heartsill apparently managed a crisis at Auburn a while back.

AND THIS FROM AL.COM ON JAN.21, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Direct Communications has moved from Cahaba Heights to its new home in downtown Birmingham.

Direct Communications is now headquartered at 2316 First Ave. South, Suite C, adjacent to the planned $4.5 million Rotary Trail extension of Railroad Park.

“We are thrilled to be downtown, and thrilled even more to be connected to the new greenway,” said Collier Craft, senior vice president of Direct Communications. “With the park, baseball field and now the extension of the park, this is an exciting time for Birmingham’s Southside, and we are happy to be part of it.”

The strategic public relations firm is led by Rick Heartsill, who founded Direct Communications in 1992. It does consulting and public relations work for clients statewide, including businesses, associations, nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Direct Communications also includes senior account managers A.J. Jongewaard, Robin DeMonia and Eddie Lard, as well as chief operating officer Charlotte Smith.

#30#

So, to review, Direct Communications is THRILLED to be on Southside now, but they've been hired to help torpedo the revitalization of Southside.

Go to work gentlemen.

This is like buying a bullet-proof vest after you've already been shot multiple times. Watts should get in touch with 50 Cent cuz he can probably relate!

(12-12-2014 11:49 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  Sources tell me Rick Heartsill of Direct Communications is who they are hearing as the person and firm contracted to manage the Ray Watts crisis. Heartsill apparently managed a crisis at Auburn a while back.

AND THIS FROM AL.COM ON JAN.21, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Direct Communications has moved from Cahaba Heights to its new home in downtown Birmingham.

Direct Communications is now headquartered at 2316 First Ave. South, Suite C, adjacent to the planned $4.5 million Rotary Trail extension of Railroad Park.

“We are thrilled to be downtown, and thrilled even more to be connected to the new greenway,” said Collier Craft, senior vice president of Direct Communications. “With the park, baseball field and now the extension of the park, this is an exciting time for Birmingham’s Southside, and we are happy to be part of it.”

The strategic public relations firm is led by Rick Heartsill, who founded Direct Communications in 1992. It does consulting and public relations work for clients statewide, including businesses, associations, nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Direct Communications also includes senior account managers A.J. Jongewaard, Robin DeMonia and Eddie Lard, as well as chief operating officer Charlotte Smith.

#30#

So, to review, Direct Communications is THRILLED to be on Southside now, but they've been hired to help torpedo the revitalization of Southside.

Go to work gentlemen.

That is also the name I heard.

Any open billboards near/on UAB? Would be awesome to have #FreeUAB #FireWatts billboard(s) on campus for him to see every day.

I'd like one on I-20 so Tuscaloosa traffic got the benefit as well.

Birmingham, there appears to be another "fungus" among us trying to slow or stop any kind of upward momentum, and Watts and his BOT lords and masters did a bang up job on that with what they did to UAB Football...