UAB players accuse president of not granting meeting, "want our voices to be heard"

Coach Andy Mac · November 29, 2022

Technically, UAB has been on the clock to find its next head football coach longer than any other program in this cycle.

It’s been more than five months since Bill Clark’s abrupt resignation/retirement from the Blazers’ position shocked both school officials and the college football world.

After a 6-6 season under interim coach Bryant Vincent, which is landing the Blazers in the Bahamas Bowl Dec. 16, current UAB players are asking that the school promote Vincent to the job in a full-time capacity.

An unspecified number of players sent an undated letter to UAB President Dr. Ray L. Watts, in which players asserted that they had been denied an opportunity to meet with Watts via his secretary and also said that, “We, as a team, want our voices to be heard. We have fought and brought championships and bowl wins to this University. Championships and bowl wins that have never been done in the history of this program. We have accomplished things that nobody thought would ever happen here.”

The players in their letter said that “On June 27, (UAB Athletics Director) Mark Ingram, told us that he will conduct a national search for our coach. That was all he said. He didn’t talk to any of us players or ask us any questions. …

read more: https://footballscoop.com/news/uab-players-accuse-president-of-not-granting-meeting-want-our-voices-to-be-heard

Coach Andy Mac · November 29, 2022

untbowler · November 29, 2022

good grief since when do players have a say in hiring a coach, they going to chip in some of their NIL money to pay for it?

Let the AD and President do their job.

NorthTexasWeLove · November 29, 2022

Their voices heard? Lol. Oooooook

untphd · November 29, 2022

1 hour ago, Coach Andy Mac said:

This , I feel, is just the tip of the iceberg of what is coming. Who would of thought a few years ago of Name, Image and Likeness.

gordo nation · November 29, 2022

27 minutes ago, untbowler said:

good grief since when do players have a say in hiring a coach, they going to chip in some of their NIL money to pay for it?

Let the AD and President do their job.

Don't bitch and moan when all of those players enter the transfer portal

untbowler · November 29, 2022

4 minutes ago, gordo nation said:

Don't bitch and moan when all of those players enter the transfer portal

so be it then,their choice, if they want a particular coach then they can chip in the $$$ to keep the coach, they have no skin in the game. They all have withdrawals and no deposits into the NIL deals and Coaches salaries

MrAlien · November 29, 2022

This is life in the NIL / Transfer era...

Players dont like it then they can hit the portal, and they'll be sure to let potential transfers and high school recruits know, this can ruin a program for years.

meanrob · November 29, 2022

Yeah, UAB that powerhouse of NIL money.

GrandGreen · November 29, 2022

1 hour ago, untbowler said:

so be it then,their choice, if they want a particular coach then they can chip in the $$$ to keep the coach, they have no skin in the game. They all have withdrawals and no deposits into the NIL deals and Coaches salaries

The players have no skin in the game? You really believe that?

Not saying they should have a voice in the selection of a coach, but they have "more skin in the game" than anyone other than perhaps the AD who does the hiring.

Andrew · November 29, 2022

A lot of players in many sports are ok being middle of the pack if they love their coach and teammates. Not saying players should choose the coach, but letting coaches go with lightly below 500 records does more damage to good than many teams (in many sports).

TheColonyEagle · November 29, 2022

Like it or not, todays transfer portal gives them a say. The university has to make the decision to listen or not. The result could be they leave. It could also be they don’t end up getting offers anywhere else.

Players can decide if they want to stay or go. UAB can decide if they want to let them go and hire who they think is best and replace the players that leave. For years it’s been “coaches can leave whenever they want.” Well now players can too.

I don’t have a problem with any of it. It’s the free market at work.

Graddean · November 29, 2022

I remember Dr. Bonney, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, telling us people don’t expect to necessarily get their way as long as they feel their position was heard and considered. You want players to put their futures and health on the line for the University and then not even be given an audience.

Mike Jackson · November 29, 2022

4 hours ago, GrandGreen said:

The players have no skin in the game? You really believe that?

Not saying they should have a voice in the selection of a coach, but they have "more skin in the game" than anyone other than perhaps the AD who does the hiring.

Yes, I hope our players are not reading some this "old dumb school BS" and think it is indicative of the average UNT fan than actually comes to games and donate. If you even laced them up to get significant playing time in high school you have felt "the skin you had in the game". It isn't asking alot for the AD and/or to address the players informing them on the hiring process and answering a question or two.

