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

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/ne...ies.html?s

To the dismay of long-time supporters of an on-campus stadium, the campaign has not placed a football field under any of the priorities, according to a UAB statement. But the facilities funding, which equals out to $100 million, will go toward projects in several of UAB's schools and programs.

Kahn said funds will also be raised to build and renovate facilities to support athletics and projects on what she called the "planned research crescent." She said naming opportunities are available to donors who back the facilities.

And.....Gorilla!!!

They should simply state that UAB athletics isn't and won't be a priority and new and noteworthy facilities for football aren't going to happen anytime soon.

For the people who won't to run coach McGee out of town, what coach wants to work for a program that is reducing an already low commitment to football? What player wants to play for such program? What potential fans want to support such program?

I am disappointed in the results on the field but how can the administration at UAB hold McGee to a higher standard than they hold themselves? They give very little hope for the future.

By now, I'm sure the Athletic Dept. and the various coaching staffs have expressed a "shopping list" for what they want to see built / renovated first for their sport. The OCS just MAY NOT be the first thing on the FB list though I'm sure it is somewhere on their lists.

I have asked those who know more about specific FB facilities, what might be the "pecking order" of new facilities needed to improve the program? How might the FB staff answer that question if asked?

(10-31-2013 03:47 PM)rook360 Wrote:  And.....Gorilla!!!

Quit pickin' on him!

(10-31-2013 03:55 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  They should simply state that UAB athletics isn't and won't be a priority and new and noteworthy facilities for football aren't going to happen anytime soon.

For the people who won't to run coach McGee out of town, what coach wants to work for a program that is reducing an already low commitment to football? What player wants to play for such program? What potential fans want to support such program?

I am disappointed in the results on the field but how can the administration at UAB hold McGee to a higher standard than they hold themselves? They give very little hope for the future.

Yep, that's pretty sad, when you have $1,000,000,000 to play with, and you don't even make any attempt to bring the team's facilities up to par with the rest of CUSA.

(10-31-2013 03:59 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  By now, I'm sure the Athletic Dept. and the various coaching staffs have expressed a "shopping list" for what they want to see built / renovated first for their sport. The OCS just MAY NOT be the first thing on the FB list though I'm sure it is somewhere on their lists.

I have asked those who know more about FB facilities, what might be the "pecking order" of new facilities needed to improve the program? How might the FB staff answer that question if asked?

Only "The Shadow" Knows...

An OCS isn't the only facility athletics desperately needs.

Let's see what they actually ARE going to build before we commence to bitching.

(10-31-2013 04:03 PM)Smaug Wrote:  An OCS isn't the only facility athletics desperately needs.

Let's see what they actually ARE going to build before we commence to bitching.

Although I hold out no hope on that stadium, I am curious as to what's going to be addressed in terms of needs for the athletic department. For what it's worth, I sort of understand what UAB/IAB & Bham Blazer are feeling, too. If the Tuscaloosa Cartel had that kind of $$$$ at their disposal, there'd be no expense spared for crimson blight athletics needs, up to and including the construction or major renovation of stadiums. They did sign off on building their baseball team a new venue, right?

See you Saturday?


"you can't create the future, by clinging to the past..." 11/2

And I remind you, unlike our slackjaw sister campus to the west, UAB is bigger than the football team.

(10-31-2013 04:03 PM)Smaug Wrote:  An OCS isn't the only facility athletics desperately needs.

Let's see what they actually ARE going to build before we commence to bitching.

I strongly suspect that there is still a stadium plan, they're just keeping things quiet given the BoT's proven tendency to knife any UAB leader who gets out front on it.

It's gonna come, and it won't be because one of us hit the lotto.

(10-31-2013 04:25 PM)Smaug Wrote:  And I remind you, unlike our slackjaw sister campus to the west, UAB is bigger than the football team.

True, but if we are going to commit to having a football program, it needs to be top-notch, like everything else we are trying to do. Having to be super secret about everything, so we want rile up bahr Jr. and his ilk, stinks to high heavens too.

So does how UAB football has been treated, and they still have the power. It stinks, but it's our reality.

