UAB Football - $6mil pledged to reinstate football

[Aldo]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12845360/supporters-pledge-6m-reinstate-uab-football

"The bid to revive the University of Alabama-Birmingham football program got another boost Thursday, when the UAB athletics assessment task force announced it had gotten pledges totaling almost $6 million from supporters who want to bring back football."

Thought this was awesome. Hopefully they can get this going. Don't let the man keep you down!

[Harry]

Very positive development for UAB.

[MeanGreen13]

This whole thing was so freaking stupid...

[North Texas Shep]

Just start the damn program back up. Let them do a few practices this summer to make up for missing spring. Then they will be ready for fall. The president of UAB really shit the bed on this one.

[greenit]

I hope this results in them not only bringing back football but also getting approval for an on campus stadium and it blows up in UAT's face. Not likely, but hopefully.

[Mean Green Matt]

Has the secret to getting big donations been revealed?

[greenminer]

'bama getting the middle finger from Birmingham?

[greenminer]

UAB Football signs first football recruit to new era.

 

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13291553/uab-blazers-sign-first-player-deciding-restore-football

[NTXCoog]

Is $6million enough?  How much of an increase is $6million over prior donations?  Is this a one time thing or will there be comparable annual donations?

I'm sure this is an improvement on prior donations, but if it is a one time thing and financial support decreases to prior levels and the political situation doesn't change e.g. not allowing an on campus stadium, I'm not sure how much of an impact this will have.

[Cr1028]

This has to be a kick in the nads for players like Jakii Moore who were forced to leave the program to continue playing football. The program is now coming back without them and they'd lose a year of eligibility if they went back.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Cr1028

[MeanGreenTexan]

This has to be a kick in the nads for players like Jakii Moore who were forced to leave the program to continue playing football. The program is now coming back without them and they'd lose a year of eligibility if they went back.

I agree.  I think the NCAA should allow free transfers for anyone who lettered at UAB last year to return.

[Army of Dad]

I agree.  I think the NCAA should allow free transfers for anyone who lettered at UAB last year to return.

Disagree. It's tough on the players, but they have already moved on. For those who couldn't find another place to play I wouldn't mind allowing them an extra year to play their four (like a hardship waiver) if they return to UAB to play.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Army of Dad

[MeanGreenTexan]

Disagree. It's tough on the players, but they have already moved on. For those who couldn't find another place to play I wouldn't mind allowing them an extra year to play their four (like a hardship waiver) if they return to UAB to play.

Not saying they should be FORCED to return, but FREE to return.  

I'm not so sure many of them have already 'moved on'.   Say I were a Junior this year and spent 2 or 3 years at UAB, then was forced to transfer someplace and was there for 6-8 months, I don't think I would have more of an affinity for my new place than my old place... especially after what they did last year in becoming bowl-eligible for the first time in years.

[BeliefBlazer]

Clark did several interviews today. We found out a little bit of information.

 

First, the total amount pledged reached nearly $23 million I believe. In the preliminary phase of sending out pledge forms and just starting to collect money now. 20+ of Birmingham's top business leaders are forming a team to raise money for a football operations building, then they will work on indoor facility, and eventually a stadium.

Players who sign with UAB in 2015-2016 can petition the NCAA to have those years not count toward their total.

2017 expect to have a regular FBS schedule (8 C-USA games, 2 G5 OOC, 1 P5 "money game", 1 FCS)

Currently have 19 scholarships to give for 2015. Could petition for a few more in order to be at 75 or more in fall of 2017.

Eligible to practice immediately but don't have enough guys yet. Weight training this fall with organized practices next spring.

Would like to play some exhibitions in 2016 but it's up to the NCAA.

At least 1 player has already transferred back. They will not lose eligibility and the school they leave will be given the scholarship back to use again. 

Edited July 23, 2015 by BeliefBlazer

[oldguystudent]

Good for UAB all around.  Thanks for the info Blazer.

[MeanGreenHoops]

Clark did several interviews today. We found out a little bit of information.

 

First, the total amount pledged reached nearly $23 million I believe. In the preliminary phase of sending out pledge forms and just starting to collect money now. 20+ of Birmingham's top business leaders are forming a team to raise money for a football operations building, then they will work on indoor facility, and eventually a stadium.

Players who sign with UAB in 2015-2016 can petition the NCAA to have those years not count toward their total.

2017 expect to have a regular FBS schedule (8 C-USA games, 2 G5 OOC, 1 P5 "money game", 1 FCS)

Currently have 19 scholarships to give for 2015. Could petition for a few more in order to be at 75 or more in fall of 2017.

Eligible to practice immediately but don't have enough guys yet. Weight training this fall with organized practices next spring.

Would like to play some exhibitions in 2016 but it's up to the NCAA.

At least 1 player has already transferred back. They will not lose eligibility and the school they leave will be given the scholarship back to use again. 

Idea. Maybe we should get UT to shut down our football program, so all UNT alums would get mad, give money, reinstate it and mainly just care.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Idea. Maybe we should get UT to shut down our football program, so all UNT alums would get mad, give money, reinstate it and mainly just care.

Sounds more like a plan for UTEP or UTSA.   We're our own system homie.  UT doesn't tell us to do S***.

[GreenTexan13]

Idea. Maybe we should get UT to shut down our football program, so all UNT alums would get mad, give money, reinstate it and mainly just care.

The only thing UT has influence on UNT is the fact that Austin's Hippie/Liberal culture is rubbing off on Denton culture.

[MeanGreenHoops]

Sounds more like a plan for UTEP or UTSA.   We're our own system homie.  UT doesn't tell us to do S***.

Yeah I know. Didn't mean it to be a system thing. It was just meant as a symbol of something everyone would dislike, say hey you can't tell us what to do,  rally around and then have a stake in.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Yeah I know. Didn't mean it to be a system thing. It was just meant as a symbol of something everyone would dislike, say hey you can't tell us what to do,  rally around and then have a stake in.

Well,
Don't give Lee Jackson any ideas.   He's got a law school that appears to be his #1 priority, and if shutting down FB at UNT would help fund his law school, I think he'd consider it.

[GreenTexan13]

Will UAB be moving over to CUSA west when/if they finally come back? (I heard rumors) Plus Charlotte kind of moved into their spot.

Edited July 24, 2015 by GreenTexan13

[Harry]

Will UAB be moving over to CUSA west when/if they finally come back? (I heard rumors) Plus Charlotte kind of moved into their spot.

it isn't official but that seems to make the most sense to me.  Need to even things out.