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

(07-12-2013 09:37 AM)TheGORILLA Wrote:  Thanks Mr. Watts. You just joined the Board of Trustees by thrusting our dreams and UABs Footballs ambitions into the doldrums.

Yeah, that's what happened.

(07-12-2013 09:41 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Watts is not against the OCS.

Maybe, maybe not...Still, it's a damn shame how UAB has to p****foot around this stadium issue with all the hostile, negative opposition surrounding this area from so many in the media and political circles. Birmingham & UAB are being treated like they're stockpiling WMD's or something...This is unbelievable...

One problem with the whole OCS issue is each side has painted itself in a corner. It’s very public nature may have ultimately made matters worse, but was also necessary. The BOT will not publicly endorse any OCS proposal in the near term short of a private concern footing the entire bill because it will look like they caved – something they cannot afford. For OCS proponents there is no middle ground - they/we want it now! As a result there is a focus on issues, such as, feasibility, fan support, etc… That is the middle ground that may provide some justification for enough of the BOT and its constituency to be more accepting of the idea and allow the proponents to prove their point. That is where the battle will be ultimately won or lost. As time passes and UAB raises its own profile and finances the idea of an OCS and its viability will shift from the BOT to UAB and the BOT can gracefully acquiesce. It will take years, though…

Read the bean's post again. The stadium issue is not an existential threat to UAB. The decline in research funding IS just that. It has to be addressed and it has to be addressed first.

Other than my ceremonial escort of Golden Girls and Blazer Band each time I crossed campus, I would do little different than Watts had I been selected. The funding shortfall MUST be mitigated. Watts is on the right course here: the stadium is not a top strategic priority.

(07-12-2013 10:27 AM)58-56 Wrote:  Read the bean's post again. The stadium issue is not an existential threat to UAB. The decline in research funding IS just that. It has to be addressed and it has to be addressed first.

Other than my ceremonial escort of Golden Girls and Blazer Band each time I crossed campus, I would do little different than Watts had I been selected. The funding shortfall MUST be mitigated. Watts is on the right course here: the stadium is not a top strategic priority.

True, but no matter what UAB does and for whatever reason the OCS will be brought up, if only because it is a hot-button issue. I have no problem with what Dr. Watt is doing, just pointing out the elephant in the room. I also suspect that getting support for UAB during the fundraising campaign may be easier w/o the OCS or any UAB athletics as a consideration. His response about fan support and an initiative to improve that aspect of UAB athletics was the correct answer.

(07-12-2013 09:44 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Funny how the local media reads more into this than is there.

Just because it isn't a top strategic priority doesn't mean it isn't being addressed.

They know the gump retards go ballistic when they see it in the headlines.

Yep. Let the local yokels spew their pithy Gump-tastic sentiment. As long as they tout that, we can run silent, run deep...

I have not given up on the stadium. Its now no longer a priority for me either, Mr. Watts. I am tired of waiting a "few more years." We waited and kept Callaway for a couple more years. We kept Watson Brown a couple more years.... just to get the stadium that we still have to wait a couple more years on. And keeping Watson, hiring/keeping Callaway is the reason why we have to raise attendance to support the stadium to begin with. So no more rallies, protests, sit-ins for me while our leaders carry the same banner as the BOT. There have been schools in much worse financial shape build a stadium. A soon as UAB raise the 1 Billion dollars, the bar will be reset and another hoop will be added and we will be looking for another president.

How about our great politicians that were doing work behind the scenes? Where are they today? I will be at games, support financially... but if our trusted leaders aren't publicly supporting a cause, then why should I?

(07-12-2013 10:39 AM)ICB Wrote:  if our trusted leaders aren't publicly supporting a cause, then why should I?

Because your livelihood doesn't hinge on it?

(07-12-2013 10:53 AM)Smaug Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 10:39 AM)ICB Wrote:  if our trusted leaders aren't publicly supporting a cause, then why should I?

Because your livelihood doesn't hinge on it?

