(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of UAB fans, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I think UAB is a good fit for the AAC institutionally. The question for me is whether the new stadium will generate the level of fan support needed. Otherwise, UAB is a strong choice - good institutionally, good market, and good location. But we already have a few teams that struggle with attendance, and I think we should be very cautious about adding another team drawing a 50% full stadium.

(10-23-2019 10:02 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 09:31 AM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 08:48 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 07:45 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(10-22-2019 07:28 PM)bullet Wrote:  That was their only year since 2002 without at least 6 losses. Its why he got the Florida job. He took a bad program and got 10 wins.

Pulling up the 2015 record book Colorado St. is bottom 20 all time at .475.

Who was below them? The historical dregs of FBS. And some of these schools who were new to FBS have probably passed them (since it doesn't take much to improve on those low winning %s).

MAC-Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent St.
Sun Belt-Georgia St., La-Monroe
CUSA-FAU, FIU, UAB, Rice, UTEP
MWC-UNLV, New Mexico
Indy-New Mexico St.
AAC-Tulane, Temple
P5-Indiana, Iowa St., Kansas St., Northwestern

C'mon. 475 is 5.7 wins a year. Thats pretty average. I looked it up a while back. I think I went back 20 years and they were a few games under .500 for that period. I call that basically average. Look, Im not saying they are great---but they will be around .500 with a really good year here and there and a really bad year here and there. Most of the eastern options are a drag on basketball, football, or both. Thats why I like the idea of splitting the bid rather than looking for a single full member---or just standing pat at 11.

Well, ODU's win % in FBS is 0.456 not far below CSU and we just moved up to FBS. We've had a good year, currently having an awful year and the rest were 4-6 wins. It certainly hasn't been great and we're not getting an invite based on our FBS football record. I'm not saying CSU wouldn't be a better add either, they have a beautiful new stadium and have good support despite lackluster performance, a brand new market. Plenty to like. I'm just saying your characterizations are flawed. And we don't plan on sucking forever, FWIW.

Correct. That’s kinda my point. The eastern full member choices being batted about are all so bad that CSU actually looks better. The process has devolved to the point that its not about adding the “best” option—it’s about adding the least “bad” option. All I’m really saying is there isn’t anyone worth adding as a full member—-thus your better off splitting the invite into “football only” and “non-football” slots or standing pat. Right now, I actually think standing pat is probably the wisest move.

I'm fine with that but....

"I'll stipulate CSU isnt a great football factory---but they arent among the worst in FBS like UAB or ODU"

"C'mon. 475 is 5.7 wins a year. Thats pretty average."

.....doesn't hold water. Either we're both terrible or both average. We were actually 0.492 before the start of this season with 1 ten win season and our worse season in school history (10 years) being 4 wins. Again, this isn't impressive per se and this year we're definitely one of the worst teams in the FBS but I imagine we'll have a coaching change and we'll see what happens.

Ok. Since ODU only has a 6 year history at the FBS level--lets just compare that to the CSU's last decade. lol...I had looked this up this summer and didnt feel like doing it again---but since its become an issue----Im just going to do it. So here is the last 10 years of CSU season win/loss records. Turns out its basically what I remembered---pretty average. CSU finished the last 10 years with 5 losing seasons and 5 winning seasons (assuming they go on to finish under .500 this season). They are currently exactly one game under .500 for the decade (they were actually over .500 this summer when I ran the numbers). Idk---maybe my difference in perception simply stems from seeing CSU with a winning record (heading to a bowl) more often than ODU over the last decade or so---even though the winning percentages arent really that different.

2019....2-5
2018...3-9
2017...7-6
2016...7-6
2015...-7-6
2014...10-3
2013...8-6
2012...4-8
2011...3-9
2010...3-9

54-55


ODU (2 winning seasons and 4 losing seasons)

2019...1-6
2018...4-8
2017...5-7
2016...10-3
2015...5-7
2014...6-6

31-37

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of fans of teams that’re “being looked at” by the AAC, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I heard UAB’s mascot kicked a puppy while the crowd cheered at a football game 3 years ago.

An outsider perspective on this ....


Frankly, I hope the AAC is successful petitioning for a provision eliminating the requirement that conferences must have divisions in order to have a conference championship game. This would allow them to stay at 11 members, and schedule accordingly. It would also allow EVERY other conference the ability to do the same. As a member of the 14 football team ACC, this would make scheduling MUCH better.

