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

(12-22-2015 11:50 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The cliff notes version is people need to make UAB a priority and attend the games. Haase has recruited in state talent, won the CUSA tournament, and won an NCAA game last year. I would agree that work still needs to be done on consistently winning games that matter (ie; resume wins), but we need to start showing up no matter the opponent if we want to be a big time program. He also mentioned people using the weather as an excuse for not coming to games is pretty weak.

Haase commented that the next 2-3 years are critical to the athletic program and I would agree. Though he didn't explicitly mention this, it's no secret the Big 12 is looking at expansion and more conference realignment dominoes will fall. If we aren't called up to at least the AAC when that happens, we will forever be wandering in the wilderness of mediocrity and crappy conference affiliation. Let's all keep our eye on the prize and kick things into high gear the next 2-3 years. Now's not the time to rest simply because we got football back. Much more work to be done.

He said he was tired of hearing excuses..."it was raining...it was too nice outside...it was too cold...we were playing Hiwassee... each and every one of you know someone who has season tickets and is not here tonight...tell them to use their tickets or give them to someone who will... "

He said he was afraid complacency is setting in...as if once we got football back, the drive was finished...it is not, the drive for this athletics department still has a long way to go...If we want to be known as a national program it's time for the fan base to step up and act like one...

He owned up to his shortcomings clouding play on the court and scheduling. We can't post everything he said. I wish it was recorded. He even said that they may need to drive to their house (other coaches) to get them to play or something to that effect.

I loved it. The Blazerclub needs to be checked for signs of life. Not everyone but a good bunch of them. If you show up and show out you obviously know who you are.

Haase is probably the biggest piece moving forward for the athletic department as a whole. I know football drives the ship, but good basketball from a school with basketball tradition would put the athletic department ahead of alot of schools.

(12-23-2015 12:11 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(12-22-2015 11:50 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The cliff notes version is people need to make UAB a priority and attend the games. Haase has recruited in state talent, won the CUSA tournament, and won an NCAA game last year. I would agree that work still needs to be done on consistently winning games that matter (ie; resume wins), but we need to start showing up no matter the opponent if we want to be a big time program. He also mentioned people using the weather as an excuse for not coming to games is pretty weak.

Haase commented that the next 2-3 years are critical to the athletic program and I would agree. Though he didn't explicitly mention this, it's no secret the Big 12 is looking at expansion and more conference realignment dominoes will fall. If we aren't called up to at least the AAC when that happens, we will forever be wandering in the wilderness of mediocrity and crappy conference affiliation. Let's all keep our eye on the prize and kick things into high gear the next 2-3 years. Now's not the time to rest simply because we got football back. Much more work to be done.

I agree, but Haase has to do his part too. If we are in 4.0 I don't know what to tell you. Haase should be able to dominate this conference, its what helped Memphis.

Success in basketball has very little to do with Memphis moving to the AAC, which was the Big East at the time. Commitment to football, a connection to the Liberty Bowl and Fed Ex were bigger factors. The only role basketball played was Memphis was supposed to be a bone to the basketball only schools, and that fell on its face.

(12-23-2015 12:29 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 12:11 AM)Big Dee Wrote:  

(12-22-2015 11:50 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  The cliff notes version is people need to make UAB a priority and attend the games. Haase has recruited in state talent, won the CUSA tournament, and won an NCAA game last year. I would agree that work still needs to be done on consistently winning games that matter (ie; resume wins), but we need to start showing up no matter the opponent if we want to be a big time program. He also mentioned people using the weather as an excuse for not coming to games is pretty weak.

Haase commented that the next 2-3 years are critical to the athletic program and I would agree. Though he didn't explicitly mention this, it's no secret the Big 12 is looking at expansion and more conference realignment dominoes will fall. If we aren't called up to at least the AAC when that happens, we will forever be wandering in the wilderness of mediocrity and crappy conference affiliation. Let's all keep our eye on the prize and kick things into high gear the next 2-3 years. Now's not the time to rest simply because we got football back. Much more work to be done.

I agree, but Haase has to do his part too. If we are in 4.0 I don't know what to tell you. Haase should be able to dominate this conference, its what helped Memphis.

Success in basketball has very little to do with Memphis moving to the AAC, which was the Big East at the time. Commitment to football, a connection to the Liberty Bowl and Fed Ex were bigger factors. The only role basketball played was Memphis was supposed to be a bone to the basketball only schools, and that fell on its face.

Lol jeebus I didn't say it was the main factor, but being competitive in one out the two helps at that time. Now UaB may have to be competitive in both for to move up.

Let's put it this way then - from 2002 till 2012, their last season in C-USA, Memphis never won less than 22 games. They won more than 30 four times, and they went undefeated in conference four times. They went to the NCAA nine times, including a 16, two eights, and a final.

This certainly helped to sell them to any interested conference, if only because of all the NCAA credits they were generating.

Football drives the bus for sure, but this kind of record offsets some weakness there, and is a plus itself.

Fine, you guys obviously know the situation in Memphis from your vantage point in Birmingham, than I do.

(12-23-2015 01:09 AM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  Let's put it this way then - from 2002 till 2012, their last season in C-USA, Memphis never won less than 22 games. They won more than 30 four times, and they went undefeated in conference four times. They went to the NCAA nine times, including a 16, two eights, and a final.

This certainly helped to sell them to any interested conference, if only because of all the NCAA credits they were generating.

