(03-30-2021 07:20 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(03-30-2021 07:12 PM)jedclampett Wrote:  

(03-30-2021 07:01 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(03-30-2021 06:38 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(03-30-2021 05:03 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Well there are 18 Blazer fans that believes UAB will join the AAC in its present form.

Future of UAB Athletics

Unfortunately UAB fan support is down in the weeds with GA St. And that won't get AAC consideration. Birmingham & Atlanta are nice markets but neither school has much influence in those markets.

UAB attendance over the last 5 yrs is better than half of the AAC. Attendance and fan support is not the reasons why UAB will never sniff the AAC with current members.

Unfortunately, attendance is pretty far down the list of criteria for membership in the AAC.

What the American needs is a proven winner with a long track record of FB success.

UAB's W-L over the past decade:

2020 6-3
2019 9-5.............3 bowls (1-2 record)
2018 11-3
2017 8-5
2016 no team.......no nationally-ranked FB teams in UAB's history
2015 no team
2014 6-6
2013 2-10
2012 3-9
2011 3-9

.

Appalachian State has played 6 bowls in the past 7 years and won all 6 of them. They've also had 3 nationally-ranked teams, and finished a season in the Final AP Top 25 - - and they're not considered a likely addition to the American.

That should give UAB fans an idea of what they're up against.

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Fan support is not an isolated criteria, it usually means the team is winning, which means bowl games, it means good TV ratings, it means recognition outside the conference.

UAB drop the ball in football while our other mates at the time was ascending. The things UAB has in place now is what should have been in place 10 years ago but it is what it is. But while I think the chances are slim to none for UAB to get into the AAC the door isn't completely closed.

I would bet if UAB got a couple of impressive P5 wins in the next few years and continue to win CUSA championships without a huge realignment shift amongst the P5 we would have a slim chance to impress AAC leadership. I totally get the AAC want programs to enhance the conference both image and financially wise. UAB is not there yet.

However, I am very realistic about UAB's future and I see us being in CUSA for the forseeable future.