The current and future health of the athletes appears not to matter in this discussion.
1
The notion that there is a direct trade off between football and academics is untrue. UAB has an annual budget of $2.7 billion. 52% goes to the university hospital and to research. Another 18% goes to supplies and services auxiliary to education. 7% goes to non-academic wages, maintenance and other institutional support. That's more than 3/4 of the budget that does not directly go to undergraduate education. Where elasticity in spending is greatest is a judgment call. But it stands to reason that most of the elasticity is tied to the expenses that make up the great bulk of the budget.
It is easy to evaluate. Take a poll of students, how much are you willing increase your tuition to support a football program?
1
If the football program really needs more money than the university can afford, let the alums and the NFL pay for it. They're the ones that benefit from it. Otherwise, let the university get rid of it and get out of the professional football business and into less competitive football that just might benefit more undergraduate athletes.
2
The cost of college education has outpaced inflation for 20 years because the schools never make hard decisions about cutting costs. I applaud the administration for at least trying (regardless of actual right or wrong of this particular decision). When else do you ever read of a university eliminating any high-profile program (athletic or academic)? Or bragging about NOT building a new building?
As long as people believe what one commenter stated "It's about each campus should offer the full experience to every student.", we will have college tuition go up by 6% every year forever and no one will be able to afford it.
Why does every other aspect of life have limits to spending and tough trade-offs except college? Enjoy paying back those college loans forever!
As long as people believe what one commenter stated "It's about each campus should offer the full experience to every student.", we will have college tuition go up by 6% every year forever and no one will be able to afford it.
Why does every other aspect of life have limits to spending and tough trade-offs except college? Enjoy paying back those college loans forever!
1
Very little of this fight is about football.
The core movement at UAB is about self-governance. Currently UAB is controlled by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, who have a history of favoring one university in Tuscaloosa at the expense of the other two in Birmingham and Huntsville.
It's pretty widely accepted in Alabama that Ray Watts was simply doing the bidding of the board, who never wanted UAB to have athletics, but has been particularly hostile to the football program.
The financials say that UAB is the cash cow of the system and it has outgrown the need for, as one Birmingham newspaper reporter put it, absentee landlords in Tuscaloosa.
The core movement at UAB is about self-governance. Currently UAB is controlled by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, who have a history of favoring one university in Tuscaloosa at the expense of the other two in Birmingham and Huntsville.
It's pretty widely accepted in Alabama that Ray Watts was simply doing the bidding of the board, who never wanted UAB to have athletics, but has been particularly hostile to the football program.
The financials say that UAB is the cash cow of the system and it has outgrown the need for, as one Birmingham newspaper reporter put it, absentee landlords in Tuscaloosa.
9
Only at UAB could you get the faculty and students united and animated about something as inconsequential as a failed football program. There are much bigger issues surrounding self-governance--including what would happen to UAB's non-medical programs if the university was to separate from the UA system? Moreover, the faculty handed the reins to the president and the trustees years ago with a faculty senate that has been mute on every issue from student resources to salaries. I can have no sympathy for such people.
1
Football may be fun to watch, but darn few schools can afford the programs. Despite this, football programs continue to be built (e.g., Kennesaw and Georgia State). The chances of either of them being able to pay for themselves is likely quite small. And, in my opinion, the students who pay more in fees, despite going in debt in the first place to get an education, often care less about the teams and often could care less about stroking some coach's or administration's ego. You really don't need a football team in far too many cases. Poorly supported losing programs are often the other results, not just additional "fees."
8
Optimists would say that the situation at UAB is an opportunity to review the place of sports in college, and the role of football, especially. They might point out that money spent on collegiate sports could better serve the state and students by funding academic scholarships or curricula. They might also say the controversy demonstrates the imbalance between sports and academics, and that the opportunity exists to clearly define the role of colleges in modern society. They look forward to an intelligent, open discourse.
