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

I believe that ending football is a political game by the board of trustees to gain UAB support. If football is called to return after Watts resigns then I am afraid all of this was played in a way to glorify the BoTs. Imagine these chain of events:

-Ray Watts Resigns
-Football is reinstated and the BoTs don't comment.
*This makes the #freeuab movement look like conspiracy theorists. And essentially kills the movement for an independent BoT.
-Blame is shifted to Ray Watts for mismanagement of the University.
-Football, although it is back, is crippled and no longer a "threat" to the UA BoT control of the UAB system.
-Rinse and repeat in 10 years.

We need to end this fight now. And I think that accrediation is our only weapon to fight the powers that be.

That would be an interesting way for things to play out. I'm not sure what would happen if the other side suddenly let go of the proverbial tug-o-war rope while we continued to pull...

I respectfully disagree. The level of activism regarding this issue by everyone from the so called average joe (or josie) on the street, to some of the more high profile political leaders in this state is at an all time high, IMO, it doesn't matter if the BOT backs off in the midst of the maelstrom that they and Watts have orchestrated. They have sown the fire, now they will reap the Inferno. Getting our sports programs back and getting Watts the hell outta here will be damn good, but not enough to settle. Not now. Remember that line Clint Eastwood uttered in the movie, "Gran Torino" to those bullies on the street corner?..."you know that one somebody that you know in your heart and mind you shouldn't have (bleeped) with? Well, that'd be me!" That's us now...Keeping them at a distance will not suffice, they must be completely and irrevocably removed from our lives permanently! The only way to do that is to push hard and relentlessly for passage of legislation to establish our own board of trustees or complete separation from those (bleepers) in Tuscaloosa! Either one works fine for me, both would be serious cause for celebration, I also want and hope to see the bill pass that allows for a trustee behaving badly to have his/her *** bounced from their position, like these toadstools have been doing to UAH and UAB for far too (bleeping) long! ....They started this....It's up to us to finish it...Once and for all! Blazer & Charger Nation has to scorch the Earth with these bastages!

I don't think so at all.

If that was the case, they would have removed Dr. Watts immediately after the decision, reinstated the teams, and approved the OCS and facilities. Not only would it have looked like Dr. Watts acted on his own, it would have quelled the argument concerning them not caring about UAB football. If this was a play to garner good will, then they misjudged the window by an extreme degree. They're right there with Dr. Watts right now, and, if they nipped this early on, then perhaps some of the stories concerning Mackin feeling the need to run things by some board members and the turf being denied wouldn't have hit al.com.

I still think that the loss of those athletic teams is really just starting line in their ambitions to selectively degrade the university for multiple reasons.

(01-14-2015 07:47 PM)Matrix Wrote:  I respectfully disagree. The level of activism regarding this issue by everyone from the so called average joe (or josie) on the street, to some of the more high profile political leaders in this state is at an all time high, IMO, it doesn't matter if the BOT backs off in the midst of the maelstrom that they and Watts have orchestrated. They have sown the fire, now they will reap the Inferno. Getting our sports programs back and getting Watts the hell outta here will be damn good, but not enough to settle. Not now. Remember that line Clint Eastwood uttered in the movie, "Gran Torino" to those bullies on the street corner?..."you know that one somebody that you know in your heart and mind you shouldn't have (bleeped) with? Well, that'd be me!" That's us now...Keeping them at a distance will not suffice, they must complete and irrevocably removed from our lives permanently! The only way to do that is to push hard and relentlessly for passage of legislation to establish our own board of trustees or complete separation from those (bleepers) in Tuscaloosa! Either one works fine for me, both would be serious cause for celebration, I also want and hope to see the bill pass that allows for a trustee behaving badly to have his/her *** bounced from their position, like these toadstools have been doing to UAH and UAB for far too (bleeping) long! ....They started this....It's up to us to finish it...Once and for all! Blazer & Charger Nation has to scorch the Earth with these bastages!

