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

(11-03-2017 04:57 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(11-02-2017 11:45 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  In post #2 in this thread, I made a list of several sports UAB might consider adding over time. Ice hockey is just one on that list, and the only one needing a facility not useful to other sports. EX: Most schools that have Lacrosse play it on their existing football or soccer fields. I put "others" on the list because I don't know what additional sports ACC, AAC, etc schools might have.

I want UAB to be able to project itself as a truly national university academically AND athletically. BTW, Did you know that Auburn has won four National Championships in Equestrian? Olympic sports have always been the step child of southern athletics, but UAB could -- might -- break that mold while charting a course based upon hearing a different drummer. I'm sure Dr Volker (who handed my MA to me in 1972) would find such an approach to his liking.

So now we're adding equestrian to UAB? That makes sense in an urban setting. We're going to be doing very good to have any athletics at UAB in ten years given current government spending trends

Every athletic department in every public state university in Alabama is essentially a private operation based upon private donations that fund only athletics. For AU, the Athletic budget is based upon about $115 million in annual donations and at Bama the Athletic budget receives about $150 million annually in donations. (figures from past articles in the B'ham NEWS)

We have just had an experience with the donations that made the resurrection of UAB football possible. None of these schools could operate their present Athletic Departments on what the schools get from the SETF which for 2018 is still about $500 million less than it had in 2007.

"Current government spending trends" will impact athletics only if the administration has to dip into Athletic Department funds for academic requirements. Since we have been told by posters here that about 80% of UAB sustenance is from grants and such, government policies cutting grants and such could have great impact on our school since the state can't fill any gaps.