Well, I agree with one point. The role of colleges in today's world is pretty well defined as providing weekly entertainment, and year-long anticipation for the land of yahoos. We remember Bear Bryant, the Alabama coaching deity, essentially integrating colleges in the state by arguing that he needed black players to win the big games - after being beaten by the integrated USC football team. Now here we are, with state Chief Justice Roy Moore figuratively standing in the county court doorways, to protect the state from homosexuals while a state school is struggling to justify football. Somehow, I just can't see much progress. And Alabama is not alone; not in the South, not in other areas. A fella might become a pessimist, if it weren't for good results from National Signing Day.
Well, I agree with one point. The role of colleges in today's world is pretty well defined as providing weekly entertainment, and year-long anticipation for the land of yahoos. We remember Bear Bryant, the Alabama coaching deity, essentially integrating colleges in the state by arguing that he needed black players to win the big games - after being beaten by the integrated USC football team. Now here we are, with state Chief Justice Roy Moore figuratively standing in the county court doorways, to protect the state from homosexuals while a state school is struggling to justify football. Somehow, I just can't see much progress. And Alabama is not alone; not in the South, not in other areas. A fella might become a pessimist, if it weren't for good results from National Signing Day.
6
Football and other "pro-sports" have no proper place in a university.
2
Wouldn't it be nice if shameful government funding cuts to public post secondary schools and attempts to turn institutions of educational excellence into trade schools and job-creation factories brought this kind of angry response from the public and major donors?
6
So I'm guessing that Mr. Watt received many cheerful holiday greetings from the school's biggest athletic donors. I'm also guessing they were neither cheering his decision nor lobbying for strengthening any of the school's weak academic programs.
2
I have a son who is a top tier student. He wants a school with a strong math and engineering program - he is just what all those STEM folks are looking for. He also wants a school that has a good sports program - good teams to watch, lots of intramural programs. Sports are his way of letting off steam, relaxing.
People are not uni-dimensional. They can be interested in doing well in school, graduating with a great education and going into difficult fields AND watching D1 football.
ESPN and sports money has changed the basic equation of why sports are part of a school's profile. But the reason always had been because it was one part - like the arts - of being a multi-dimensional human. I hate to see the basic reason for college sports programs to fail because the NCAA has drifted in my lifetime from being part of the academic experience to a really large sports management company.
I hope UAB can find a way to pay for its sports, as well as programs in arts, sciences and other academic areas.
People are not uni-dimensional. They can be interested in doing well in school, graduating with a great education and going into difficult fields AND watching D1 football.
ESPN and sports money has changed the basic equation of why sports are part of a school's profile. But the reason always had been because it was one part - like the arts - of being a multi-dimensional human. I hate to see the basic reason for college sports programs to fail because the NCAA has drifted in my lifetime from being part of the academic experience to a really large sports management company.
I hope UAB can find a way to pay for its sports, as well as programs in arts, sciences and other academic areas.
6
I'm sorry.
1
Watching this football-craziness going on and how it disrupts and distorts academic life makes me feel very proud that my alma mater, Brandeis University, doesn't have a football program.
7
People are funny and unbelievably arrogant. Many have asked what the reaction would be if the Physics or Math or whatever department had been cut. UAB decided to cut football. Not math not physics and no one has advocated that they cut those departments to save football. Strawmen being built up and torn down all around me.
2
So this is what happens when a university decides to shed its football team. Could you imagine what would happen in a lot of schools (such as Dartmouth, Yale and any of the Big Ten) if they tried to get rid of fraternities and sororities? Big donations would drop like a rock off a cliff.
Well, kids, if you're looking for an education without an initiation and you want a fighting chance for a real job - without having to devote your spare time to social media and muscle definition - perhaps you ought to consider applying to schools in Canada. The tuition's more reasonable than in the States, they don't have a 'Greek' aristocracy and they aren't so totally crazy about shallow competition for its own sake. (In fact, that's one of the favourite points Canadians like to make when knocking the U.S. media culture.) Actually, you might decide to say up there, especially since Canada does appreciate young people with brains. They even have policies friendly to young families. How very revolutionary!
