re: Free UAB Update: UAB head coach believes program is shutting down

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So what is the reasoning for them shutting it down. As in their actual reasoning, not necessarily the speculation? I've seen a lot of UAB folks talk about it coming but haven't seen anything to confirm it actually happening or refuting their claims.

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Lack of fan support and losing money. The lack of fan support comes from playing in a rusting POS stadium that is not on campus and the losing money is something that all but 22 programs do.

UAB never should have had a D1 program in the first place. Who cares?

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Uh, schedule a Bama or AU game at Legion Field for next season.

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Thats apples and oranges. Just look back at SEC teams coming to Bham for a bowl game. They get on here and worry about where to park and is it safe. Everyone knows its cover your arse in that area.

UAB football really doesn't matter to me. I just think it's petty to do this to them with everything they give to this state.

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Chicken before the egg, etc... They had a good thing going for a while but UA would never allow them to build on said success.

Tennessee has held Memphis football down for decades but would never dream of trying to shut it down.... that's some cold blooded shite.

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Sorry but that's just not true. We have no connection to the University of Memphis. You're confusing the Tigers with UT @ Memphis (UT's med school campus). We have several campuses in the system all over the state - UTC, UTM (martin), are two examples of that - but we aren't connected with U of M. They're their own thing.

Absolutely. Or they don't report it anymore. The city was, as always ignorant when they opened railroad park. But after that cluster frick they stepped up.

To think that the Regions Park area is as crime ridden as the Legion Field area shows a disingenuous agenda.

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Asses in seats?

You really expect people to rush week in and week out to Legion Field? No thanks, I like my body with the current openings it has.

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Is Legion Field still used for high school games?

Has nothing to do with Alabama feeling threatened. Why would Bama feel threatened by a program that can't get 15,000 in the stands?

It is about fiscal responsibility and not keeping the program on welfare.

There are very few true UAB fans. 99% of their fans are Bama or Auburn fans, so, they are going to go to Tuscaloosa or Auburn given the chance, as evidenced by their attendance for years. This isn't like they just started and haven't built a following. The program is 22 years old and is no better off (except for their coach) than they were when they started.

It is interesting to me that only very recently have they even considered getting funding from other sources. The UAB fans, both of them, want the BOT to build them a program rather than building it themselves.

Who will MSU beat up from bama now?

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I think they play a few HS games there. I'm pretty sure there was a huge brawl w/ a shooting there last year during a HS game.

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And yet they still play HS games there. And like the other poster said...if Bama or Auburn played a game there, the stadium would be packed. So the whole "no one wants to go to Legion Field" argument doesn't cut it.

In all of the debate, I have yet to see the numbers that show a UAB football program, with an on campus stadium, can be viable long term.

I have also seen it written that the city approached UAB about cooperating on a city owned facility, but that UAB wouldn't go along.

Also, the city currently gets 5,000 season tickets from UAB every year...paid for with city tax dollars.

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Has nothing to do with Alabama feeling threatened. Why would Bama feel threatened by a program that can't get 15,000 in the stands?

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That averaged around 20K this season

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It is about fiscal responsibility and not keeping the program on welfare.

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Then give them the resources necessary to win and support itself. Also only 23 athletic programs are self sustaing and those still receive subsidies.

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LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue and Texas were the only schools to report no subsidy money in 2012.

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No gumps

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Alabama's program received nearly $5.5 million in institutional funds in 2012, up from more than $5.2 million in 2011. It reported sending nearly $4.4 million of an $16.7 million total surplus back to the university — $1 million for faculty support and nearly $3.4 million in licensing money.

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LINK

So Bama received $5.5million and paid back 4.4 million. So the university of Alabama'a Athletic Department is on welfare. Time to shutdown your athletics gumps.