UAB shutting down football program

#252
#252
volinbham said:
clarification please?
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Each report I've heard on the meeting made reference to complaints about "changes to faculty benefits". Having met many college professors, I'm willing to be they are much more pissed off about that than whether or not UAB maintains a football team.
 
#253
#253
volinbham said:
Well despite no confidence votes (with either unanimous or large majority support) by the undergrads, grads and faculty plus a near no confidence statement from the alumni society the Board has come out saying they fully support Watts.

They didn't even address the controversy or the votes.

We'll see what happens next.

One potential issue on the horizon is the SACS (regional accreditation body) review. This is the entity that got involved in issues between Auburn and their board.

So basically, the Board is enthusiastically supporting someone to run the university where neither the students nor the faculty have confidence in his ability. Makes sense.
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What was the deal with the auburn situation. I'm not familiar with that what makes this comparable
 
#254
#254
bamawriter said:
Each report I've heard on the meeting made reference to complaints about "changes to faculty benefits". Having met many college professors, I'm willing to be they are much more pissed off about that than whether or not UAB maintains a football team.
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To be honest, it's not the individual things. It is the whole of how Watts has done things. It is the blatant lying about how decisions were made. It's his refusal acknowledge what people are really upset about. It's the shallow efforts to say anything to save his job yet continually demonstrate he simply doesn't get it.

I'd say half of our faculty could give two craps about football but after he came to "explain" the decision and about how things will be different going forward almost all left the meeting thinking he had no integrity or leadership ability.

I heard the same experience from his meetings with other schools and other groups (e.g. National Alumni Association).

He is clueless as a leader. That's what the Senate vote was about; not about football, or benefits, or the Honors College. or IT or any of the other examples.

The fact that the BOT didn't even bother to take this under advisement but instead responded within minutes to the vote shows they too do not get it nor care about the students or faculty.
 
#255
#255
RollinVol said:
What was the deal with the auburn situation. I'm not familiar with that what makes this comparable
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I believe it was undo influence of the Board (read: Lowder) on the athletics program.

While there is some of that here I would think the manner in which the Board decided (pre-decided) to support Watts unequivocally even with such strong concerns of alum, students and faculty bears some scrutiny also.
 
#256
#256
bamawriter said:
Each report I've heard on the meeting made reference to complaints about "changes to faculty benefits". Having met many college professors, I'm willing to be they are much more pissed off about that than whether or not UAB maintains a football team.
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Heard?..get back to us when you have facts..you know?...you claim as much..stop posting your/espn opinions until facts are the case.
 
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#257
#257
Its amusing how the only people defending the closing of this program and trying to make UAB sound like a total mess are the Bama fans. How is it clear to everyone but them that UAB was a program on the rise? Oh thats right because the same BOT that does everything it can to make Bama the best is the same one that voted to shut down a program on the rise. But thats right it has nothing to do with Bama, that BOT just so happened to eliminate a program that could possibly take recruits from bama and in time could eventually be a threat to be a better program than Bama. Oh and it was all about money, thats why they eliminated the sport that makes the most money and was clearly on the rise while keeping sports that don't have a chance to make ANY money for the school, but are also not a threat to Bama and its image.
 
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#258
#258
JFBanicki said:
Its amusing how the only people defending the closing of this program and trying to make UAB sound like a total mess are the Bama fans. How is it clear to everyone but them that UAB was a program on the rise? Oh thats right because the same BOT that does everything it can to make Bama the best is the same one that voted to shut down a program on the rise. But thats right it has nothing to do with Bama, that BOT just so happened to eliminate a program that could possibly take recruits from bama and in time could eventually be a threat to be a better program than Bama. Oh and it was all about money, thats why they eliminated the sport that makes the most money and was clearly on the rise while keeping sports that don't have a chance to make ANY money for the school, but are also not a threat to Bama and its image.
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Bama and UAB aren't in the same galaxy recruiting wise and in no way would they have been a threat to bama. Football brings in the most but also costs the most
 
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#259
#259
nagle said:
Heard?..get back to us when you have facts..you know?...you claim as much..stop posting your/espn opinions until facts are the case.
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UAB faculty vote no confidence in president after football dropped - CBSSports.com

Fourth paragraph:

The faculty's resolution expressed concerns over Watts' 22-month tenure that he has failed to apply shared governance regarding disbanding athletic programs (bowling and rifle were also cut), changes in faculty benefits, his selection of administrative officers, and changes in academic operations.
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You could try Google before playing tough guy.
 
#260
#260
JFBanicki said:
Its amusing how the only people defending the closing of this program and trying to make UAB sound like a total mess are the Bama fans. How is it clear to everyone but them that UAB was a program on the rise? Oh thats right because the same BOT that does everything it can to make Bama the best is the same one that voted to shut down a program on the rise. But thats right it has nothing to do with Bama, that BOT just so happened to eliminate a program that could possibly take recruits from bama and in time could eventually be a threat to be a better program than Bama. Oh and it was all about money, thats why they eliminated the sport that makes the most money and was clearly on the rise while keeping sports that don't have a chance to make ANY money for the school, but are also not a threat to Bama and its image.
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This is one of the dumbest posts I've ever read. There is no chance that you thought about it for even a second longer than it took you to type it.
 
#261
#261
Just an update for anyone interested. This article shows the PR campaign that both UAB and the state are paying for to fight the "political war" that Watts is facing. I feel odd being lumped in the group to which war is being waged but so be it.

Fun too to read how the PR firm crafts the responses of Watt's "supporters". Interesting that the PR firm is friending and otherwise tracking the FreeUAB posters on Twitter and Facebook.

