If these two get in a would just like to point out one thing:

In 2004 when Memphis, Cincinnati, and Louisville were all in CUSA still, UAB had an equal athletic Athletic Department to all of them in every sport except football.
Those 4 were not only the top basketball teams in CUSA, but national competitors.

The difference between them and UAB? Those schools made a commitment to their football programs and UAB was given nothing and told to make it work.

All 4 schools are "commuter" schools with urban campuses (Louisville and Memphis both have similar sized metro population).
Granted, all 3 of those schools are much much older than UAB with football programs decades older than UAB itself, giving them established alumni bases for support. But in 2004 they were in the same situation athletically as UAB.

If Cincy and Memphis make the Big 12, and with Louisville in the ACC now, and even all 3 of them having been in the Big East, it shows the potential of a school like UAB if given the support and tools to compete and time to nurture and grow.

Let's look at the stadium situations for comparison.

-Cincinnati, Nippert Stadium: on campus stadium. 35k seats (just expanded to 40k due to their success.) Basically this is exactly what UAB wants and needs. Draws fans who want to be downtown anyway and allows students easy, quick, and safe access to games. Cincy is lucky theirs is so old and historic.

-Louisville, Papa John's Stadium: UL was able to use corporate sponsorship to get first class facilities for both football and basketball. This a good idea for an upstart program like UAB. Would Regions want to own B'ham sports with their names on downtown baseball and football stadiums? Having their name on a D-1 college football stadium would give them considerably more exposure than a minor league baseball stadium could ever hope for.

-Memphis, Liberty Bowl: I already know the comparisons to Legion Field are coming here, but you're wrong. They're roughly the same size and historic stadiums. But Legion Field is 50 years older. Legion Field has projects across the street. Legion Field has been allowed to deteriorate while the Liberty Bowl has been maintained and given face lifts. Even being half a century older and maintained its still showing its age. No way in hell the Liberty Bowl is still being used in 50 years. Legion Fiels isn't fit for any kind of use except scrap.

Last point for those still saying UAB can't win in football. Look at almost every other CFB program in Alabama. There's a football team from Alabama that dominates almost every level of CFB, and almost every singl program is successful. But unlike UAB, those football programs are backed by their administration. Imagine what a school in the heart of the biggest city of the most football crazy state on earth could accomplish with the proper support.
-Bama. Top 5 CFB program all time
-Auburn. Top 15 CFB program all time
-Troy. Former D-2 powerhouse. Came into FBS after UAB and since have won 5 conference championships, been to 5 bowl games, had 12 draft picks including two 1st rounders, and have the stadium that UAB needs. And have done all this in the middle of nowhere. Imagine a program that tries like Troy but in Birmingham.
-South Alabama. Only existed since 2009 and been FBS for 3 seasons. Coming into their own in the Sun Belt and a big reason for Troys recent struggles. They are a prime example for UAB of how to start from literally nowhere and build a foundation for the future.
-North Alabama. Division 2 powerhouse. Perennial championship contender.
-Jacksonville State. FCS power, constant conference contender, annual playoff presence, and have even managed some good NFL players