University of Alabama at Birmingham to end football program, citing costs

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

University of Alabama at Birmingham to end football program, citing costs

BY SHERREL WHEELER STEWART
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Tue Dec 2, 2014 6:50pm EST

(Reuters) - The University of Alabama at Birmingham will shutter its football program at the end of the current season due to the increasing costs associated with it, the school said on Tuesday.

The UAB Blazers have struggled to draw fans in a state where they are overshadowed by two national college football powerhouses, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Eliminating the NCAA Division I program will free the university from spending tens of millions of dollars on the it in the coming years, the school said.

"When considering a model that best protects the financial future and prominence of the Athletic Department, football is simply not sustainable," Ray Watts, the university's president, said in a statement.

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Among schools in the subdivision, 44 percent lost money on their football programs last year, according to NCAA numbers. The average loss was $3.8 million.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/02/us-usa-alabama-football-idUSKCN0JG2CN20141202

[roguevalley]

1. good. 1 down, a zillion 2 go

[greatlaurel]

2. This actions of the Alabama Board of Trustees are incredibly corrupt and should be investigated.

The fact that the NCAA is not stopping this clearly demonstrates the level of corruption that the NCAA is willing to accommodate. The Board of Trustees for the University of Alabama govern both Alabama-Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. The elimination of Birmingham football basically destroys their entire athletic program across the sports. This takes away any competition for athletes from Birmingham to the benefit of the Tuscaloosa campus. Furthermore, Bear Bryant's son has had a long standing grudge against Birmingham for someone there turning in Bear Bryant for NCAA violations.

The kids on scholarship for football are all going to loose their financial aid. The kids with aid for other sports are probably going to loose their aid, as well. Birmingham will be kicked out of their league, as well.

The top football powers are corruptly trying to eliminate as many smaller football programs so they do not have to share the football revenue from games. TV revenue, and advertizing. The NCAA only cares about increasing revenue for itself and the few top football revenue generating programs.

This is an absolutely coldblooded decision that harms many, many people far beyond football.