[JakeP50]

So uh this is a thing. After reading that it seems more and more likely that UAB will not have football after this season.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... b-football

[ATrain]

So uh this is a thing. After reading that it seems more and more likely that UAB will not have football after this season.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... b-football

Article even mentions an old Big South foe: Birmingham Southern.

[flamesfilmguy]

Talked with a good friend of mine on staff at UAB in athletics. There's about to be a whole lot of people leaving UAB. From what I understand Coach Clark has already been to an interview or two and a lot of the Athletics staff seem to be preparing to be without football.

[Sly Fox]

Sad times for Blazer staff and fans.

[ATrain]

So does CUSA raid the Sunbelt or call us up? Let the speculation begin again

[TDDance234]

I've said from the beginning, the CUSA would be a pipe dream. It would be the absolute perfect scenario for us.

[JakeP50]

Jerry makes trips to a few C-USA schools, ODU fights for us on the inside and, Ark St. talks to C-USA schools in secret.

[SuperJon]

It'd be us or Georgia Southern.

[Purple Haize]

CUSA would be a better fit. SBC would be the 'first available' desperation fit

[From the class of 09]

I feel like this is the domino that finally knocks us over to FBS. If we pull off the move straight to USA great but either way it's finally time.

[JakeP50]

The Sun Belt was always a "first available", it seemed like the only best option at the time. But now it looks like my incredibly blatant Jesus juke from a few months ago is coming true. ODU actually likes us and would probably fight just as hard as us if C-USA showed even a remote interest.

If you think about it this is a win-win scenario, either C-USA takes us or they take a Sun Belt member and the Sun Belt takes us as said Sun Belt member's replacement.

[bluejacket]

Take whatever invitation comes. C-USA would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.

[soccer7]

If the sunbelt gets raided they are not going to take us. They will take someone else or remain at ten schools!

[JakeP50]

If the sunbelt gets raided they are not going to take us. They will take someone else or remain at ten schools!

They'll want JMU and if the Dukes give up on the MAC and AAC, which everyone knows are their targets, that's who the Sun Belt will go with. They would be a travel partner for App and would pretty much forever eliminate the chances of us going into that league.

[Purple Haize]

Take whatever invitation comes. C-USA would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.

We shouldn't have put ourselves in a position to be one

[JakeP50]

Take whatever invitation comes. C-USA would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.

We shouldn't have put ourselves in a position to be one

+1

[jcmanson]

Why wouldn't CUSA take Georgia State? Their recent moves suggest they would (ODU and Charlotte).

[Sly Fox]

I would agree that certainly is a very real possibility and the folks in Atlanta would be pinching themselves.

But I would suggest that perhaps a just as likely scenario is CUSA keeping a non-football UAB and adding a football affiliate. How many schools would be interested in and available for such an arrangement? It is a very short list with us at or near the top along with NM State. Why would CUSA keep the Blazers? They are one of two remaining charter members of the league.

[Purple Haize]

Long Live the Great Midwest Conference!

[ATrain]

I would agree that certainly is a very real possibility and the folks in Atlanta would be pinching themselves.

But I would suggest that perhaps a just as likely scenario is CUSA keeping a non-football UAB and adding a football affiliate. How many schools would be interested in and available for such an arrangement? It is a very short list with us at or near the top along with NM State. Why would CUSA keep the Blazers? They are one of two remaining charter members of the league.

What about UMass as a football affiliate? The MAC told them to go all-in or nothing at all, and it seems they're happy to leave basketball in the A-10 while playing FBS football.

[Sly Fox]

BYD - There is some discussion about the interpretation of those by-laws. Some would suggest that those would only apply to new members and not existing members. And keep in mind those by-laws were written almost exclusively by past members who make up the AAC. So there could be some flexibility.

ATrain - Highly unlikely. UMass suffers from many of the same woes that UAB is enduring. I highly expect them to follow a similar path in the next couple of years.

[bluejacket]

Take whatever invitation comes. C-USA would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.

We shouldn't have put ourselves in a position to be one

We shouldn't have, but we did and now have to make the best of it.

[bluejacket]

UMass suffers from many of the same woes that UAB is enduring. I highly expect them to follow a similar path in the next couple of years.

I think that UAB is simply the first among a number of schools that are going to seriously look at dropping football. I am not at all saying that there will be a mass exodus from FBS (and UAB is in very unique situation), but there will be others.

[Purple Haize]

Take whatever invitation comes. C-USA would be better, but beggars can't be choosers.

We shouldn't have put ourselves in a position to be one

We shouldn't have, but we did and now have to make the best of it.

You mean ...

[LUminary]

Why wouldn't CUSA take Georgia State? Their recent moves suggest they would (ODU and Charlotte).

I think that would be a strong possibility. Georgia State indeed fits what C-USA has been doing. Big question is what the Sun Belt would do if they're two teams away from 12.