Exactly... They won't fight because they are scared of losing their jobs, so what use is there for us to fight, when the BOT cares very little about what you or I say. Those who carry the weight won't talk out of fear, those of us who aren't afraid to talk, carry very little weight. Maybe... MB is right.

My take on this statement is that Dr. Watts has taken note of the declining state per pupil funding of all levels of public education over the last 5 years as well as the decline in private and federal research grants for the medical side caused by the recession as well as greater conservative spending cuts by Congress on research and is speaking from that POV. The BOT voting to raise tuition levels for 6 consecutive years (and counting) is but one result of these cuts. UAB is catching it from all sides, not just athletics. The last fundraising drive for UAB was very successful, but was entirely devoted to the medical side. UAB sports alone has more pressing and more affordable priorities than the OCS. We may have to build them on an individual basis rather than lumped in with the OCS as most originally suggested.

Not that they're afraid of losing their jobs, but that it's not something to lose a job over.

There's an old Marine Corps saying, "Is THIS the hill you want to die on?"

That's a pretty good rubric for Marines, university presidents, and married men.

UAB is bigger than the football team. That's something our neighbors to the west don't seem to get. I hope our fans never forget.

(07-12-2013 10:38 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  I have no problem with what Dr. Watt is doing, just pointing out the elephant in the room.

a big, crimson-colored, very smelly elephant at that!!!

(07-12-2013 11:00 AM)Smaug Wrote:  Not that they're afraid of losing their jobs, but that it's not something to lose a job over.

There's an old Marine Corps saying, "Is THIS the hill you want to die on?"

That's a pretty good rubric for Marines, university presidents, and married men.

UAB is bigger than the football team. That's something our neighbors to the west don't seem to get. I hope our fans never forget.

It is very interesting to hear the naysayers complain about the university up until the point that their lives depend on the expertise of the doctors.

(07-12-2013 11:15 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 11:00 AM)Smaug Wrote:  Not that they're afraid of losing their jobs, but that it's not something to lose a job over.

There's an old Marine Corps saying, "Is THIS the hill you want to die on?"

That's a pretty good rubric for Marines, university presidents, and married men.

UAB is bigger than the football team. That's something our neighbors to the west don't seem to get. I hope our fans never forget.

It is very interesting to hear the naysayers complain about the university up until the point that their lives depend on the expertise of the doctors.

I've said more than once, lots of people make fun of UAB right up until the moment all those fried nanner sammiches come home to roost.

Maybe, just maybe Dr. Watts has a plan to get more butts in the seat. Winning will solve much of that problem, but some creativity may be required to speed things along. Once the attendance is increasing, the issue of an OCS can be revisited publicly. That's not to say we can't or shouldn't be continuing to make OCS plans behind the scenes so we are ready when the time comes.

Can't win for losing.

Oh well roll tide and move on. Legion Field will have to suffice for now...and ever. At least there is always EA NCAA for UAB to have an OCS. Nope, just found out I have to spend 1Mil Microsoft points for the DLC.

Has EA included the strippers & waterfalls yet in its game?

On attendance:

I find the argument that we don't "deserve" one because we don't fill up Legion Field laughable.

No ****, Sherlock. It's a 72K tomb. The one we want to build is about a third that size.

Actually I am to the point of just "SCREW IT!!"

I could careless if 30,000 show up or 30. I'm still gonna go to the games, I'm still gonna catch flak when coworkers ask me if me and the other 3 fans showed up, and I'm still gonna enjoy watching my team.

Seems like the present thought around here has already been handed down that we are not getting a stadium, period. When you read this thread it's obvious the even the most most stout voices on here are already saying just let it go and focus on the Medical and Educational side. So, lets just focus on the educational side and enjoy what we have.

Better to rule in hell then serve in heaven.

(07-12-2013 11:35 AM)Smaug Wrote:  On attendance:

I find the argument that we don't "deserve" one because we don't fill up Legion Field laughable.

No ****, Sherlock. It's a 72K tomb. The one we want to build is about a third that size.

Yet,according to a thread I saw at the top of the board, there's only a "limited" number of season tickets left available.