Edited November 30, 2022 by Mike Jackson

UNTethered Eagle · November 30, 2022

They definitely deserve to be heard. How much weight is given to the teams opinion is up to the AD and university. But at the very least have a meeting with the team.

Cr1028 · November 30, 2022

Sounds very Chico Canales.

southsideguy · November 30, 2022

I say keep the current guy for selfish reasons.

NorthTexasWeLove · November 30, 2022

And many players of past have seen what the transfer portal can quickly become, a greyhound bus ticket home on borrowed money. Too many people, not enough chairs in this game of musical chairs.

18-22 year olds should have ZERO say in what is happening, administratively. Why I have to state this is pretty wild.

DentonLurker · November 30, 2022

They should have met with the players. I would hope an AD/president know players enough to walk in, hear them out, and say “You can trust that I have your best interest in mind through all of this.” If the AD has taken the time to get to know the players even a little bit, they should be able to trust him/her to make a good decision. This isn’t rocket science or letting the players make the decision. It’s leadership and transparency with some of the key stakeholders in this decision.

Billy Clyde · November 30, 2022

Always drama in Birmingham. No wonder the admin shitcanned the program.

Mean Green 93-98 · November 30, 2022

2 hours ago, Cr1028 said:

Sounds very Chico Canales.

Exactly. And our players were very vocal about wanting to retain him. Lance Dunbar suggested he wouldn't return if Chico wasn't retained. I'm pretty sure all of us continued to cheer for all the players who wanted their voices to be heard, whether or not we personally agreed.

NT80 · November 30, 2022

5 hours ago, untbowler said:

good grief since when do players have a say in hiring a coach, they going to chip in some of their NIL money to pay for it?

Let the AD and President do their job.

When do fans get a say?

Mike Jackson · November 30, 2022

2 hours ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

And many players of past have seen what the transfer portal can quickly become, a greyhound bus ticket home on borrowed money. Too many people, not enough chairs in this game of musical chairs.

18-22 year olds should have ZERO say in what is happening, administratively. Why I have to state this is pretty wild.

The same 18-22 year olds that are somehow mature enough to make the decision put their lives on the line in the military? A conversation isn't control it is an acknowledgement of their value as a part of the program. Most people don't have a say in hiring their bosses but bad organization treat their employees like mindless minions and don't to them about changes that directly effect them. The fact you see the request of the players to have a conversation as some sort of chaos "tail wagging the dog" scenario doesn't reflect positively on you.

You aren't alone sadly. A lot disgruntled "wish they could have gotten" an athletic scholarship people seem to be jealous of opportunity the talent and hard work of these young men affords them. Maybe we could load up our program with a lot of one and no star recruits who super gracious hard working dudes. They will get good grades, never complain and get blown out in Apogee every weekend. I am sure everyone on this board will be at their graduations cheering for class graduating senior football players who average less than 3 wins a season. OMG players having an opinions, opportunities, and utilizing them the sky is falling college football is dying. 🤨🤣

Edited November 30, 2022 by Mike Jackson

NT80 · November 30, 2022

1 minute ago, Mike Jackson said:

The same 18-22 year olds that are somehow mature enough to put their lives on the line in the military? A conversation isn't control it is an acknowledgement of their value as a part of the program. Most people don't have a say in hiring their bosses but bad organization treat their employees like mindless minions not talking to them about changes that directly effect them. The fact you see the request of the players to have a conversation as some sort of chaos "tail wagging the dog" scenario doesn't reflect positively on you.

There are P5 program players considering FBS "unions" for players for such input in the future.

NorthTexasWeLove · November 30, 2022

16 minutes ago, Mike Jackson said:

The same 18-22 year olds that are somehow mature enough to put their lives on the line in the military? A conversation isn't control it is an acknowledgement of their value as a part of the program. Most people don't have a say in hiring their bosses but bad organization treat their employees like mindless minions not talking to them about changes that directly effect them. The fact you see the request of the players to have a conversation as some sort of chaos "tail wagging the dog" scenario doesn't reflect positively on you.

Yes, those same 18-22 year olds in the military. Using your logic, this would be equivalent to a wartime 2* general of an operating regiment asking a bunch of lance corporals their operating tactical opinion. Hint: never happening under any circumstance.

And I just read your edit. What in the hell are you talking about.

Edited November 30, 2022 by NorthTexasWeLove