But ... let's be honest with ourselves. Does anyone really think the AAC brass is gonna be able to pull that off?


I think the AAC will have to add a school.

And I think the choice is obvious.

It's gonna be UAB.

--- brand new stadium.
--- football crazy part of the world.
--- ALREADY competitive with the AAC.


The biggest reason though that it will be UAB is this ....

... the "power schools" in the AAC have one foot out the door. Do they REALLY want to try and poach a school from the MWC? Do they REALLY want to make the AAC "great"? Hell no ... they want to play in the Big XII, or Big Ten, or ACC.


It's gonna be UAB.


Congrats Blazers -- you deserve it!

(10-23-2019 10:47 AM)Pervis_Griffith Wrote:  

An outsider perspective on this ....


Frankly, I hope the AAC is successful petitioning for a provision eliminating the requirement that conferences must have divisions in order to have a conference championship game. This would allow them to stay at 11 members, and schedule accordingly. It would also allow EVERY other conference the ability to do the same. As a member of the 14 football team ACC, this would make scheduling MUCH better.

But ... let's be honest with ourselves. Does anyone really think the AAC brass is gonna be able to pull that off?


I think the AAC will have to add a school.

And I think the choice is obvious.

It's gonna be UAB.

--- brand new stadium.
--- football crazy part of the world.
--- ALREADY competitive with the AAC.


The biggest reason though that it will be UAB is this ....

... the "power schools" in the AAC have one foot out the door. Do they REALLY want to try and poach a school from the MWC? Do they REALLY want to make the AAC "great"? Hell no ... they want to play in the Big XII, or Big Ten, or ACC.


It's gonna be UAB.


Congrats Blazers -- you deserve it!

lol...ok, point taken---you are absolutely correct that every AAC school is looking for a way into a P5----but they also know that the door to a P5 is 5 feet thick and locked tight with a crap load of dead bolts. So, I think the membership still is reasonably invested in making sure the AAC is a decent home (at least for the short run). That said---I do think many of the AAC schools dont believe they will be here all that long. Thats why I dont see any member being all that excited about adding a "long term project" with "lots of potential" because most schools think they wont be here to benefit when that "potential" finally blossoms (assuming it ever does). I think the membership will be much more focused on schools that are ready to contribute NOW---and there really arent any schools like that in the east.

UAB sucked at football and so is ODU. Both have a great men's basketball that could compete right away in AAC. It seems ODU have a better at getting fans to watch football. ODU and ECU fans could drive to each other games to help bump the ticket sales with more fans in the stadiums. ODU just built a brand new on campus stadium which they are ahead of UAB right now. ODU is already spending at the AAC level on athletics. Virginia is a hotbed for both men's basketball and football recruits while Alabama only have football hotbeds. Looking at the overall picture if you want to present yourself in both sports? The state of Virginia is the better place to get into before Alabama. Virginia is number 5 in men's basketball recruits and Alabama is no where in the top 20. Virginia is number 9 in recruitment in football while Alabama is number 7. This is based on the last 5 recruiting classes.

(10-23-2019 08:11 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Side Show, I'm not here to pimp UAB admission to the AAC. But I am here to correct to misinformation that is being said about UAB and Birmingham. Yes, it is more desirable to have an on campus stadium but the new Birmingham stadium is being built primarily for UAB Football that of course will be used for other events such as the Birmingham Bowl and the upcoming World Games. There is no reason for the AAC to view as a detriment for consideration.

As far as the other stuff you rattled off it's whatever. I'm not going to rattle off negatives about other programs to justify why they wouldn't be considered for the AAC. That's too easy and bush-league.

UAB attributes will stand on it's own just like UNT, Northern Illinois, BYU or any other school that may be considered if the AAC decides to extend an invite.

City/University partnerships can work. Of course, a lot depends on leadership. Memphis appears to be in the midst of a good run in their partnership with the city. If B'ham embraces UAB as the city's school, joint capital projects and branding opportunities can take off. It can and should be a win/win.

(10-23-2019 10:37 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of fans of teams that’re “being looked at” by the AAC, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I heard UAB’s mascot kicked a puppy while the crowd cheered at a football game 3 years ago.