Well, kids, if you're looking for an education without an initiation and you want a fighting chance for a real job - without having to devote your spare time to social media and muscle definition - perhaps you ought to consider applying to schools in Canada. The tuition's more reasonable than in the States, they don't have a 'Greek' aristocracy and they aren't so totally crazy about shallow competition for its own sake. (In fact, that's one of the favourite points Canadians like to make when knocking the U.S. media culture.) Actually, you might decide to say up there, especially since Canada does appreciate young people with brains. They even have policies friendly to young families. How very revolutionary!
5
Watts's failure to understand his constituency before he made the announcement indicates that he is not competent to hold the position of President of UAB.
1
Two Thirds of the football program or $30,000,000 funded to football by the University while many University students are graduating with degrees financed by a long time of student debt? In some cases possibly a lifetime of debt?
One has to wonder what the mission really is of universities, academics or athletics, or both in what proportions?
One has to wonder what the mission really is of universities, academics or athletics, or both in what proportions?
10
You're falling for the 30 million dollar trap they keep saying. That is the funding for the entire athletic program, not the football team. There's a good reason they are not listing the football numbers only, which would actually be relevant, and thats because it breaks even. That 30 million dollar number isn't changing by dropping football. Now they'll just have a bunch of non revenue generating sports that bleed money and no football program. This money "saved" by dropping football isn't going anywhere else.
2
man why don't these characters in the south try to model themselves after the Univ. of Chicago where there is no collegiate atheletic program to mention, and the school is doing fine.
9
I did my dissertation research at the UAB Med School in the early 70's and at the time I was there, the undergraduate programs were not that big. While I was in Birmingham, my undergraduate school, UVM, dropped football. Ironically, I was a fellow at UCLA when their basketball coach went to UAB to raise to profile of their basketball program. I think football in particular and big time college sports in general are contrary to a university's mission. I applauded UAB's original decision. I thought it courageous in a state where a large percentage of the residents did not spend a single day in college and have, at best, vague ideas about Tuscaloosa or Auburn (two good universities) other than their football teams.
15
I wonder if the reaction would have been similar had Alabama announced it planned to eliminate its Physics Department?
18
Hmmmmm....the state of Alabama makes the front page of the NYT twice today! Once for an elected state Supreme Court Justice defying a federal court decision (and demanding others do the same) which would grant basic human rights to a group who have been historically faced discrimination. And in this article, large numbers of the population becoming outraged that a university would dare to cancel a second rate football program in order to concentrate on academics.
Must be a proud day for Alabamans!
Must be a proud day for Alabamans!
33
As an Alabama resident, I share the shame. The juxtaposition of denial of people's rights prejudice and the focus on trivial issues is the sad state of our affairs.
11
Ironically, there are about as many members of that group living in Alabama as there are people who attend UAB football games.
3
Fact checks: 1. Ray Watts is not trying to concentrate on academics. A year and a half before he terminated the football program, he was gutting UAB's honors programs and mocking the UAB honors students, to their face, for wanting a first-class education. Does that sound like "concentrat[ing] on academics"? 2. UAB's football attendance went up by over 100% in just one year, last year, with an average home attendance of over 21,000 per game. 3. It's "Alabamians," not "Alabamans." People who know absolutely nothing about the state of Alabama, and the city of Birmingham, and UAB often make that mistake. 4. The same people who are fighting for UAB's autonomy and integrity are the ones posting online right now in support of gay marriage--it's a big moment in the history of the state, and you'll find UAB alums prominently involved in that movement too. It's not an either-or, unless your intellectual bandwidth is extremely small. At UAB, it's not. It's one of the top research universities in the nation.
1
Big time football adds to the vitality and bottom line of most universities. Football pays for all of the other non-revenue sports (think women's soccer). Big time football is a magnet that attracts, and provides an exciting diversion for, regular students.
You may not like it but some universities (my alma mater included) were made great by the existence of big time football. You're fooling yourself if you think otherwise. The institution grew great around the success of the football team.