In another odd turn of events, the BoT actually ran a series of ads touting how they "approved and supported" many of the good things happening at UAB.

It's bizarro world all to keep a mediocre president who makes $850K annually and received votes of no confidence from students, faculty and alumni.

Memo shows UAB President Ray Watts' rehab after killing football requires work, money | AL.com
 
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#262
#262
volinbham said:
Just an update for anyone interested. This article shows the PR campaign that both UAB and the state are paying for to fight the "political war" that Watts is facing. I feel odd being lumped in the group to which war is being waged but so be it.

Fun too to read how the PR firm crafts the responses of Watt's "supporters". Interesting that the PR firm is friending and otherwise tracking the FreeUAB posters on Twitter and Facebook.

In another odd turn of events, the BoT actually ran a series of ads touting how they "approved and supported" many of the good things happening at UAB.

It's bizarro world all to keep a mediocre president who makes $850K annually and received votes of no confidence from students, faculty and alumni.

Memo shows UAB President Ray Watts' rehab after killing football requires work, money | AL.com
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I hope UAB will be able to restart their football program sometime soon:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
#263
#263
Dave1967 said:
I hope UAB will be able to restart their football program sometime soon:thumbsup::thumbsup:
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They most likely will not.

And with the gap getting ready to grow between "the Big 5" and the others, this is probably not the last school you see having to close a program.
 
#264
#264
TrueOrange said:
They most likely will not.

And with the gap getting ready to grow between "the Big 5" and the others, this is probably not the last school you see having to close a program.
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I bet Georgia State will eventually give up and close their program
 
#265
#265
TrueOrange said:
They most likely will not.

And with the gap getting ready to grow between "the Big 5" and the others, this is probably not the last school you see having to close a program.
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This.

Hawaii has been flirting with the idea for a while. Some of these programs I can't see surviving much longer.
 
#268
#268
Dave1967 said:
Hopefully that's true,but they need more than the miniscule crowds that they get for Panther home games.
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That's almost a cultural issue with the school due to all the commuter students that aren't really that connected to the campus. I think they had an almost "build it and they will come" strategy that's shaky at best.
 
#269
#269
GAVol said:
That's almost a cultural issue with the school due to all the commuter students that aren't really that connected to the campus. I think they had an almost "build it and they will come" strategy that's shaky at best.
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Sounds ominously like ETSU, at least when my son attended. Hope it's different for Georgia State. :hi:
 
#270
#270
GAVol said:
That's almost a cultural issue with the school due to all the commuter students that aren't really that connected to the campus. I think they had an almost "build it and they will come" strategy that's shaky at best.
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That's very true. I think eventually Kennesaw State will overtake Georgia State in Football. Georgia Southern is firmly intrenched as the 3rd best team in Georgia. It wouldn't shock me if in the future Georgia State gives up on Division l football and drops down to the Southern Conference.
 
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#271
#271
Dave1967 said:
That's very true. I think eventually Kennesaw State will overtake Georgia State in Football. Georgia Southern is firmly intrenched as the 3rd best team in Georgia. It wouldn't shock me if in the future Georgia State gives up on Division l football and drops down to the Southern Conference.
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They've only had a football program a couple of years, I doubt they would give up on it so soon.
 
#272
#272
Well, well, well - looks like Watts lied about when he decided to kill football (was speculation until now).

Documents suggest UAB decided to kill football before the 2014 season began | AL.com

National Alumni Association unanimously called for his immediate resignation. Chancellor of the UA System came out with full support for Watts and claimed the clamor was from just a small vocal minority - Really? The undergrad student association, the graduate student association, the faculty senate and the alumni board have all called on him to step down - that is virtually ALL. The small, vocal minority is the group that is supporting him.

Here's what they planned to tell the players if they went ahead with the announcement at the beginning of the season:

“Make History, Show Your Heart,” the document said. “This will be a difficult transition, but it will demonstrate your ability to deal with hard times and show heart, work ethic, loyalty and dedication. These are traits to be proud of and this is a story you will be able to share and benefit from in every job interview for the rest of your life. Take this opportunity to prove your ability to deal with a difficult situation and to help others through the same — something employers look for.”
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buffoons.
 
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#273
#273
The advice of the PR firm is hardly shocking.

But there is absolutely no denying that Watts lied through his teeth to anyone that would listen. Whether or not the ultimate decision was the right one, Watts' behavior has been completely disgraceful. He needs to go, and he needs to go immediately.
 
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#274
#274
bamawriter said:
The advice of the PR firm is hardly shocking.

But there is absolutely no denying that Watts lied through his teeth to anyone that would listen. Whether or not the ultimate decision was the right one, Watts' behavior has been completely disgraceful. He needs to go, and he needs to go immediately.
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The immediate, 100% support reaction of Witt and the BOT is curious.

Anyone could see before and now can clearly see what you stated above about Watts. Surely those above him know this to be true since the beginning. They are either advising him to perpetuate the lie or shirking their duties.

Neither makes them look good.
 
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#275
#275
volinbham said:
The immediate, 100% support reaction of Witt and the BOT is curious.

Anyone could see before and now can clearly see what you stated above about Watts. Surely those above him know this to be true since the beginning. They are either advising him to perpetuate the lie or shirking their duties.

Neither makes them look good.
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I really don't understand what's going on there. I won't speak for the whole BOT, but Robert Witt is a very bright guy. I would have never thought he'd have anything but the best interests of the system at heart. I don't know if his public support for Watts is simply window dressing, or if it's genuine. But I agree with you: it looks bad.
 
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