UAB shuts down football program

Birmingham, AL (SportsNetwork.com) – The University of Alabama at Birmingham has dropped its football program over what it says are the “fiscal realities” of rising operational costs that have placed a strain on the athletics budget and made it too hard to keep a competitive team on the field.

The 2014-15 academic year will also be the last for its bowling and rifle programs, the school announced Tuesday.

Despite the rumors surrounding its future, the Blazers football team went 6-6 this season and is bowl-eligible for the first time in 10 years.

UAB is the first school to shutter a major football program since Pacific in 1995.

“The fiscal realities we face — both from an operating and a capital investment standpoint — are starker than ever and demand that we take decisive action for the greater good of the athletic department and UAB,” said university president Ray L. Watts.

“As we look at the evolving landscape of NCAA football, we see expenses only continuing to increase. When considering a model that best protects the financial future and prominence of the athletic department, football is simply not sustainable.”

Watts said “the financial picture” currently facing the athletics department — mainly, that it would cost too much to keep a competitive football team — made the decision to drop the program “very clear.”

Funds will be redirected to the remaining athletic programs, he said.

“We will not cut the current athletic budget, but in order to invest at least another $49 million to keep football over the next five years, we would have to redirect funds away from other critical areas of importance like education, research, patient care or student services,” he said.

“These are challenging times in higher education with flat or reduced state and federal funding, and it is more important than ever that we take a close look at overall operations, set priorities and aggressively align our resources in the areas where we have the potential to make the most difference.”

UAB said it will honor the scholarships for athletes and contracts for coaches whose programs are being canceled.

“It is our No. 1 priority to make this transition as easy as possible for our student-athletes, coaches and others affected,” Watts said. “We will support our UAB family and help impacted individuals make the best decisions for their futures.”

UAB became bowl-eligible with a 45-24 win over Southern Miss on Saturday. The week before, it held a lead into the fourth quarter against then-nationally ranked and unbeaten Marshall before losing on a late fumble in the end zone.

UAB coach Bill Clark praised his players after the Marshall game.

“I am so proud of them,” he said. “With all the adversity and turmoil that has been surrounding them, to come out here and fight like they did today was unbelievable. That is what I expected.”

The Blazers lost the only bowl game they played in, falling to Hawaii in the 2004 Hawaii bowl.

Categorized in: NCAA Football