(10-31-2013 03:24 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/ne...ies.html?s

To the dismay of long-time supporters of an on-campus stadium, the campaign has not placed a football field under any of the priorities, according to a UAB statement. But the facilities funding, which equals out to $100 million, will go toward projects in several of UAB's schools and programs.

Kahn said funds will also be raised to build and renovate facilities to support athletics and projects on what she called the "planned research crescent." She said naming opportunities are available to donors who back the facilities.

This fund drive is to enhance RESEARCH primarily of course on the medical side, academics and facilities to enhance support these endeavors Which is the focus of UAB having a successful future and our new president's major priority. I do not understand why people on this board continue to fruitlessly think/wish its secretly about an OCS.

That being said - every dollar designated to go for athletics will be used for athletics. However UAB has a record of being very successful at fundraising for research/academics (400 million or so on a goal of 250 million) on the other hand the record the fundraising for athletics has been poor (under 5 million or so on a goal of 25 million). It is up to us sports fans to show this entrepreneurial president that times have changed or as I am afraid maybe not. GIVE for ATHLETICS

Where ever the money comes from, the football facilities must be brought up to at least the level of our leading competitors. If UAB continues to lag behind all the rest of C-USA in funding its FB program, we are not likely to improve beyond being a bottom feeder to the benefit of our contemporaries. We have already seen similarly new programs who have, however, enjoyed adequate funding go past us into BCS conferences or joining UAB in the present C-USA. How many more UCFs and USFs will go by while we "tread water", remaining motionless while others move on?

I'm convinced that UAB, sitting as it is in the midst of about one million population, can become a major power in the south beyond just medical education. Have our athletic programs been the only victims of the Crimson loyalists on the system BOT?

We should be planning toward an enrollment of 40,000 to 50,000 in the NEAR future like those other urban universities we see around the progressive southern states. Are we scared of such a challenge just because our state's leaders want us to remain a small school like the rural ones that play big time FB and now brag that they have finally reached 30,000 students after over 100 years? (UA is almost 200 years old - 2031)

(10-31-2013 09:15 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Where ever the money comes from, the football facilities must be brought up to at least the level of our leading competitors. If UAB continues to lag behind all the rest of C-USA in funding its FB program, we are not likely to improve beyond being a bottom feeder to the benefit of our contemporaries. We have already seen similarly new programs who have, however, enjoyed adequate funding go past us into BCS conferences or joining UAB in the present C-USA. How many more UCFs and USFs will go by while we "tread water", remaining motionless while others move on?

I'm convinced that UAB, sitting as it is in the midst of about one million population, can become a major power in the south beyond just medical education. Have our athletic programs been the only victims of the Crimson loyalists on the system BOT?

We should be planning toward an enrollment of 40,000 to 50,000 in the NEAR future like those other urban universities we see around the progressive southern states. Are we scared of such a challenge just because our state's leaders want us to remain a small school like the rural ones that play big time FB and now brag that they have finally reached 30,000 students after over 100 years? (UA is almost 200 years old - 2031)

Dr. Witt has laid out an aggressive goal for UAB enrollment growth. Considering what he did in Tuscaloosa, he will be successful in carrying it out here too (along with DR. Watts)..........you are spot on about the facilities. We HAVE to bring up to par, unless we want 2-10 seasons as the norm.

For many years before James Franklin arrived, Vandy was "laughing all the way to the bank" with those many millions $$$ checks the SEC gives out in the Destin, FL conclave while being the annual "doormat" team. I don't wish this role for UAB, especially since C-USA is not going to be handing out those kinds of checks to its members. Would OK State let UAB borrow T. Boone Pickins for a year or two?

(10-31-2013 10:01 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  For many years before James Franklin arrived, Vandy was "laughing all the way to the bank" with those many millions $$$ checks the SEC gives out in the Destin, FL conclave while being the annual "doormat" team. I don't wish this role for UAB, especially since C-USA is not going to be handing out those kinds of checks to its members. Would OK State let UAB borrow T. Boone Pickins for a year or two?

Heck, at this point I'd settle for the Louisville pizza guy-lol.

Interesting read, long,,, but intersting.

I guess some of you missed where we are building a football building complete with locker rooms, meeting rooms, coaches offices, ect and getting them out if the old janitor's building. We also hVe plans for a new practice facility.

We have already built a new weight room, training room, and academic center for athletics.