43 years ago tonight, UAB took to the court for their first ever game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in front of a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum (Legacy Arena). The Blazers lost that night, 64-55, but would claim the first victory in school history the very next night.
A couple of other bits of trivia:
The green and gold colors were selected by a vote of the students in the summer of 1970:
Green and Gold - 231 votes
Blue and White - 147 votes
Rust and White - 97 votes
Others receiving votes - Green and Gray; Red and Gray; Red and Blue.
The Blazers nickname was chosen by the students in January of 1978 over the other finalists - Titans, Barons and Warriors.
(NOTE: The Birmingham baseball team had left town in 1975 and wouldn't return until 1981).