That is incorrect. We did not have a football team 3 years ago. That incident was 2 years ago and involved a kitten, not a puppy. Speaking of, we kicked some poor kitten that labels itself as a “monarch” this past Saturday to the tune of 38-14

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of fans of teams that’re “being looked at” by the AAC, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

Well, the issue with the BOT from University of Alabama killed UAB's football program would hurt UAB getting into the AAC or other conference. UAB need to break away from UAT to escape the BOT, formed their own BOT, rename themselves and build up.

(10-23-2019 11:17 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 08:11 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Side Show, I'm not here to pimp UAB admission to the AAC. But I am here to correct to misinformation that is being said about UAB and Birmingham. Yes, it is more desirable to have an on campus stadium but the new Birmingham stadium is being built primarily for UAB Football that of course will be used for other events such as the Birmingham Bowl and the upcoming World Games. There is no reason for the AAC to view as a detriment for consideration.

As far as the other stuff you rattled off it's whatever. I'm not going to rattle off negatives about other programs to justify why they wouldn't be considered for the AAC. That's too easy and bush-league.

UAB attributes will stand on it's own just like UNT, Northern Illinois, BYU or any other school that may be considered if the AAC decides to extend an invite.

City/University partnerships can work. Of course, a lot depends on leadership. Memphis appears to be in the midst of a good run in their partnership with the city. If B'ham embraces UAB as the city's school, joint capital projects and branding opportunities can take off. It can and should be a win/win.

It can, but I don't see that as likely. I am familiar with UAB from USF being in the Sun Belt conference with them back in the 1980s. They strike me as the same UAB now (relatively speaking) as they were then.

Arguably even less, because they had some really good hoops teams back then.

(10-23-2019 11:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:37 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of fans of teams that’re “being looked at” by the AAC, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I heard UAB’s mascot kicked a puppy while the crowd cheered at a football game 3 years ago.

That is incorrect. We did not have a football team 3 years ago. That incident was 2 years ago and involved a kitten, not a puppy. Speaking of, we kicked some poor kitten that labels itself as a “monarch” this past Saturday to the tune of 38-14

Fake news. Our BOT voted over the summer to shut down our football program. Hopefully for just a year though. It wasn't widely reported but became apparent around week 5

(10-23-2019 11:41 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 11:17 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 08:11 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Side Show, I'm not here to pimp UAB admission to the AAC. But I am here to correct to misinformation that is being said about UAB and Birmingham. Yes, it is more desirable to have an on campus stadium but the new Birmingham stadium is being built primarily for UAB Football that of course will be used for other events such as the Birmingham Bowl and the upcoming World Games. There is no reason for the AAC to view as a detriment for consideration.

As far as the other stuff you rattled off it's whatever. I'm not going to rattle off negatives about other programs to justify why they wouldn't be considered for the AAC. That's too easy and bush-league.

UAB attributes will stand on it's own just like UNT, Northern Illinois, BYU or any other school that may be considered if the AAC decides to extend an invite.

City/University partnerships can work. Of course, a lot depends on leadership. Memphis appears to be in the midst of a good run in their partnership with the city. If B'ham embraces UAB as the city's school, joint capital projects and branding opportunities can take off. It can and should be a win/win.

It can, but I don't see that as likely. I am familiar with UAB from USF being in the Sun Belt conference with them back in the 1980s. They strike me as the same UAB now (relatively speaking) as they were then.

Arguably even less, because they had some really good hoops teams back then.

A bit before my time but ODU played in the Sun Belt at that time. Of course, they didn't sponsor football and none of USF, UAB or ODU had a football team then so I don't know how you can really make that statement.

edit: To the point though I agree with gulfcoastgal that those partnerships can be beneficial and seems to be the case in Birmingham. UAB gets out of Legion field and into a new stadium that they seemingly couldn't have achieved on their own. The only downside I see with these types of scenarios are a lot of times the stadium is way too big for the schools needs and takes away from the environment. This shouldn't be as bad with UAB as with some in NFL stadiums though and secondly it's not on campus.

(10-23-2019 11:50 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 11:41 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 11:17 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 08:11 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  Side Show, I'm not here to pimp UAB admission to the AAC. But I am here to correct to misinformation that is being said about UAB and Birmingham. Yes, it is more desirable to have an on campus stadium but the new Birmingham stadium is being built primarily for UAB Football that of course will be used for other events such as the Birmingham Bowl and the upcoming World Games. There is no reason for the AAC to view as a detriment for consideration.

