The decision that UAB supporters have been waiting for seems to be in the not too distant future according to UAB President Ray Watts.
Watts announced that a decision on UAB’s football program following the secondary examination of the data used to terminate the program in December will be made public by the beginning of June.
University of Alabama at Birmingham president Ray Watts said Wednesday that a decision on whether to reinstate football, rifle and bowling will be made by June 1.
A study by College Sports Solutions (CSS) into the financial viability of the sports is expected to be provided to UAB on Friday. The report comes as UAB football supporters are trying to box the UAB administration into a corner by raising money for the football program.
“The UAB senior leadership team will be consulting with various stakeholders within the UAB community,” Watts wrote in an email to students, faculty and staff. “We will consider the report’s findings, along with other important, valuable and mission-critical data, in order to make the best decision for UAB going forward, guided by our vision, mission and strategic plan.”
This week, the city of Birmingham announced it would make a $2.5 million pledge over five years ($500,000 per year) if the three sports are brought back. Birmingham previously spent $250,000 to buy UAB tickets. Also, the UAB Undergraduate Student Government Association announced it will raise student fees and contribute $550,000 per year if football, bowling and rifle are reinstated.
“I hope that Dr. Watts would not have all these people wasting all this time if he was not a man of his word,” said Justin Craft, a former UAB football player who is helping with fundraising efforts. “He stood up at a press conference in January and said we’re going to reassess what’s out there. I hope he’ll truly look at this report and see the amount of support that has been generated.”
Supporters who want UAB football back are already reading between the lines of Watts’ latest statement, focusing on his phrase that “other important, valuable, mission-critical data” will be used in the decision beyond the second study.
“If he says football doesn’t fit the mission of the university, that means he lied on Dec. 2 because he said it was money then,” said Alabama Rep. Jack Williams, a UAB booster and vocal critic of Watts. “I think not bringing it back could create an even worse situation between this community and the (University of Alabama) board. Having said all that, I think it’s coming back.”
Privately, other key supporters of UAB football are far more skeptical that Watts will resintate football for 2016. Conference USA has communicated to UAB that the league won’t amend its bylaws to keep the Blazers longterm without football. C-USA will formally vote about UAB’s future on June 8 in Dallas.
One week earlier, Watts will make an announcement on football — again. Watts said the decision will be made on UAB’s website, social media channels and by email.
Only time will tell if Watts actually overturns his original decision to terminate the football program. Since the decision he has been under intense scrutiny by just about everyone in the city of Birmingham and the state of Alabama, and with each passing day he continues to look worse.
If the secondary study yields similar results like the one done a few weeks ago by another firm, then I don’t see how Watts can continue to lean on the financial excuse for cutting football. Regardless of which way the decision goes, the #FreeUAB movement needs to continue to fight and support UAB football and show that they are more than just a “vocal few” and that their voices will be heard when it is all said and done.