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(01-07-2013 10:55 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  

(01-07-2013 10:43 PM)GaBlazer Wrote:  

(01-07-2013 10:29 AM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  Here is the latest from Andy Katz.

3. The remaining Big East athletic directors will meet in Dallas on Jan. 11 to discuss their latest moves, including the update on the television negotiations. Tulsa and UMass have been discussed as possible additions if the Big East decides to expand, according to multiple sources. Rice and Southern Miss were also tossed around. Meanwhile, the Mountain West expects to move on San Diego State by the end of this week, according to a league source. The MWC has to decide if it will go to 12 or 14. The MWC has interest in SMU and Houston, but SMU has let it be known to the MWC it has no interest as the Mustangs and Cougars are set to go to the Big East. UTEP desperately wants to be in the MWC, according to a source, and is on the MWC list. BYU is the first choice for the MWC but at this juncture the Cougars want to remain independent in football, WCC in other sports.

The common denominator in all of this realignment talk is UAB is never, ever mentioned. UAB's football program has become the butt end of all C-USA jokes. We had our chance and failed, and some of that failure lies with the UA BOT hiring our previous coach. UAB's football program is leading UAB athletics right down the toilet. There are several other schools, new to football, that will quickly rise above UAB, such as UTSA and Charlotte.

Again, UAB football is the albatross around the neck of UAB's athletic department. We are drowning!

Please keep your "NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TO YOURSELF" Thankfully there are not many people so disposed as you and so short sighted for the future of UAB Football. When they do start to win and that will be very soon please don't jump on the bandwagon as there will be no seat for you!

Go find some hope for yourself!!!

No seat! Have you been to Legion Field lately?

WoW KEVMO4UAB, want to write a book on how to motivate your fan base.
We'll be ok. If you get rid of the football program you might as well get rid of the Athletic program. Not everyone started watching UAB for basketball. Hell, I never went to a basketball game before I went to a football game.
The only writing on the wall is that we have to step it up on the football side. wether we are in C-USA, NBE, or the new Sunbelt-USA I'm still going to root for US. UAB

Some people troll too much. UAB will be fine all of the dooms day scenarios are not necessary. USM has been football much longer than we have and guess we both have zero traction in the so call realignment shake up. It's important to keep things in perspective.

A few points...

1) Mackin saying we're committed to CUSA means as much as Boise State's AD saying they were committed to the Big East. ADs and others in university administration are very much akin to politicians- saying what they need to say and holding a finger to the wind. So I would argue it isn't wise to be putting a great deal of weight on things Mackin is saying.

2) Tulane was not discussed much at all prior to their invitation. Who is to say that UAB isn't getting more consideration behind closed doors and among the conversations between university administrators. Many fans aren't crazy about the idea of adding UAB, but that doesn't mean that those in charge don't see the value or potential in UAB.

3) Even if UAB remains in CUSA, we will be fine. We need to focus on building up our confidence, our facilities, and our reputation. Quite frankly, we've always been fighting an uphill battle in terms of reputation, facilities, talent, etc.- especially in football. UAB needs to focus on UAB regardless of what conference we're in. If we can do that, then we have the potential to become the dominant force in CUSA. At that point, you can continue to be dominant and enjoy great success in CUSA, or maybe get the chance to move up a step to a better league, but at least we would have our "legs under us" so to speak rather than fighting this constant uphill battle.

So you are saying we should trust Mackin as much as we trust politicians. Got it. Not a ringing endorsement.

A good politician is non committal, and as you say, puts his finger out to see which way the. Wind is blowing. He doesn't make strongly worded statements totally committing to something. Mackin should have made a vague statement to the effect that we are happy in CUSA but will explore other options if they become available and are beneficial to UAB

1. What Mackin and Boise State's AD said are not at all similar. The Broncos actually have a slight control of their own destiny.

2. Tulane got invited to the Big East because next year they'll be playing in a brand new on-campus stadium. Do we really need to get into this again?

I figure Mackin said that because it looks like we're going to be a leading light in this edition of CUSA. It's not like we've got other conferences pounding at our door.

If there is another conference that does want to invite us, it won't matter what he said.

When did Mackin make that statement and what context was it in? What was it in response to?

Link?

It's been said he made it in response to someone's article about going to the Sun Belt. Even if true, he still should have remained noncommittal and said something similar to what I suggested above.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/...ian_m.html

(01-09-2013 11:50 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  It's been said he made it in response to someone's article about going to the Sun Belt. Even if true, he still should have remained noncommittal and said something similar to what I suggested above.