As far as the other stuff you rattled off it's whatever. I'm not going to rattle off negatives about other programs to justify why they wouldn't be considered for the AAC. That's too easy and bush-league.

UAB attributes will stand on it's own just like UNT, Northern Illinois, BYU or any other school that may be considered if the AAC decides to extend an invite.

City/University partnerships can work. Of course, a lot depends on leadership. Memphis appears to be in the midst of a good run in their partnership with the city. If B'ham embraces UAB as the city's school, joint capital projects and branding opportunities can take off. It can and should be a win/win.

It can, but I don't see that as likely. I am familiar with UAB from USF being in the Sun Belt conference with them back in the 1980s. They strike me as the same UAB now (relatively speaking) as they were then.

Arguably even less, because they had some really good hoops teams back then.

A bit before my time but ODU played in the Sun Belt at that time. Of course, they didn't sponsor football and none of USF, UAB or ODU had a football team then so I don't know how you can really make that statement.

I think I can. The important concept is "relative", that is, what is school's national brand now relative to what it was then?

I would say UAB was clearly more of a brand in the 1980s, as their hoops program had a prominence under Gene Bartow.

FWIW, sorry you missed Sun Belt hoops in the 1980s. It was a lot of fun, and good. The conference was very tight-knit, with only six teams and then eight teams, despite some big geography differences. The name said it - we were bright eyed basketball schools in booming sun belt southern states!

And the hoops was quality. Most of those years, two of the eight teams would make the NCAA tournament, which was smaller than it is now. Heck in 1986, four of the eight teams made the Big Dance! Sadly, USF never did, until 1990, but ODU was a conference power back then.

Fun times ... and still the most cohesive conference USF has ever been a part of.

(10-23-2019 10:26 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of UAB fans, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I think UAB is a good fit for the AAC institutionally. The question for me is whether the new stadium will generate the level of fan support needed. Otherwise, UAB is a strong choice - good institutionally, good market, and good location. But we already have a few teams that struggle with attendance, and I think we should be very cautious about adding another team drawing a 50% full stadium.

UAB is averaging 30,000 this season in a 71,000 seat stadium. Our attendance would be 7th or 8th in the AAC. UAB has average over 26,000 the previous two seasons. Legion Field hurts our attendance. That will change in 2031 when 30,000 in a 40,000 seat stadium won't look as bad as does in a 71,000 seat stadium.

(10-23-2019 11:23 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of fans of teams that’re “being looked at” by the AAC, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

Well, the issue with the BOT from University of Alabama killed UAB's football program would hurt UAB getting into the AAC or other conference. UAB need to break away from UAT to escape the BOT, formed their own BOT, rename themselves and build up.

Boy you sound about as stupid as stupid can be. That is why you are so loved on this board.

(10-23-2019 12:30 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:26 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of UAB fans, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I think UAB is a good fit for the AAC institutionally. The question for me is whether the new stadium will generate the level of fan support needed. Otherwise, UAB is a strong choice - good institutionally, good market, and good location. But we already have a few teams that struggle with attendance, and I think we should be very cautious about adding another team drawing a 50% full stadium.

UAB is averaging 30,000 this season in a 71,000 seat stadium. Our attendance would be 7th or 8th in the AAC. UAB has average over 26,000 the previous two seasons. Legion Field hurts our attendance. That will change in 2031 when 30,000 in a 40,000 seat stadium won't look as bad as does in a 71,000 seat stadium.

That 30K looks good, but its a very skewed number. 39K was vs Alabama St (who showed up in droves). The second game was about 28K---against S Alabama---another nearby team who helped fill the stadium. For the next two games vs Rice and ODU, where UAB would have to fill the stadium largely on their own, the attendance plummeted to an average of 21,500 over those two games. Worse yet---only 19,511 showed up at the most recent home game despite the fact that UAB is the reigning CUSA champion and is 6-1 right now.

