UAB football program disbanding?

[birddogger]

UAB's problems may have as much or more to do with the state's budget issues than internal politics within the UA system. AL currently has been identified by Forbes as a "Death Spiral State", having a 1.10 "taker-to-maker" ratio. The "takers" are defined as a state and local government workers, plus the number of people on Medicaid plus 1 for each $100,000 of unfunded pension liabilities. So there is huge pressure on state governments to cut where they can. Education is one of the first things to suffer, and negative-revenue sports programs are high on the list. Other death spiral states include IL, OH, NM, HI,, SC, NY, CA, and MS. We can see the Cal=Poly-fill-in-the-blank-city schools cutting back and we know that Hawaii has its budget issues, as well. I would expect more casualties in these states.

FYI, Texas is not in the same boat.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/edei45ei ... atio-1-10/

[MustangStealth]

ESPN now reporting that the final decision has been made to shut it down. I hope for the players' sake that they get a bowl invite and accept. It would be nice for them to play their last game in a bowl.

There are 76 bowl spots this year and between 79-81 teams will be eligible.

Looking at the bowl line-up, it doesn't look good for UAB. Probably 2 eligible CUSA teams will be left out. UAB and Western Ky are the most likely to stay home.

[StallionsModelT]

The first of several G5 schools to make this decision I'm afraid.

[ponydawg]

I assume NCAA will let players transfer and not have to sit out a year due to circumstances.

Any kids worth checking in to? Only saw one TX kid on the roster.

[MeanJewGreen]

As stated before, its not a funding issue, at all. It's all politics. Paul Bryant Jr had a beef with the late Gene Bartow, and sought to cripple UAB (which actually makes more of the revenue for the system) through a variety of measures. They even turned down a $10 mil donation for the indoor practice facility.

By the way, there's no way that Joe Jamail could do this to UNT (to the idiot that posted that) being that those two schools are in different systems. It is conceivable that UT could do it to UTSA or UTEP.

Just a sad day.

[smusportspage]

Truly sad.

[ponyinNC]

i still remember the SMU comeback win last second hail mary against UAB

[Mustangs35SMU]

i still remember the SMU comeback win last second hail mary against UAB

[crazy horse]

Maybe some refugee's for us?

I remember when the hammer fell on SMU, and that sick feeling of seeing all these other schools pick apart our team.

I feel for the UAB family if this happens.

[orguy]

Well UA system board bias or not its over for them now.

Going to miss that stadium. Yes, I like old classic stadiums regardless of what neighborhood they are located.

[SMU1523]

And we thought we got the death penalty.

[CA Mustang]

Going to miss that stadium. Yes, I like old classic stadiums regardless of what neighborhood they are located.

Agreed. One of the reasons I went to the BBVA Compass Bowl was the chance to see a game at Legion Field. One regret is that I never saw a game at the Orange Bowl.

[Mustangs35SMU]

@JonSolomonCBS 3h3 hours ago

UAB football players leave in tears after meeting with president.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Hard to believe. I feel terrible for them.

[whitwiki]

Isn't this trend good overall for g5? Same amount of players, less teams. Maybe consolidate into one more conference.