Right now the news is full of stories that have become very politicized, but at the root of them there are real people whose hurt and pain is real. The events in Ferguson are a prime example of this. At times it is hard to remember that behind all the protests and demonstrations and conversations about our society, there are real people who have suffered a great loss. This post is not about Ferguson, there is no way I could do justice to that, but rather about another situation that is beginning to take on a life of it's own, the future of the UAB football program.
Many of you are likely not aware of the situation, but UAB football has no games scheduled beyond 2016 and have not signed any coaches to contracts beyond 2016. Despite requests for statements of support, the Athletics Director and the President have made no public comment on the rumors of the pending termination of the program.
In the past few weeks many prominent UAB football alums penned a letter to both the President and the AD in support of the program, and yesterday there was a well organized demonstration outside the President's office. The team has even received support from the governor of Alabama. Again, as the issue has grown, it's easy to forget there are real people at the heart of the issue, student-athletes who are privileged to play at the Division 1 level, but who have also given much time and energy to their craft to represent their University in the best way possible. The following letter to the President was written by the current senior class for UAB. It is a great reminder of the passion and unity of a football team:
To Dr. Ray Watts:
As the college football season comes to a close and teams begin to measure their accomplishments, this should be a time for celebrating our progress and dreaming of what we can achieve next. Instead, our team, and all of the student-athletes at UAB, have been left to wonder if our future is about goals, growth, and vision – or if it is about quitting.
For several weeks we have lived and played under a cloud of rumors about the future of the football program at UAB, even as we fought to become bowl eligible for the first time in ten seasons. From our own athletic director and president we have heard no vote of public support. Nothing at all except for questions about whether we can perform at a ‘level of excellence.’
We have been left to wonder about our future as, game by game, we got closer to accomplishing goals for our university that most considered impossible heading into this season.
So we ask you, Dr. Watts, where is the excellence in that?
While we have had no support from our president or athletic director, the support from everywhere else has been overwhelming. We have seen our former players rally around us to raise money and urge you to fight for UAB. We have seen the Mayor of Birmingham and the City Council stand in unison and speak out about the value of our program time and time again as they pledged their support and finances.
We have been uplifted by the business leaders in our community who rallied around us and told you that when we win, all of Birmingham wins. We have felt the continuous support from our fellow students, our professors, our alumni, and Blazer fans as attendance at our games grew almost 150% this year. And we have been driven by the support from our own coaches who have shown us the very meaning of the word commitment as they have fought for this university and for us even as their own livelihoods have grown more and more uncertain.
We are honored to play for all of these people.
So if everyone is for us, Dr. Watts, who exactly is against us?
Every one of us has fought for UAB football all year long. Many of us have fought for UAB football every day for the last four years. When we were recruited, we were sold on the very best of what UAB can be, and how UAB would in turn, make us our best. We believed in UAB then, and we believe in UAB now – which is why we will not stop fighting for what is right.
So we ask you to provide the leadership and direction we need. Stand up for your students and alumni. Stand alongside the businesses, leadership and people of Birmingham. And fight for us.
Or, with all due respect, look us in the eye and tell us you don’t believe in us.
The UAB Football Senior Class of 2015 on behalf of the UAB football team
I love this letter and the emotion behind it. I'm rooting for UAB and their students and student-athletes. I hope the University will do the right thing and continue to field a team. However this turns out, I'm thankful for the letter penned by the seniors, and for reminding all of us of just how much passion and emotion is involved when you're part of a close-knit team. I'm thankful I'm part of one here at Grinnell! Good luck UAB and Go Pioneers!