You may not like it but some universities (my alma mater included) were made great by the existence of big time football. You're fooling yourself if you think otherwise. The institution grew great around the success of the football team.
3
And you are fooling yourself if you think that football is a money maker. Football loses money for most universities, unless they hit a big bowl game. Furthermore, the data on head injuries and long-term harm should cause us all to wonder about whether football should ever be connected with education.
20
Football is a money losing sport at most Universities .... unless you are among a handful of elite teams.... so it is not paying for anything but it is taking money away from academics.
7
Football is certainly no paying for other sports at UAB, according to this article, in that it is running a deficit and being subsidized.
4
Love reading folks comment on information furnished that is not totaling explaining a situation.
Briefly, closing football is not the problem. As the UAB Faculty Senate tried to show is that there is a systematic attempt to interfere in micro-managing a University by people who live in a 1950's mentallityy: The system Board of Trustees.
That is why when a NO Confidence vote was OVERWHEMINGLY passed by the UniversitySenate(at least 2/3 voted for NO Confidence regarding the present University President, Dr. Ray Watts), they separated the issue into two arguments: 1. ) Sports and 2. ) Management of the University overall.
The Times would be well served to look into the Alabama System Board of Trustees. It is filled with Old South radicals who want to keep us all barefoot and pregnant.
Briefly, closing football is not the problem. As the UAB Faculty Senate tried to show is that there is a systematic attempt to interfere in micro-managing a University by people who live in a 1950's mentallityy: The system Board of Trustees.
That is why when a NO Confidence vote was OVERWHEMINGLY passed by the UniversitySenate(at least 2/3 voted for NO Confidence regarding the present University President, Dr. Ray Watts), they separated the issue into two arguments: 1. ) Sports and 2. ) Management of the University overall.
The Times would be well served to look into the Alabama System Board of Trustees. It is filled with Old South radicals who want to keep us all barefoot and pregnant.
9
Liberals won't do that because it does fit with their anti-football agenda.
Surely, there are other more ancillary components of a university that should be cut first. Many universities have expensive recreation centers when there are private recreational facilities in the community. This is needless, expensive duplication. The same can be said for expensive dorms, cafeterias and libraries. Although not easily replaced by private enterprise, there are also questionable academic programs churning out unemployable majors in fields such as psychology, theoretical mathematics, music and art. Universities need creative, outside of the box entrepreneurial solutions and not knee-jerk anti-football hysteria.
Yes, definitely cut music, art, psychology, and math before football. What are universities for, anyway? Let's stop this hysteria.
20
Libraries are one college facility that probably need more money, but for learning materials.
4
Yes, but those recreational facilities are for *all* of the students, not just a few dozen!
6
For all of the altruistic talk about the role of athletic programs in colleges and universities, the fact remains that D1 sports are a business at the end of the day. If schools want remain in D1 and be competitive in those sports, not only football, they need to create the revenues to do so. The NCAA's mask of "amateurism" has been slipping for years as it became the beneficiary of millions of dollars generated by the schools' athletic programs.Now with the payment of stipends to athletes, the issues UAB has been struggling with will be played out on other campuses nationwide forcing choices regarding the schools' actual mission.
7
If this decision was actually saving real dollars, I would agree. By cutting football, UAB has only hurt the viability of its other sports programs who will now generate even less revenue then they were before. A subsidy that was about 60% of their budget will now become 90% without football. They save no money by doing this and that is not the intent behind it.
So much depends
upon a football,
properly inflated,
run down a field
beside the white
crowd-filled
stadium seats.
Academics, not so much.
upon a football,
properly inflated,
run down a field
beside the white
crowd-filled
stadium seats.
Academics, not so much.
9
One wonders what the reaction among students, alumni and faculty would have been had the decision been to eliminate a single academic department as a specialty - say, curting the math department down to only offering service courses for other majors, and eliminating the graduate math program. Somehow, notwithstanding the central role of mathematics to human knowledge, and the role of the university as the crucible of human knowledge, I suspect the state would have shrugged.
