Quote:And if you're just a sadistic sociopath you can throw in a Greyhound racing track in some remote state out west that conveniently funnels/launders, um, your "clothes" for you and doesn't care if you let the dogs starve, be abused, and die from not enough money to take care of them.

Just in case anyone thought Brother blazr pulled that imagery out of thin air, this is from the Spokane Spokesman-Review, documenting atrocities at the greyhound track in Couer d'Alene, Idaho owned by Paul W. Bryant Jr., president pro tem of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees:

INCLUDING ELECTROCUTION OF UNWANTED DOGS, WIDESPREAD ABUSE CONTINUED INTO 1995, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TRAINERS. One trainer was alleged to have electrocuted several dogs in 1992 but not targeted for investigation by the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement until May 1995. Stating common place abuse and inhumane kennel conditions, five trainers reported various cases in which dogs were shot, beaten and had their throats slashed. One claimed to have witnessed another trainer beat six puppies to death with a claw hammer. Several trainers admitted to drugging their dogs or overworking the animals to alter the outcome of races. One trainer described electrocution of dogs using the “Tijuana hot plate treatment,” so called because in Mexico, ‘they used to electrocute the dogs.’ Another trainer who saw the device used to kill a dog at the track’s kennel compound described how clips were attached to either end of the dog’s body. When the switch was flipped, the animal reportedly screamed for twenty seconds.

(12-27-2012 12:52 PM)58-56 Wrote:  

Quote:And if you're just a sadistic sociopath you can throw in a Greyhound racing track in some remote state out west that conveniently funnels/launders, um, your "clothes" for you and doesn't care if you let the dogs starve, be abused, and die from not enough money to take care of them.

Just in case anyone thought Brother blazr pulled that imagery out of thin air, this is from the Spokane Spokesman-Review, documenting atrocities at the greyhound track in Couer d'Alene, Idaho owned by Paul W. Bryant Jr., president pro tem of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees:

INCLUDING ELECTROCUTION OF UNWANTED DOGS, WIDESPREAD ABUSE CONTINUED INTO 1995, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TRAINERS. One trainer was alleged to have electrocuted several dogs in 1992 but not targeted for investigation by the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement until May 1995. Stating common place abuse and inhumane kennel conditions, five trainers reported various cases in which dogs were shot, beaten and had their throats slashed. One claimed to have witnessed another trainer beat six puppies to death with a claw hammer. Several trainers admitted to drugging their dogs or overworking the animals to alter the outcome of races. One trainer described electrocution of dogs using the “Tijuana hot plate treatment,” so called because in Mexico, ‘they used to electrocute the dogs.’ Another trainer who saw the device used to kill a dog at the track’s kennel compound described how clips were attached to either end of the dog’s body. When the switch was flipped, the animal reportedly screamed for twenty seconds.

Off topic, but we've had a rescued greyhound for 6 years. He raced through age 3 and then lived in a kennel cage for 3 years. Those dogs are the most gentle animals on Earth. I'm not a spiteful guy, but the Tijuana hot plate treatment used on a few individuals could solve the problem of greyhound treatment.

For all of the grief that UAB takes from some, they won the CUSA baseball championship last year, have an outstanding pedigree in basketball and have beaten better funded football programs, while in the middle of 2 university fan bases that would pay to see the Blazers just disappear. Looking at it from another view, it's amazing that UAB has done as well as it has; and that's something that Blazer fans should be proud of.

(12-27-2012 12:46 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 10:21 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I have said repeatedly and sincerely that I find UAB a rival that USM fans are taking very serious after the last 4 years for sure, but for us who have followed the rivalry since game one, UAB has given USM tough games most of the series. UAB has to be respected by honest fans because anyone who remembers before UAB started football, Birmingham was Crimson Tide country and often hosted Tide games at Legion Field. UAB is part of the state schools and like in Mississippi that means they have to fight for funds with Alabama, Auburn as well as the other programs in the system.

Say what you want about UAB, but I wish them well and respect the problems they have that most of us would cringe at. It is a tribute to them and their fans that they have done as much, as fast, as they have.

Thank you, sir. Conversely, I think Southern Miss fans can take a lot from the fact that to most UAB fans - and, in Birmingham, they are certainly knowledgeable - one of the obstacles to overcome on our way to "arriving" near where we want to be was to beat USM in football. Most UAT fans - and, hence, most Alabamians - know hardly anything beyond the Tide and certainly nothing about the world beyond the SEC, but USM was a measuring stick from the beginning because of how your program gave Bama fits under Curly Hallman then Jeff Bower...with Favre's early-90s victory being the highlight, of course.

I'll share two things: 1) when USM got the ball back in '09 I just knew we were going to lose - probably a ways back for a lot of you, but when your program is in the stage of getting that close but not over the hump you start to feel this sick dread in the pit of your stomach - when our safety intercepted that last pass and started running, I just knew he was going to fumble; and when he dove over the goal line and there were no flags I started crying...it was really a huge, f'ing deal; 2) in a public meeting back in the early 00's where the BOT reaffirmed their "support" for UAB athletics, we had just had 44,000+ at Legion Field for our game against you and a halftime appearance by American Idol Ruben Studdard, and one of the members of the "old boys' club" started his remarks by congratulating us for the huge turnout against "Mississippi Southern." I don't even remember my father ever using that phrase and I almost thought he was going to pull out "Mississippi Normal". THOSE are the guys in charge at UAB and most Southern universities for that matter. Evil, masterminded geniuses they are not...