Look, I get it. All G5's have to deal with trying to build attendance---my team has to work at it too. But the rule of thumb is attendance peaks during good years and falls in bad years. So, if a 6-1 team is struggling at the gate in Birmingham, that makes one wonder what the attendance will be when the inevitable sub .500 season rolls around. UAB, ODU, Charlotte, UMass, Georgia State, etc....they all seem to be the same to me. They are all "projects" that represent gambles that may or may not ever pay off. If its all about potential---then Georgia State, with nearly 53K students, located in a metro area of almost 6 million, probably has the greatest potential up side of all the candidates.

(10-23-2019 12:45 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 12:30 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:26 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(10-23-2019 10:21 AM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  Between the snobbiness of AAC fans, the ignorance of people who know nothing about UAB, but claim to, and the homer-istic opinions of UAB fans, this thread has it all. It’s better than cable.

I think UAB is a good fit for the AAC institutionally. The question for me is whether the new stadium will generate the level of fan support needed. Otherwise, UAB is a strong choice - good institutionally, good market, and good location. But we already have a few teams that struggle with attendance, and I think we should be very cautious about adding another team drawing a 50% full stadium.

UAB is averaging 30,000 this season in a 71,000 seat stadium. Our attendance would be 7th or 8th in the AAC. UAB has average over 26,000 the previous two seasons. Legion Field hurts our attendance. That will change in 2031 when 30,000 in a 40,000 seat stadium won't look as bad as does in a 71,000 seat stadium.

That 30K looks good, but its a very skewed number. 39K was vs Alabama St (who showed up in droves). The second game was about 28K---against S Alabama---another nearby team who helped fill the stadium. For the next two games vs Rice and ODU, where UAB would have to fill the stadium largely on their own, the attendance plummeted to an average of 21,500 over those two games. Worse yet---only 19,511 showed up at the most recent home game despite the fact that UAB is the reigning CUSA champion and is 6-1 right now.

Look, I get it. All G5's have to deal with trying to build attendance---my team has to work at it too. But the rule of thumb is attendance peaks during good years and falls in bad years. So, if a 6-1 team is struggling at the gate in Birmingham, that makes one wonder what the attendance will be when the inevitable sub .500 season rolls around. UAB, ODU, Charlotte, UMass, Georgia State, etc....they all seem to be the same to me. They are all "projects" that represent gambles that may or may not ever pay off.

And the AAC is not going to take on a project. USM and Marshall are known quantities. Several of the MAC schools are less of a project. Even Rice, Colorado St. and New Mexico. If they can't get Army or Air Force, they will take someone who has been in FBS more than 10 years.

The Coogs attendance isn't looking so hot this year which is kinda shocking considering the success of the program over the last 5 years. It is so easy to pick on a program's attendance in college football. It was a beautiful day in Houston for the Coogs/Bearcats game but the stadium was half full. The 19,000 at the most recent UAB home game was raining and miserable. It is what it is right?

So I'm done. It was a great discussion about UAB. Gotta admit we haven't been talked about this much on this board ever.

UAB will keep on improving on our strengths and working on our deficiencies. Maybe someone can start another thread on who the AAC will add.

(10-23-2019 01:12 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  The Coogs attendance isn't looking so hot this year which is kinda shocking considering the success of the program over the last 5 years. It is so easy to pick on a program's attendance in college football. It was a beautiful day in Houston for the Coogs/Bearcats game but the stadium was half full. The 19,000 at the most recent UAB home game was raining and miserable. It is what it is right?

So I'm done. It was a great discussion about UAB. Gotta admit we haven't been talked about this much on this board ever.

UAB will keep on improving on our strengths and working on our deficiencies. Maybe someone can start another thread on who the AAC will add.

Yup. Like I said, attendance drops in bad years. FWIW----the future for UAB looks brighter than it has in ages---regardless of what happens with that 12th AAC slot. Hope you guys win the championship again this year.

(10-23-2019 01:12 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  The Coogs attendance isn't looking so hot this year which is kinda shocking considering the success of the program over the last 5 years. It is so easy to pick on a program's attendance in college football. It was a beautiful day in Houston for the Coogs/Bearcats game but the stadium was half full. The 19,000 at the most recent UAB home game was raining and miserable. It is what it is right?

So I'm done. It was a great discussion about UAB. Gotta admit we haven't been talked about this much on this board ever.

UAB will keep on improving on our strengths and working on our deficiencies. Maybe someone can start another thread on who the AAC will add.

Dude ... don't worry about it.

You're in.