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re: SEC Leads Nation in FBS Attendance (See UAB numbers)
Posted on 12/16/14 at 12:59 pm to BamaGradinTn
Posted on 12/16/14 at 12:59 pm to BamaGradinTn
quote:
Here's a corporation with deep pockets and a willingness to give to UAB athletics. Did they say, "Hey President Watts...we'll donate to UAB athletics, but we want the money to go to UAB football." No. Did they say, "President Watts, we have a $1,500,000 check for UAB athletics, but if you cut football, you're not getting it"? Hell no. They made a donation to be used towards a men's and women's sport that is financially viable long term and is hugely popular in the city of Birmingham, especially over the mountain, where 4 or 5 of the best HS programs in the state are located.
You have a point. But the process with which this decision was made was flawed. Again, I do not argue the outcome would have definitely been different, but the approach should have been, unless x amount is generated x will have to be cancelled.
I linked the earlier articles to emphasize the theme that the donors felt they were kept out of the loop. That becomes a trust issue. Will their donations decrease? I cannot say for certain but usually boosters voice their displeasure via their checkbook. I think the soccer improvements are great, but that was in the works before any of these developments came to light.
2
Posted on 12/16/14 at 1:05 pm to higgs_boson
quote:
the approach should have been, unless x amount is generated x will have to be cancelled
I would argue that this was the exact approach utilized; substitute "football fan attendance figures" for the first variable and you have your formula.
Posted on 12/16/14 at 1:06 pm to higgs_boson
quote:
You have a point. But the process with which this decision was made was flawed. Again, I do not argue the outcome would have definitely been different, but the approach should have been, unless x amount is generated x will have to be cancelled.
I linked the earlier articles to emphasize the theme that the donors felt they were kept out of the loop. That becomes a trust issue. Will their donations decrease? I cannot say for certain but usually boosters voice their displeasure via their checkbook. I think the soccer improvements are great, but that was in the works before any of these developments came to light
People have known that UAB football was on its death bed for a while. Sure, some supporters and some boosters are unhappy. And maybe they should have just come out and said, unless we get x dollars, then the program ends. But these supporters...who are they, and how important are they in UAB's eyes? One day I read that Iron City cancels a $45,000 sponsorship, then the next day I read that BBVA Compass cuts them a $1.5M check. Even if the deal was in the works, did BBVA Compass back out? No. And even though football's financial woes have been widely known for some time, BBVA wanted their large donation to go to something else.
Donors often have pet projects they want to donate to. They may have unlimited cash and may be happy to give you their money...but if they want it to go to soccer and not football, those are just the constraints you have to live with.
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