Whether or not my speculation is correct, the reaction to this eminently sensible move is an extremely sad commentary on what the average citizen expects from their universities.
Whether or not my speculation is correct, the reaction to this eminently sensible move is an extremely sad commentary on what the average citizen expects from their universities.
50
Steve,
I appreciate the distinction you are highlighting regarding the relative importance of academics versus athletics and how the prioritization appears skewed in this story. Look closer and you find a group of people (students, faculty, alumni) coalescing around a unifying belief that UAB is a modern, urban university with a huge impact on Birmingham and the state. The very democratic principles of self determination and shared governance are key pillars to UAB's future growth and success.
The UA Board of Trustees have one vision for UAB (One that does not include football, and possibly no athletics at all). The people that actually make up UAB have another (one that includes excellence in both academics and athletics). The #FreeUAB Movement seeks to ensure that UAB, as an independent, public institution, is free to control it's own destiny, as opposed to certain unelected, self appointed board members who unfairly favor the Tuscaloosa campus making decisions on behalf of the true UAB constituency.
UAB generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state of Alabama. If there was a decision to be made about whether or not UAB has football, that decision should have been a collaborative, informed and transparent one. It was nothing of the sort. Therefore, it was neither sensible or justified. Given this, I would say that the reaction is not a sad commentary on the expectations for this university. Rather, I would categorize it as the UAB community's finest hour.
I appreciate the distinction you are highlighting regarding the relative importance of academics versus athletics and how the prioritization appears skewed in this story. Look closer and you find a group of people (students, faculty, alumni) coalescing around a unifying belief that UAB is a modern, urban university with a huge impact on Birmingham and the state. The very democratic principles of self determination and shared governance are key pillars to UAB's future growth and success.
The UA Board of Trustees have one vision for UAB (One that does not include football, and possibly no athletics at all). The people that actually make up UAB have another (one that includes excellence in both academics and athletics). The #FreeUAB Movement seeks to ensure that UAB, as an independent, public institution, is free to control it's own destiny, as opposed to certain unelected, self appointed board members who unfairly favor the Tuscaloosa campus making decisions on behalf of the true UAB constituency.
UAB generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state of Alabama. If there was a decision to be made about whether or not UAB has football, that decision should have been a collaborative, informed and transparent one. It was nothing of the sort. Therefore, it was neither sensible or justified. Given this, I would say that the reaction is not a sad commentary on the expectations for this university. Rather, I would categorize it as the UAB community's finest hour.
In 1939 Robert Maynard Hutchins cancelled the football program at University of Chicago (a founding member of the Big 10 Conference), citing its inordinate cost and lack of contribution to the educational goals of the institution. Would that most universities had that courage. The University not only survived but flourished. Given the academic scandals that have rocked the football programs of institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I consider UAB's decision both prudent and laudable.
40
Structure the athletic department as a concession and put the thing out for bids. With an annual subsidy that drops over time from, say, $20 million next year to zero in 2020.
Shouldn't be hard to find bidders. The real challenge is finding someone in authority who will walk that privatization talk.
Shouldn't be hard to find bidders. The real challenge is finding someone in authority who will walk that privatization talk.
3
I don't believe that there would be any bidders, or at least any sensible bidders. The great majority of Division 1 football programs lose money, the only exceptions being some of the institutions in the 5 largest conferences. As a faculty member at an institutions not in one of these conferences, I can attest to the fact that football loses a great deal of money.
4
"...the faculty senate approved a resolution of no confidence in President Ray L. Watts’s ability to lead the university."
It is surprising the faculty supports big-time college football contrary to stories about other universities that appeared in the NYT.
Boy...they must really love their football in Alabama...!
It is surprising the faculty supports big-time college football contrary to stories about other universities that appeared in the NYT.
Boy...they must really love their football in Alabama...!
2
The faculty senate voted no confidence due to the lack of transparency this new president has had. Everything is being done behins closed doors and there is a lot of misinformation going around. He tried to completely alter an already fantastic honors program under peoples noses as well as many other things. The football decision simply was the last straw.