How many AD's in the last two years have said we are committed to Conference (fill in the blank) only to leave or look to leave. But when Mackin says it we have to take it as the gospel and think that he has no desire to better our situation. I doubt Mackin is going to publicly say we are looking at these options. Judging by past decisions we will find out when there is something to find out. He will not let information slip out that he doesn't want to be public knowledge and there is no reason for our intentions to be public knowledge I feel pretty confident that Mackin is not sitting at his desk with his feet up wondering where UAB is going to be when this all shakes out.

Mackin serves as the chairman of athletic directors for Conference USA. The response was after Soloman was promoting UAB for the Sun Belt. I have absolutely no problems with what he said. I suspect it would be pretty silly for the chairman to be noncommittal... LOL

jeez some of you will make a mountain out of a mole hill in a heart beat. Step away from the ledge.

(01-08-2013 11:45 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  1. What Mackin and Boise State's AD said are not at all similar. The Broncos actually have a slight control of their own destiny.

2. Tulane got invited to the Big East because next year they'll be playing in a brand new on-campus stadium. Do we really need to get into this again?

Additional factors in Tulane's invitation are (A) former member of the SEC so the "brand" is much better known nationally than some others (B) Location, Location, Location -- in NOLA © the school got a lot of sympathetic national news coverage when it tried to maintain its athletic programs after the home city was ravaged by Katrina. One can argue the relative value of each factor, but together they add up to promotion.

And the end result? The non playing football BE members said - WTF? Tulane? Heck no. & split.

(01-09-2013 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(01-08-2013 11:45 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  1. What Mackin and Boise State's AD said are not at all similar. The Broncos actually have a slight control of their own destiny.

2. Tulane got invited to the Big East because next year they'll be playing in a brand new on-campus stadium. Do we really need to get into this again?

Additional factors in Tulane's invitation are (A) former member of the SEC so the "brand" is much better known nationally than some others (B) Location, Location, Location -- in NOLA © the school got a lot of sympathetic national news coverage when it tried to maintain its athletic programs after the home city was ravaged by Katrina. One can argue the relative value of each factor, but together they add up to promotion.

Tulane is not nationally branded as a former SEC school.

I suspect Tulane was invited because
A) location - New Orleans is a destination place
B) lawsuits - the Tulane president has been an outspoken critic of the BCS and bigger conference. Better to make him a part of the party, than face lawsuits later.

The Big East if IF even exists (will be shocked if Big east football survives this) will no even sniff being a part of the party. Even if they create a new league which I doubt will happen it won't be invited to the party. They will have the same access to the playoffs as UAB when the dust settles.

(01-09-2013 12:40 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(01-09-2013 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(01-08-2013 11:45 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  1. What Mackin and Boise State's AD said are not at all similar. The Broncos actually have a slight control of their own destiny.

2. Tulane got invited to the Big East because next year they'll be playing in a brand new on-campus stadium. Do we really need to get into this again?

Additional factors in Tulane's invitation are (A) former member of the SEC so the "brand" is much better known nationally than some others (B) Location, Location, Location -- in NOLA © the school got a lot of sympathetic national news coverage when it tried to maintain its athletic programs after the home city was ravaged by Katrina. One can argue the relative value of each factor, but together they add up to promotion.

Tulane is not nationally branded as a former SEC school.

I suspect Tulane was invited because
A) location - New Orleans is a destination place
B) lawsuits - the Tulane president has been an outspoken critic of the BCS and bigger conference. Better to make him a part of the party, than face lawsuits later.

As I said, one can argue the relative value of each of the 4 listed factors, but I had forgotten that Tulane had sued the BCS after Tommy Bowden's perfect season and thereby gained access to the "BCS Bowl Party" for at least one PERFECT record nonBCS team. After the 2011 season, NONE were "perfect" so NONE played in a BCS Bowl. This year they allowed NIU into a minor BCS bowl.

(01-08-2013 03:37 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  3) Even if UAB remains in CUSA, we will be fine. We need to focus on building up our confidence, our facilities, and our reputation. Quite frankly, we've always been fighting an uphill battle in terms of reputation, facilities, talent, etc.- especially in football. UAB needs to focus on UAB regardless of what conference we're in. If we can do that, then we have the potential to become the dominant force in CUSA. At that point, you can continue to be dominant and enjoy great success in CUSA, or maybe get the chance to move up a step to a better league, but at least we would have our "legs under us" so to speak rather than fighting this constant uphill battle.

This. If we remain stuck in this latest version on C-USA, which we likely will, then the best thing we can do is dominate it. Win in football. Win in basketball. Grow the fanbase/donors. Nobody should ever think that realignment is over for good.