Football drives the bus for sure, but this kind of record offsets some weakness there, and is a plus itself.

Basketball had nothing to do with Memphis getting in the AAC. Just like having two basketball National Championships and being a basketball powerhouse hasn't help UCONN to get into the Big Ten or ACC. UAB could fill Bartow Arena every game, go 30-4 and make the Dance for the next 10 years and it would not get us in a better conference if our football program sucks.

How did Tulane, UCF, SMU, Houston, and Tulsa get into the AAC with their average to mediocre basketball programs and sucky attendance at the time of their invites?

Their sucky attendance played a huge role in the Big East saying F off and splitting. Tulane took our spot in the AAC with having their stadium plan in place and UAB not being allowed to invest.

UAB needs to be averaging no less than 6k per game with big games near sellout or at a sellout. Let's get to there first. It's doable.

(12-23-2015 07:55 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Tulane took our spot in the AAC with having their stadium plan in place and UAB not being allowed to invest.

That's what I heard from several places at the time. Our stadium deal getting squashed along with Tulane's new one made some Big East Presidents say "Well, UAB is never going to be allowed to invest."

Scolding the fanbase and trying to guilt us into coming to games has worked well in the past.

(12-23-2015 08:34 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 07:55 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Tulane took our spot in the AAC with having their stadium plan in place and UAB not being allowed to invest.

That's what I heard from several places at the time. Our stadium deal getting squashed along with Tulane's new one made some Big East Presidents say "Well, UAB is never going to be allowed to invest."

No coincidence to it and with possibilities of realignment shuffling again it's really now or never, in a sense. If we miss out on even going to the AAC it will be a look loooooong cold time in Sunbelt-USA.

(12-23-2015 08:41 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  Scolding the fanbase and trying to guilt us into coming to games has worked well in the past.

Think about what he just saw. 14,000 came to a game in his team's city. It wasn't even a big name program that came.(Oregon basketball is middle of the road). We hosted the conference championship in the same building and couldn't get that for one of our games. You don't think that pisses him off just a little?

Enough with Birmingham isn't a basketball town and all the other excuses. 14,000 people in the area showed up to a game. We only need about half of that. If we don't get the invite to the AAC next go around, we are screwed.(say whatever you want about the AAC, they have one team projected above 250 this year, we aren't even close to peer conferences). We all need to do whatever we can, and Haase is right, if you can't use your tickets, find somebody who can.

I can forgive the students for not showing up last night, this is where the fans need to do their part to make up.

(12-23-2015 06:11 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  How did Tulane, UCF, SMU, Houston, and Tulsa get into the AAC with their average to mediocre basketball programs and sucky attendance at the time of their invites?

Market, market(football), market(deep pocket boosters), market (football), and football (basketball was on the uptick at that time).

(12-23-2015 09:54 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(12-23-2015 08:41 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  Scolding the fanbase and trying to guilt us into coming to games has worked well in the past.

Think about what he just saw. 14,000 came to a game in his team's city. It wasn't even a big name program that came.(Oregon basketball is middle of the road). We hosted the conference championship in the same building and couldn't get that for one of our games. You don't think that pisses him off just a little?

Enough with Birmingham isn't a basketball town and all the other excuses. 14,000 people in the area showed up to a game. We only need about half of that. If we don't get the invite to the AAC next go around, we are screwed.(say whatever you want about the AAC, they have one team projected above 250 this year, we aren't even close to peer conferences). We all need to do whatever we can, and Haase is right, if you can't use your tickets, find somebody who can.

I can forgive the students for not showing up last night, this is where the fans need to do their part to make up.

We averaged 3,258/game last season. We finished off the year on an incredible run and entered this year with a ton of positive momentum. Hasse and his staff have turned this program around as we have seen improvement year after year. Yet, there's still no sign that our attendance numbers are turning the corner. I will say, however, that comparing our attendance numbers to Alabama and Auburn is pointless. We are nowhere close to being on their same level in terms of fan support. The road game at Auburn opened my eyes to that. Hell - last year Alabama averaged over 10,000/ game while Auburn averaged over 7,000/game. I don't even have to look to know those numbers are higher this year.

I'm glad Haase as vocal about it last night. I appreciate his honesty and openness to the situation. He could have blasted it to the media, but he instead tried to light a fire under the people who support our program the most. The ones he can trust to go out and recruit more Blazer fans and convince their fellow boosters to either come to the game or give their tickets to someone who will.

My hope is that we will average 6,000+ in conference play with a solid 1,000+ student average. It can be done.

Lastly - I'm growing tired of hearing gripes about the schedule. I know I'm not the only one and there are fans who have much more invested in this program than myself, but I'd get excited to go watch these guys practice! Seeing Smallwood get in the game last night and put up 7 points in what felt like 1 min of action had me jumping out of my seat. Love this team and am so excited to see them compete the rest of the way and hopefully win another conference championship in front of a sold out crowd at BJCC!

Yep Johnson and Pearl both are trying to show UaB up. I can see it now, we had more fans attend our bham game against Ore than UaB averaged all season. I think this one game helped their 2017 recruiting tremendously.

I'm not saying his frustration isn't justified. I'm just saying that the "get off your butts and go to the games" speech never works.

(12-23-2015 11:14 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  I'm not saying his frustration isn't justified. I'm just saying that the "get off your butts and go to the games" speech never works.

What would you suggest he do instead to get people to go to the game?