Maison: See other comments that explain the real problems the faculty has with the president. Football is a minor issue. The article is very bad about that.
1
UAB's position reminds one of the man who escaped his burning house, then rushing back in to rescue the family dog and dying in the attempt.
2
It's like watching people clamor for a taxpayer funded sports stadium. Same arguments, same nonsense, same furrowed brows then they're left with the bill in a vain attempt to understand precisely what they bought.
11
Disappointing but predictable; football now, football tomorrow, football forever.
3
It used to be called Recess; kind of a break between classes; something for the kids to expend their energy on. Perhaps a foot race around the track. With bad weather they moved indoors and added a dance class (tap dancing in my day); tennis courts; developed an Athletic Department, added a swimming pool, a gym, locker rooms and showers.
Then my son's school ripped out part of the school library in order to build a football field. They hired six coaches. At school board meeting they told us they needed football in order to get the young boys to come to school. While they were only required to have one year of math, they had 3-years of PE. In order to play sports, they had to have better than four Fs and a D. Football players got an extra "Study Hall" so they could extend their PE for football practice. Got to get that scholarship so they can go to college and not take hard classes there, either.
If you really want your child playing football, prepare him. Give him a helmet and have him repeatedly beat his head against a wall. See what that does for a brain not designed to be repeatedly subjected to these forces. Or check with some 'retired' NFL players.
Then my son's school ripped out part of the school library in order to build a football field. They hired six coaches. At school board meeting they told us they needed football in order to get the young boys to come to school. While they were only required to have one year of math, they had 3-years of PE. In order to play sports, they had to have better than four Fs and a D. Football players got an extra "Study Hall" so they could extend their PE for football practice. Got to get that scholarship so they can go to college and not take hard classes there, either.
If you really want your child playing football, prepare him. Give him a helmet and have him repeatedly beat his head against a wall. See what that does for a brain not designed to be repeatedly subjected to these forces. Or check with some 'retired' NFL players.
24
What is remarkable to me is that the faculty would vote no confidence in a president over football. Is football really that big there? Can it really be that simple?
10
I spent 4 years, 1971-1975 in Birmingham. It may be in the "bible belt" but if they could only drop God or football, it would be a close vote and I would bet on football prevailing.
4
No, it's not that simple.
The university president also tried to gut employee benefits and the honors program, calling it elitist. Which, um, if you are a major research university like UAB, I'd assume you would want a robust honors program.
Basically, he has a pattern of trying to kill things unilaterally with no input from stakeholders, causing uproar, then feigning apologies with "I didn't know this was important to you. Let's talk about the process," never changing his decision or taking responsibility for his decision. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Killing football wasn't even on anyone's radar until November. But by September, the faculty was already done with him.
There's a lot of other history there, as UAB is controlled by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The board of trustees has always favored Tuscaloosa and treated Birmingham like the red-headed stepchild.
But to answer your question, very little of this fight is actually about football. Football was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
The university president also tried to gut employee benefits and the honors program, calling it elitist. Which, um, if you are a major research university like UAB, I'd assume you would want a robust honors program.
Basically, he has a pattern of trying to kill things unilaterally with no input from stakeholders, causing uproar, then feigning apologies with "I didn't know this was important to you. Let's talk about the process," never changing his decision or taking responsibility for his decision. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Killing football wasn't even on anyone's radar until November. But by September, the faculty was already done with him.
There's a lot of other history there, as UAB is controlled by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The board of trustees has always favored Tuscaloosa and treated Birmingham like the red-headed stepchild.
But to answer your question, very little of this fight is actually about football. Football was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
5
The vote of no confidence was not simple over the canceling of the football program. The faculty cited four reasons: changes in academic operations, Watts' choice of administrative officers, changes in faculty benefits and disbanding athletic programs. Overall the faculty question the processes regarding the president's decisions and are frustrated by a lack of transparency in administrative processes that has occurred since Watts became president.
