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Going to the "candid" discussion meeting tomorrow with Watts and Leadership Bham and Alabama. In the unlikely event I get a chance to ask a question of his eminence ...what would you suggest? Remember questions such as ..." Are you crazy, mean or an idiot puppet?" Are not good...because would you really trust the answer of a mean,idiot puppet?

Ask him what Bill Clark's status is. Is locking him down to a long-term deal a priority, and if so, is it in the works.

(06-15-2015 11:26 AM)Smaug Wrote:  Ask him what Bill Clark's status is. Is locking him down to a long-term deal a priority, and if so, is it in the works.

+1

We all know UAB is going to try and compete for the best STEM students it can get. If I'm a 17 year old kid somewhere in Alabama that wants to major in english or history, what would bring me to UAB over every other school? Get him to sell that kid

Ask him how come he keeps saying there we never this support before when the administration would not allow donations to football and Watts rejected a $10 million IPF that the FF was paying the note? Al.com articles back this up.

Ask him how come he keeps saying we only raised $17.5 million and need to raise $13 million more for facilities when we raised $31 million including money for facilities?

Ask him about the status of Clark's contract.

Ask him why the donors are having to foot the bill for his mistake. last I hear is the number is $11 million and will rise more when we don't field a team in 2015 and possibly 2016.

"When is your going away party?" That's all I got.

How much did you, personally, donate to the restoration of UAB football?

Ask him if he could give a specific date regarding buzz around the faculty/staff about him being gone by the end of the year.

What is the status of negotiations with the city over Legion Field - when does the lease begin and how long - how many years - is its duration?

Will any members of the system BOT continue to have a veto power in regard to donations for athletic facilities at UAB?

Ask him can we throw a party in Bartow Arena when you leave?

Seriously when he leaves we need to have a watts is gone party and invite the media.

(06-15-2015 03:11 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Ask him can we throw a party in Bartow Arena when you leave?

Seriously when he leaves we need to have a watts is gone party and invite the media.

I'm thinking state holiday

(06-15-2015 03:30 PM)biglizard Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 03:11 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Ask him can we throw a party in Bartow Arena when you leave?

Seriously when he leaves we need to have a watts is gone party and invite the media.

I'm thinking state holiday

Won't happen PBJ will make sure the Gov doesn't make it happen. City or Fed is the only roads left for that

Can he sing Blazer Victory?

Will he step into the ring with Wilder?

(06-15-2015 12:06 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Ask him why the donors are having to foot the bill for his mistake. last I hear is the number is $11 million and will rise more when we don't field a team in 2015 and possibly 2016.

EXACTLY! Watts and BOT should be held 100% accountable and should compensate for the $11 million dollar loss that UAB Athletics sustained from Watts and BOTs decisions to dismantle/reinstate UAB Football.

Why does he feel that UAB can't be successful at both medical and undergraduate/athletics sides of campus? It's not mutually exclusive as he thinks it is.

(06-15-2015 11:48 AM)biglizard Wrote:  We all know UAB is going to try and compete for the best STEM students it can get. If I'm a 17 year old kid somewhere in Alabama that wants to major in english or history, what would bring me to UAB over every other school? Get him to sell that kid

This being Bloomsday and all, I'd like to point out that UAB has one of the most respected Joycean/Shakespearean professors in the region. He has developed some talented scholars as well...

But I digress. Please ask Watts what he feels like to be biggest joke in town.

What was the Archibald line? "He not only holds the trophy as the most hated man in town, he retired it."

How did the meeting go?

Sorry for late report...lots of business today. I ate a good breakfast because I knew I would be served bullcrap and pretty much was. I sat fromt and center in y trusty UAB tie. Ray and administrators were at one table...did not see folks coming over to chat as we ate breakfast. There were close to 100 alumni from Leadership Bham and Leadership Alabama. The Chair asked him abou 4 questions and he talked a long time...about 40 minutes before they got to audience questions. Did not get my Bill Clark question in. But highlights. In response to a question about how Dec. was handled he said. " I have learned from that mistake. I always told my kids if you make a mistake at least make it with good intent. I made a mistake". No follow up as to the nature of what he saw as a mistake.
Three different questions referred to BOT. Regarding practice field, interference in the Dec/ Jan decisions and undergrad. He pointedly said each time " the trustees" plural...had it been a court of law or deposition the next question would have been about any trustee, singular. He is a master at not answering and giving a long answer that gets in his talking point while being vague enough in the details especially as to the BOT.
In discussing the Dec. announcement he almost slipped. He was talking about how the teams " embarrassed...the university with their performance. I was thinking in the context of the answer that and he was showing some remembered anger and almost spoke his real feeling about being confronted by the players.
He did say he is committed to success of football and all our sports and went of his way to promote the BBall team next year and the tournament...he predicted a deeper NCAA run.
He said that the practice field did not have money committed. He stated that the BOT supported undergrad and the idea that they don't was not true..in response to a question about the " conspiracy" that the BOT intends to suck our programs and student...he twice referenced wild conspiracy theories such as this. He cited thing spike new Humanities building and HUC and new dorms as evidence of BOT support for undergrad.
When he finished there was tepid and non unanimous polite applause. No one but UAB administrators went up to him after the event to offer congrats. There were several folks in attendance who were part of the effort to save football...I did not feel warmth coming from their direction toward Ray.
Hope this stream of consciousness helps give an idea of the " discussion".