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

"I was disappointed but not surprised by the statement issued by UA System Chancellor Robert Witt. It's unfortunate that the culture of the UA System and Board appears to be - attack the messenger and avoid the problem.

I, and I believe many citizens, are confused and left wondering how calling for an investigation of allegations of misconduct by a Board member could be considered reckless.

The actual reckless course of action is firing off an attack and never bothering to even consider if the allegation, made by multiple Birmingham businessmen and reported by al.com columnist Kevin Scarbinsky on January 9th are accurate. The very fact that Dr. Witt doesn't even understand the gravity of this situation speaks volumes about how deep rooted these problems are.

I can assure the Chancellor my motivation in calling for this investigation is not political. I simply want to make certain the other two campuses in the UA System are treated as well as the campus he was President of for over ten years.

Without hesitation I fully concur with Dr. Witt that UAB is a fabulous educational institution. Unfortunately, Dr. Witt and the Board have attempted to cast the debate in an either/or frame of reference. I totally reject that mentality. The question we should all be sitting around the table together trying to answer is how can UAB continue to grow as a world class medical research institution while pursuing a thriving undergraduate program that includes a full and successful athletic program. Any other approach is completely unacceptable.

In closing, my challenge to Dr. Witt is to stop attacking me and let's work together to build a system that is unparalleled in the world. However, to reach that goal we have to rid ourselves of the existing climate that encourages and allows those in power to attack problem solvers while turning a blind eye to allegations of wrong doing.

If there has been no Board interference into UAB athletics then Dr. Witt should have no fear in hiring an outside group to do a thorough and independent investigation that would satisfy everyone. I would be happy to work with him to select an individual or a firm to handle these duties."

High ground secured. Over.

(01-30-2015 12:41 PM)58-56 Wrote:  High ground secured. Over.

Witt walked right into that one. lol

Target acquired. Clear to fire.

Wow. IM guessing that was exactly the reply he expected from Witt, because this doesn't sound like something that was thrown together in two hours. Well done.

Hahaha Witt is such an ass. Y'all got a special guy in Representative Williams.

Williams playing his hand and Witts and company falling into it.

Well played Rep. Jack!

I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat living in Tennessee, If I could I would vote for Rep. Jack Williams!

Met Jack for the first time this past weekend. Definitely a "high motor" kinda guy. If Witt, Watts and the board are trying to wait him out, well, good luck with that.

The BoT and their supporters have been ignoring us for so long that they can't even see us standing right in front of them. We are non-entities to them. That is one of our advantages.

...they were warned...Get em, Jack!

(01-30-2015 01:47 PM)FAUAEPi Wrote:  Hahaha Witt is such an ass. Y'all got a special guy in Representative Williams.

+1

(01-30-2015 04:23 PM)TNBLAZERS Wrote:  I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat living in Tennessee, If I could I would vote for Rep. Jack Williams!

So would I!

I've seen Jack a few times at the bball games I've gone to, I guess it's about time to at least say hi & thanks even though I can't vote for him (legally anyway).

Looks like high noon is fast approaching

BOT about to dig in. This is going to get ugly. Really hope Jack has some tangible evidence for leverage.

(01-30-2015 11:08 PM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  BOT about to dig in. This is going to get ugly. Really hope Jack has some tangible evidence for leverage.

If you want tangible evidence, get Brian Mackin to place his hand on a bible, take the stand and ask him why he called the Blazer booster who put up a million dollars for the artificial turf and then told him that Finis St. Johns said it was a no go. Then ask him to explain why he texted several other boosters telling them that the turf project was being dropped after telling them it would be installed and that a vendor had already been selected. Ask those boosters to show the text from Brian that is still on their phones. Ask the vendor for the paperwork showing when project was cancelled. Pull Mackin's and St. Johns' phone records for the day in question. Then see if anyone believes St. Johns when he swears on a stack of bibles that he never talk to Mackin about the turf.

Witt can get at the truth without much trouble, but he really doesn't want to go there. If an investigation uncovered the truth behind Turfgate, SACS would be all over the board like killer bees attacking someone who knocked down their hive. And if an independent investigation was ever launched, heaven knows what other juicy BOT hijinks it might be exposed before it is done. Nope, Witt certainly doesn't want to go there.

(01-30-2015 11:52 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 11:08 PM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  BOT about to dig in. This is going to get ugly. Really hope Jack has some tangible evidence for leverage.

If you want tangible evidence, get Brian Mackin to place his hand on a bible, take the stand and ask him why he called the Blazer booster who put up a million dollars for the artificial turf and then told him that Finis St. Johns said it was a no go. Then ask him to explain why he texted several other boosters telling them that the turf project was being dropped after telling them it would be installed and that a vendor had already been selected. Ask those boosters to show the text from Brian that is still on their phones. Ask the vendor for the paperwork showing when project was cancelled. Pull Mackin's and St. Johns' phone records for the day in question. Then see if anyone believes St. Johns when he swears on a stack of bibles that he never talk to Mackin about the turf.

Witt can get at the truth without much trouble, but he really doesn't want to go there. If an investigation uncovered the truth behind Turfgate, SACS would be all over the board like killer bees attacking someone who knocked down their hive. And if an independent investigation was ever launched, heaven knows what other juicy BOT hijinks it might be exposed before it is done. Nope, Witt certainly doesn't want to go there.

The sad truth is that in the state of Alabama, UAT football trumps the Bible.

(01-30-2015 07:19 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:23 PM)TNBLAZERS Wrote:  I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat living in Tennessee, If I could I would vote for Rep. Jack Williams!

So would I!

Same. I want Walt Maddox to run for Governor in 2018 but Jack Williams is my backup.

(01-31-2015 03:40 AM)blazinrunner Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 07:19 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:23 PM)TNBLAZERS Wrote:  I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat living in Tennessee, If I could I would vote for Rep. Jack Williams!

So would I!

Same. I want Walt Maddox to run for Governor in 2018 but Jack Williams is my backup.

Jack in now my first choice.