5
I doubt those in power in Alabama care, but this decision is representative why some folks generally steer clear of Alabama.
12
Votes of no confidence often do not amount to much anywhere, so why would the faculty bother over this of all things? Did they already want to get rid of him for other reasons?
1
Touch college football? Don't you dare!
It raises community hair!
What is College for
Football fans implore,
Don't make their school an also-ran!
It raises community hair!
What is College for
Football fans implore,
Don't make their school an also-ran!
2
I'd like to replace the dismal last line by
A Nobel Laureate? Don't care!
A Nobel Laureate? Don't care!
College athletics are supposed to keep students physically and emotionally healthy while they STUDY. The keyword in "athletic scholarships" is supposed to be "scholar." I've taught a lot of young people for whom an athletic scholarship is a genuine financial lifeline.
Anything else that is layered on college athletics is pure money-making greed.
Anything else that is layered on college athletics is pure money-making greed.
23
Apparently your idea of what college athletics are to do is much different from normal. Sure getting an education is required, but the rest is part of branding and alumni participation. It is part of the college experience that is outside the classroom. Now since almost no program makes money it is not money making greed.
What is the primary mission of any university? If, as most of us would agree, it is to educate its students, all resources must be directed towards that effort before other activities get funded. Unfortunately many universities are forced into an escalating trap of having to fund football and play catch-up with other universities that are blessed with greater resources. UAB was wise enough to see this trap and stay out of it, that is until it was forced to reconsider that decision.
34
Well at most universities football creates a surplus that pays for other programs, only a few ever create a surplus over the entire program. Perhaps instead of eliminating football it could be make less costly, that might mean a team that is not as talented but so be it.
You are just wrong. Football does not make money; it costs money at most universities.
8
If they do away with football at 'Bama, the school will no longer be able to award college degrees to students with third grade educations.
50
That's cute, but we're talking about the Birmingham campus, not Tuscaloosa.
8
lol Spoken like someone who doesn't know the difference between UAB and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Two different schools. Yet you have 37 likes.
Is there a university president out there anywhere who will step up to stop the insanity of intercollegiate athletics? Who among you will be the first to demand an honest set of books that includes the full amortization of the athletic venues, utility and campus security bills and other overhead charges, and the opportunity cost of athletic department donations that are diverted from legitimate academic purposes? Shame.
41
Gee my school pays for all its programs from it's own resources, this is very rare. In fact at times it sends money to the academic side and of course encourages donations as well.
Of course, the University of Chicago eliminated intercollegiate athletics a long time ago; it doesn't seem to have detracted from their ability to run a first-class university with many first-class departments and programs.
1
Stanford has first class academics and first class collegiate athletics. Chicago dropping athletics doesn't mean much of anything.
Whether or not one thinks football should be resurrected at UAB--for most of us, not a burning issue--the real lesson in this fiasco for Upper Administrators is not to make what are essentially unilateral decisions. The university president thought he knew better. He was making the Tough Decision. In a few months, he will hold a press conference announcing that football is being reinstated and that the whole affair has been a Learning Experience. And summer won't come soon enough for the humbled President.
5
Sadly you are likely correct. The main error that Dr. Watts made was not sharing his vision and appropriately consulting with students, faculty, alumni and the larger community. He may go down as he is caught between two forces: firstly, the faculty wanting a larger role in governance and fearful of the biomedical dominance on campus and secondly, football fans imagining scandals (BOT conflicts of interest) and monsters (Paul Bryant Jr.). Sharks from both sides sense blood in the water. If Watts had done it well, he would have been recognized as a foresighted leader who made a courageous decision. Hopefully this sad saga will not deter another university president from acting forthrightly to control the farce of intercollegiate sports and the edifice complex.
3
Read the book Beer and Circus to discover the negative impact big time college sports has on undergraduate education.
14
UAB also cut the Rifle and Bowling programs (women's only teams) to even out everything. It's a shame that this article doesn't address that as well considering the UAB rallies have been about all 3 sports.
