re: Auburn & Bama Fans: Question regarding the return of UAB football

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BamaGradinTn AAMU & ASU both have alumni bases that support those programs. A&M tripled UAB fans when we paid them a visit last year. Which means UAB is probably better off in FCS. Less money needed to support the program. There's nothing shameful about UAB existing as an FCS program. Its a happy medium.

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Not even close to being true. A&M travels well to Legion Field, but no, they didn't have as many fans as UAB did...certainly didn't have triple the fans. They average like 9k fans normally at home and their stadium holds 21,000.

And no, their alumni bases don't support their programs any more than UAB or Troy or South Alabama. I've already posted the subsidy numbers for their athletic programs and they're both in the 70%'s of their overall budget.

Average attendance + records for 2014:

UAB (6-6): 21,841
USA (6-7): 17,445
Troy (3-9): 16,767
JSU (10-2): 15,573
Alabama St (7-5): 12,697 (pretty solid for FCS)
Alabama A&M (4-8): 8,485

These are the types of arguments that I will never understand people try to use against UAB in this state. "But, but, the alumni of these other schools supports their team!"...except they don't. Higher subsidy percentages for their athletic programs, less ticket sales numbers, less contributions, and less people attend games. Yes, UAB has had terrible attended years, but even when UAB is even a mediocre 6-6 and there is at least some hope for the program (i.e the fanbase isn't saddled with Neil Callaway for 5 years), people show up to games just as well as any other non Alabama/Auburn team in this state. Bill Clark is an actual good football coach and there was actual hope for the program in 2014 after a decade of losing.


UAB athletics had $4,370,000 from ticket sales + contributions.

Troy athletics had $2,720,000 from ticket sales + contributions.

USA athletics had $2,120,000 from ticket sales + contributions.

JSU athletics had $1,620,000 from ticket sales + contrubitions

Alabama State had $1,550,000 from ticket sales + contributions.

Alabama A&M athletics had $950,000 from ticket sales + contributions.