Here's to you Matrix.
[/quote]They started this....It's up to us to finish it...Once and for all! Blazer & Charger Nation has to scorch the Earth with these bastages!

There is no way #freeuab is dismissed as a conspiracy anymore. I believe we are getting momentum in the local media, but the legislature is where it counts.

(01-14-2015 07:47 PM)Matrix Wrote:  I respectfully disagree. The level of activism regarding this issue by everyone from the so called average joe (or josie) on the street, to some of the more high profile political leaders in this state is at an all time high, IMO, it doesn't matter if the BOT backs off in the midst of the maelstrom that they and Watts have orchestrated. They have sown the fire, now they will reap the Inferno. Getting our sports programs back and getting Watts the hell outta here will be damn good, but not enough to settle. Not now. Remember that line Clint Eastwood uttered in the movie, "Gran Torino" to those bullies on the street corner?..."you know that one somebody that you know in your heart and mind you shouldn't have (bleeped) with? Well, that'd be me!" That's us now...Keeping them at a distance will not suffice, they must complete and irrevocably removed from our lives permanently! The only way to do that is to push hard and relentlessly for passage of legislation to establish our own board of trustees or complete separation from those (bleepers) in Tuscaloosa! Either one works fine for me, both would be serious cause for celebration, I also want and hope to see the bill pass that allows for a trustee behaving badly to have his/her *** bounced from their position, like these toadstools have been doing to UAH and UAB for far too (bleeping) long! ....They started this....It's up to us to finish it...Once and for all! Blazer & Charger Nation has to scorch the Earth with these bastages!

I do not disagree, but I do believe that media can and will play its hand in our game. I'm not sure that we will be provocative enough to warrant attention if we've essentially "gotten what we asked for". I am a previous blazer who left to serve the US Navy and this school is my only real tie other than family to the state of Alabama. I hope to keep this tie strong, because I had a damn good time while I was there. I want better from UAB than the UA BoTs will ever do for us.

If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

(01-14-2015 07:34 PM)kparden Wrote:  I believe that ending football is a political game by the board of trustees to gain UAB support. If football is called to return after Watts resigns then I am afraid all of this was played in a way to glorify the BoTs. Imagine these chain of events:

-Ray Watts Resigns
-Football is reinstated and the BoTs don't comment.
*This makes the #freeuab movement look like conspiracy theorists. And essentially kills the movement for an independent BoT.
-Blame is shifted to Ray Watts for mismanagement of the University.
-Football, although it is back, is crippled and no longer a "threat" to the UA BoT control of the UAB system.
-Rinse and repeat in 10 years.

We need to end this fight now. And I think that accrediation is our only weapon to fight the powers that be.

I think you're giving them way too much credit. If they want their will to be done, it will be done. They don't need 10-15 year timelines and schemes to do it.

(01-14-2015 08:04 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

I've been away for over a year now without a visit cause I'm stationed in Charleston, SC. I don't doubt that I'm missing the extent of this movement and I hope and wish you guys the best fighting the fight. Wish I could join it.

(01-14-2015 08:14 PM)kparden Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:04 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

I've been away for over a year now without a visit cause I'm stationed in Charleston, SC. I don't doubt that I'm missing the extent of this movement and I hope and wish you guys the best fighting the fight. Wish I could join it.

You just joined :) Welcome aboard and thank you for your service!

Believe me we're not all fighting from Birmingham. The fact that you're here in this forum with us it good enough.

(01-14-2015 08:14 PM)kparden Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:04 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

I've been away for over a year now without a visit cause I'm stationed in Charleston, SC. I don't doubt that I'm missing the extent of this movement and I hope and wish you guys the best fighting the fight. Wish I could join it.

Are you USAF or USN (or something else)?

(01-14-2015 08:22 PM)USAFBlazerFan Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:14 PM)kparden Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:04 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

I've been away for over a year now without a visit cause I'm stationed in Charleston, SC. I don't doubt that I'm missing the extent of this movement and I hope and wish you guys the best fighting the fight. Wish I could join it.