4
I have degrees from both The University of Alabama and from UAB. A university cannot be all things to all people. If I had wanted to major in aerospace engineering, I would have gone to the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Had I wanted to go into some area of medicine, I would have applied to UAB.
If students want a football team and cannot live without one, they need to go to a school with an established football program. If they want to spend a lot of time watching great basketball, they should consider schools with great basketball programs (most years that would not be Alabama).
To think that in ten years a Division IAA team can be built is not realistic. The state has a few of them, but they started as Division II (or were created long before the NCAA was organized) and built up programs and fan bases for decades first. The University of North Alabama is now considering rising from Division II and are heavily weighing the costs of the move as more teams and scholarships would have to be added. Their analysis may show that it is not realistic for a school of 8,000 students.
Sports programs are expensive. Yes, Alabama and Auburn are fortunate that their programs are able to fund themselves and also fund other sports to support the Division I requirements. But at the end of the day, it's my computer science degree from Alabama that helped me get a job (and then my MBA from UAB that gave me more options to move to other positions)
If students want a football team and cannot live without one, they need to go to a school with an established football program. If they want to spend a lot of time watching great basketball, they should consider schools with great basketball programs (most years that would not be Alabama).
To think that in ten years a Division IAA team can be built is not realistic. The state has a few of them, but they started as Division II (or were created long before the NCAA was organized) and built up programs and fan bases for decades first. The University of North Alabama is now considering rising from Division II and are heavily weighing the costs of the move as more teams and scholarships would have to be added. Their analysis may show that it is not realistic for a school of 8,000 students.
Sports programs are expensive. Yes, Alabama and Auburn are fortunate that their programs are able to fund themselves and also fund other sports to support the Division I requirements. But at the end of the day, it's my computer science degree from Alabama that helped me get a job (and then my MBA from UAB that gave me more options to move to other positions)
45
UAB has a revenue stream in the billions and the money was just an excuse for shutting down the teams. I applaud the authors for bringing an honest update to this story for the rest of the country. However, the true story is how the board of trustees have maligned and stifled the athletic department and the undergraduate experience is the true story. The Board of Trustees who oversee UAB also oversee the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Huntsville. The board consists of 15 members, 13 of which have their degrees from UA. This group still supports President Watts in this decision, despite receiving votes of no confidence from not only the faculty senate, but also the alumni association, the undergraduate and graduate student governments.
This Board also approved $20 million dollar upgrades to both the baseball stadium at UA and the marching band practice facility at UA and also a $4 million upgrade to the UA rowing facility. None of these make any profit to justify these expenditures. It isn't an issue of each campus offering a different experience. It's about each campus should offer the full experience to every student. The issue is a group of people who want to hold back a university to keep their respective campus as the premier campus.
I urge the authors of this story to dig deeper into this aspect of the events in Alabama. Not only is it the truth if the matter, it is a story of corruption that most journalists dream of sharing with the world.
This Board also approved $20 million dollar upgrades to both the baseball stadium at UA and the marching band practice facility at UA and also a $4 million upgrade to the UA rowing facility. None of these make any profit to justify these expenditures. It isn't an issue of each campus offering a different experience. It's about each campus should offer the full experience to every student. The issue is a group of people who want to hold back a university to keep their respective campus as the premier campus.
I urge the authors of this story to dig deeper into this aspect of the events in Alabama. Not only is it the truth if the matter, it is a story of corruption that most journalists dream of sharing with the world.
8
Entirely agree. Undergrads come to UAB largely for the biomedical and related science programs. UAB is financially threatened by loss of federal and state funds and healthcare reform. 78% of the employees work for UAB Medicine and the UAB hospital accounts for 75% of the revenues. This year no employee received a merit raise. Eliminating the subsidy to the athletic department would have saved enough for every employee to receive at $1000 raise. What's more important football or rewarding and retaining hard working employees?
35
What is the mission of higher education though? It isnt to put on giant show of football.
7
of the Crimson Tide here, not trying to focus UAB on academics. I'm afraid you'll have to do a few Google searches on this to get the full picture.