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(09-15-2013 01:50 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'm aware of what Jones has that Callaway didn't.

My point was that being one of "Bahr"s boys didn't do much for him here.

It was one of my points that Jones is NOT trying to build a program in the city of B'ham, in a state that bears (no pun intended) intense dislike for its largest city & county, and anything within them.

Let me know when ANY of the state's elected leadership shows up in B'ham for any of this state's commemorative events celebrating 50 years of STATE progress in its political history.

(09-15-2013 01:44 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The difference is that South Alabama willfully accepts their subservience to the state's main school. I would suspect most South Alabama fans consider the Jaquars their second favorite team and Bama or Auburn first. The most vocal Blazer fans don't consider themselves second to anyone and balk at the fellow Blazer fans who split their loyalty.

Which approach works remain to be seen, but I am happy that I don't have divided loyalties and compromise my fandom.

Outside of a handful of vocal fans most of UAB willfully accepts their subservience.

I remember a popular UAB president declaring that Neal Callaway was the "best coach ever" at a press conference chock full of smiles and backslapping by UAB officials. What most people didn't understand is they were celebrating keeping their jobs, not the future of the program.

(09-15-2013 01:46 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-15-2013 12:52 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(09-15-2013 12:34 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Being one of "Bear's Boys" is a good thing for most residents in Alabama and gives Jones an advantage in recruiting.

Didn't seem to do much for Callaway.

Callaway doesn't have the current high school connections and relationships that Jones has in the state of Alabama. USA has it's own board, a better location than Troy, fertile recruiting ground within a 2 hour radius, and a supportive media, they are primed to compete for Sun Belt titles, sooner rather than later.

The media down here ain't THAT supportive. Sure, they don't get treated like the redheaded stepchild like we do, but you'll still get a metric ton of UAT and API coverage first.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II using Tapatalk 4.

No university sports program in Alabama is going to make a dent in the state's media coverage of the two BCS FB programs anytime soon, no matter where in the state they are located. That is not the issue in 2013. The issue for UAB & UAH in general, is what hinderance the system leadership will use to hobble the future growth of its two sister campuses? UAB and UAH deserve to be given their best shot at becoming the major urban universities they can become and the system funding to make their future happen.

Artificial means discriminatory funding in the future (millions for Greek housing in T-town while crimping funding for dorms in B'ham or Huntsville) can lead to keeping the two hobbled in their growth as they try to become campus-style schools. My concern is the BOT will act out of fear that in the near future in this century their pet campus will become the "little old lady sister" to the other two vibrant sirens, and they will act to "protect" it in ways that they shouldn't as SYSTEM Trustees.

(09-15-2013 02:09 PM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(09-15-2013 01:50 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'm aware of what Jones has that Callaway didn't.

My point was that being one of "Bahr"s boys didn't do much for him here.

That is what got him the job in the first place. I wish I could get a job that I am not qualified for, that pays over $250,000 per year, and failure is accepted/expected. A pretty good benefit if you can get it.

Why wasn't Joey qualified to be the head coach USA? Just curious.

Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

I just saw the news coverage of Governor Bentley speaking at the commemoration program @ the 16th Street Baptist Church so I was wrong in my post #21 about "No elected state leader being there". At least one made it, and I am glad he did.

(09-16-2013 09:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

Played college and professional football.

Coached at HS level for 13 years. Won at both schools, (where others had failed before him). Had one of the top offenses in high school.

Assistant coach in college. (Actually a consultant.)

Head coach at Div. 3 BSC. Started BSC program and went 3-7 in first year.

(09-16-2013 10:24 AM)backyardblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 09:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

Played college and professional football.

Coached at HS level for 13 years. Won at both schools, (where others had failed before him). Had one of the top offenses in high school.

Assistant coach in college. (Actually a consultant.)

Head coach at Div. 3 BSC. Started BSC program and went 3-7 in first year.

AND he was originally from the Mobile area so it made him a "Hommie" or "Home boy" returning to his "roots". I really believe that with the current industrial growth in the Mobile area and the "favored fair-haired child" status of the school in Montgomery, chances are pretty good for program success over the next several years.

(09-16-2013 10:24 AM)backyardblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 09:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

Played college and professional football.

Coached at HS level for 13 years. Won at both schools, (where others had failed before him). Had one of the top offenses in high school.

Assistant coach in college. (Actually a consultant.)

Head coach at Div. 3 BSC. Started BSC program and went 3-7 in first year.

Can I rest my case (or Smaug's case)?

(09-16-2013 10:27 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 10:24 AM)backyardblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 09:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

Played college and professional football.

Coached at HS level for 13 years. Won at both schools, (where others had failed before him). Had one of the top offenses in high school.

Assistant coach in college. (Actually a consultant.)

Head coach at Div. 3 BSC. Started BSC program and went 3-7 in first year.

AND he was originally from the Mobile area so it made him a "Hommie" or "Home boy" returning to his roots.

Do us a favor and refrain from attempting street slang.

It appears "homeboy-ness" & playing at a certain college trumps his other "qualifications"

(09-16-2013 10:29 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 10:24 AM)backyardblazer Wrote:  

(09-16-2013 09:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Just to get it out there, what made him qualified to be the head coach?

Played college and professional football.

Coached at HS level for 13 years. Won at both schools, (where others had failed before him). Had one of the top offenses in high school.

Assistant coach in college. (Actually a consultant.)

Head coach at Div. 3 BSC. Started BSC program and went 3-7 in first year.

Can I rest my case (or Smaug's case)?

OK. So he only had 1 year of college experience. He was hired to START a program, not take over a long established program. Had USA been around for a few years, then I would agree he wouldn't have been a good fit. But start ups need someone with local connection (played at Murphy HS) someone who understands starting from scratch (with limited means) and someone who has connections (long time hs coach, who is well liked).

Also, he is considered to be a great offensive mind (who had turned down numerous collegiate jobs) and runs a system that kids love to play in. His USA teams have pretty impressive numbers offensively.

He was a good fit for what USA needed.

I thought they should've got a call from BB.

(09-16-2013 10:33 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  It appears "homeboy-ness" & playing at a certain college trumps his other "qualifications"

USA has nothing to do with the UofA stystem, so no pressure from T-town got him the job. The fact that he played for Bama (and Coach Bryant) is certainly a plus for most people who understand college football, and it's tradition. The fact that he grew up in Mobile and played football at one of it's best known schools is another plus. (For some reason, both of these things seem to annoy you.)

Whether you like him or think he was qualified, Joey was the right fit to start the football program for USA. How long he will remain qualified will be for the USA AD and board to decide.