Are you USAF or USN (or something else)?

I am at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command aspiring to become a bubblehead nuclear operator. About to hit my first year in.

Squid, meet Zoomie. >grin<

Welcome aboard. Thank you sincerely for your service.

I can't help it, I have the smartass gene.

Sorry, some of us locals don't realize that others don't see all of the local news.

I think hopefully when all is said & done the BOT's & Watts' plan will backfire on them.

Ahhh... My best friend in HS was a nuc and some of my students are former nucs. Good luck!

Football & Politics go hand and hand in this state.

(01-14-2015 08:20 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:14 PM)kparden Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 08:04 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  If you don't think the media has been playing a hand in this game you haven't been paying attention. I don't mean that as a slap at you, kparden, but we've gotten more and better media coverage since the shutdown than ever before.

I've been away for over a year now without a visit cause I'm stationed in Charleston, SC. I don't doubt that I'm missing the extent of this movement and I hope and wish you guys the best fighting the fight. Wish I could join it.

You just joined :) Welcome aboard and thank you for your service!

Believe me we're not all fighting from Birmingham. The fact that you're here in this forum with us it good enough.

Amen. Fighting from Marietta, GA here. Welcome to the fight for dear old UAB.

Much thanks for your serving our nation kparden.

(01-14-2015 08:31 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  Squid, meet Zoomie. >grin<

Welcome aboard. Thank you sincerely for your service.

I can't help it, I have the smartass gene.

"We live in fame or go down in flame..."

(01-14-2015 07:58 PM)kparden Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 07:47 PM)Matrix Wrote:  I respectfully disagree. The level of activism regarding this issue by everyone from the so called average joe (or josie) on the street, to some of the more high profile political leaders in this state is at an all time high, IMO, it doesn't matter if the BOT backs off in the midst of the maelstrom that they and Watts have orchestrated. They have sown the fire, now they will reap the Inferno. Getting our sports programs back and getting Watts the hell outta here will be damn good, but not enough to settle. Not now. Remember that line Clint Eastwood uttered in the movie, "Gran Torino" to those bullies on the street corner?..."you know that one somebody that you know in your heart and mind you shouldn't have (bleeped) with? Well, that'd be me!" That's us now...Keeping them at a distance will not suffice, they must complete and irrevocably removed from our lives permanently! The only way to do that is to push hard and relentlessly for passage of legislation to establish our own board of trustees or complete separation from those (bleepers) in Tuscaloosa! Either one works fine for me, both would be serious cause for celebration, I also want and hope to see the bill pass that allows for a trustee behaving badly to have his/her *** bounced from their position, like these toadstools have been doing to UAH and UAB for far too (bleeping) long! ....They started this....It's up to us to finish it...Once and for all! Blazer & Charger Nation has to scorch the Earth with these bastages!

I do not disagree, but I do believe that media can and will play its hand in our game. I'm not sure that we will be provocative enough to warrant attention if we've essentially "gotten what we asked for". I am a previous blazer who left to serve the US Navy and this school is my only real tie other than family to the state of Alabama. I hope to keep this tie strong, because I had a damn good time while I was there. I want better from UAB than the UA BoTs will ever do for us.

With that being said, regarding the media, beware moles/trolls like Rick Karle, I trust him about as far as I could throw him, but he's been showing up frequently at UAB rallies and events, when there was a time when he wouldn't give UAB the time of day. He's trying to upstage Scarbinsky and Whitmire, and he couldn't carry their (bleeping) attache cases! I would keep Whitmire and Scarbo on my personal media radar, as well as Jon Solomon and Wade Kwon...When #FreeUAB becomes a bona fide threat to the crimson status quo (especially if SACS and NCAA come in) then that's when the Karles, Eliasophs, Griffins (Attalla's good friend!) & Finebaums come out of the woodwork.