LOL. Mississippi Southern brings back memories for me. I am just weeks short of my 60th birthday so I can remember the days when we were Miss. Southern College, although the name change happened in about 62 it was called that or by some "Southern College" more than USM for many years. I can remember when we started to appear on TV (a lot harder to do in those days than now) and the announcers would call us Ole Miss and get away with it. As we appeared more that mistake would draw protest and the announcer would amend his stupid mistake. That was a program who started football in 1912 and 50 years or more later still couldn't even get people in their area to use Univ. South. Miss.

(12-27-2012 09:33 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 09:08 AM)J Coog Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 08:50 AM)blazr Wrote:  Why? Because fuq you, that's why!!

Makes me think of this scene...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kZg_ALxEz0

"...that's my name."

That's not one of my favorite movie scenes (I was just out of high school...what did I care about Glengarry Glen Ross?), but what's amazing about it is that Baldwin got an Oscar nomination for his role...AND THAT MONOLOGUE WAS HIS ONLY TIME ON CAMERA!! That's damn impressive!

Except it was Al Pacino that got the nomination for best supporting actor in 1993. He lost out to Gene Hackman who won playin Little Bill in unforgiven. Pacino won best actor that year for scent of a woman

(12-27-2012 09:33 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 09:08 AM)J Coog Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 08:50 AM)blazr Wrote:  Why? Because fuq you, that's why!!

Makes me think of this scene...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kZg_ALxEz0

"...that's my name."

That's not one of my favorite movie scenes (I was just out of high school...what did I care about Glengarry Glen Ross?), but what's amazing about it is that Baldwin got an Oscar nomination for his role...AND THAT MONOLOGUE WAS HIS ONLY TIME ON CAMERA!! That's damn impressive!

Except it was Al Pacino that got the nomination for best supporting actor in 1993. He lost out to Gene Hackman who won playin Little Bill in unforgiven. Pacino won best actor that year for scent of a woman

(12-27-2012 08:44 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 08:20 AM)GoGold Wrote:  I like UAB. I remember traveling many times to the 'ham a few years back watching us play before some decent crowds in Legion. Good atmosphere back then and I enjoyed some spirited interaction with your fans. It was a trip I looked forward to.

My only problem with UAB is you seem to have no control over your program.

This speaks for me as well. My only concern with UAB ultimately is that you are controlled by Tuscaloosa and they do not desire you to be athletically successful.

They (BOT) do not desire UAB to be athletically successful in football.

(12-27-2012 02:03 PM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 09:33 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 09:08 AM)J Coog Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 08:50 AM)blazr Wrote:  Why? Because fuq you, that's why!!

Makes me think of this scene...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kZg_ALxEz0

"...that's my name."

That's not one of my favorite movie scenes (I was just out of high school...what did I care about Glengarry Glen Ross?), but what's amazing about it is that Baldwin got an Oscar nomination for his role...AND THAT MONOLOGUE WAS HIS ONLY TIME ON CAMERA!! That's damn impressive!

Except it was Al Pacino that got the nomination for best supporting actor in 1993. He lost out to Gene Hackman who won playin Little Bill in unforgiven. Pacino won best actor that year for scent of a woman

Dude, what is this feeling? Is this what it feels like to be wrong? Is that how I've made people feel in the past? I feel so...dirty...

The only grievance I'd like to add (even though Festivus has passed) is that you're selling us short, blazr. We have fourteen NCAA appearances. My apologies if you were counting 11+3 Sweet Sixteen or beyond.

I for one love UAB!! Have posted a lot lately 1) UAB appears to be on the rise especially in FB 2) I appreciate Marshall's relationship with UAB & hope hope that it continues well into the future!! You guys are some of the best posters on this board!!

Don't blame anyone on this board, nor anyone making decisions about realignment. UAB's problems are directly tied to a Tuscaloosa-centric BOT. Until UAB can make its own decisions, it will always fight for relevance. Without the BOT, UAB would be building new facilities and already have an invite to the Big East. Fair? No. Reality? Yes.

Basically, it comes down to this: The Board of Trustees is all about UAT first. Anything that UAB does that brings credit is fine with them, with one exception. Football. They view that as their Righteous Kingdom, and any tickets we sell, T-shirt or sweatshirt that we sell, and in particular any booster or sponsorship dollars we bring in are dollars that belong in their pockets, and we are stealing from them.

It's not like we'll ever take a recruit that Nick Saban really wants. Oh, we might sign a three star who would have been a career practice squad player, deep backup, a walk-on at UAT who can come and start for us, but that really does not worry them.

Money? That's something else again.

Obviously winning isn't the driving force in realignment (see: Maryland, Tulane). Obviously research and academic caliber doesn't drive the bus (see: Boise State). Tulane is putting a major investment in their program at the right time in a large market, and Maryland carries the Baltimore market with a large chunk of the DC market. The other C*USA schools that are winning are also carrying their markets (to varying degrees) and investing in their program.

USM has a tiny budget (despite winning historically) and a small market. UAB couldn't get the stadium, and hasn't proven that it can carry the Birmingham market (there is a lot of hate for UAB within the state of Alabama among the old, rich, and fortunately dying). Not the mention, the university presidents know who drive the bus as much as the conference nuts like us do.

UAB wins C*USA, we fill Legion Field. Fill Legion Field, the heat gets too hot on the BoT and we get the stadium. Show an investment and win games, we will start to carry the Birmingham market. Carry the Birmingham market, and people will talk about UAB in realignment.