The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced Tuesday it is working on plans to resume rifle competition this year, bowling in 2016 and football in 2017.
UAB currently is working with donors who committed enough financial support earlier in the year to enable the programs’ return without impacting the school’s budget beyond its current subsidy. Pledges are being processed and fundraising activities are well underway.
Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said bowling will return to competition for the 2016-17 academic year, while rifle will resume competing with the upcoming 2015-16 season and become a mixed rifle squad with coed participation. Also, Ingram said that NCAA informed UAB that football play can resume beginning with the 2017 season, and the team can compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
The NCAA informed UAB that the Blazers’ football program will not be subject to FBS requirements for a period of three academic years, beginning with 2015-16, and that it would be counted as an FBS opponent once it begins participating in outside competition. UAB would be eligible for postseason bowl competition should it meet qualifying standards and also would be eligible for Conference USA championships.
“I am so excited that UAB Football will return to FBS competition in 2017,” head football coach Bill Clark said. “Like our fans, I wanted to light the scoreboard much sooner, but doing it right is more important than doing it fast, and this was our best option. We want a program that is here to stay. We have to start by building a new, stronger foundation. We need to take our time to do it right, then we can compete for conference and bowl championships.
“I want to thank our conference, the UAB administration, and the NCAA for working with us to make this possible,” Clark said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the Blazer Nation. The love and support from UAB fans has been incredible. Please don't stop. We still have a lot to do and we need all of you. Go Blazers!”
Conversations with the NCAA and Conference USA centered on recruiting, building a roster and maintaining FBS status.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to C-USA and the NCAA for assisting us through the reinstatement process,” Ingram said. “They have worked with our athletics team to get us the answers we needed in a timely manner so that our coaches can begin recruiting.
“It has been our intent to resume competition as soon as possible,” Ingram said. “As our coaches and administrative staff looked at multiple scenarios, we wanted to make sure that the welfare of our student-athletes, which is always a top priority, was at the center of the conversation. This, along with our ability to maintain our FBS Status, compete for conference championships and eligible for bowl participation were extremely important to us. We are pleased that this outcome satisfies all of those desires. Now that this plan is in place, each of these three teams can begin rebuilding, and can prepare to resume competition.”
Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said, “We have been working with UAB on their plan to restore football.
“We particularly appreciate the role the NCAA has played in helping ensure that UAB will be able to maintain its status as an FBS institution,” Banowsky said. “Regarding their timeline, we have said all along we want them to restore football but to do it the right way and be fully committed.
“We truly hope UAB is aspirational and that their plan intends to realize the wonderful opportunity they have going forward,” Banowsky added. “If playing a conference schedule in 2017 makes the most sense for the ultimate long term success, then we will continue to work with them toward that goal.”
UAB head bowling coach Michelle Crews was pleased with the outcome of the process. “I am very excited for the reinstatement of the women’s bowling program,” she said. “Building the program at UAB four years ago was an honor. I am so thankful for the support of everyone at UAB and the administration for giving me the opportunity to continue building what I started. I also appreciate the chance to provide my input on the best way to get back to competing.
Head rifle coach Lori Goodwin is also looking forward to getting back to competition. “The rifle team and I would like to thank everyone — the fans, alumni and administration for their support of our return,” Goodwin said. “We are very excited about returning to competition this fall and also about the addition of male shooters to our squad. We are fortunate to have eight out of 10 of our current shooters returning this fall. I am thrilled to start competition right away, and we are ready to take aim for the Blazers once again.”
UAB currently is working with donors who committed enough financial support earlier in the year to enable the programs’ return without impacting the school’s budget beyond its current subsidy. Pledges are being processed and fundraising activities are well underway.
Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said bowling will return to competition for the 2016-17 academic year, while rifle will resume competing with the upcoming 2015-16 season and become a mixed rifle squad with coed participation. Also, Ingram said that NCAA informed UAB that football play can resume beginning with the 2017 season, and the team can compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
The NCAA informed UAB that the Blazers’ football program will not be subject to FBS requirements for a period of three academic years, beginning with 2015-16, and that it would be counted as an FBS opponent once it begins participating in outside competition. UAB would be eligible for postseason bowl competition should it meet qualifying standards and also would be eligible for Conference USA championships.
“I am so excited that UAB Football will return to FBS competition in 2017,” head football coach Bill Clark said. “Like our fans, I wanted to light the scoreboard much sooner, but doing it right is more important than doing it fast, and this was our best option. We want a program that is here to stay. We have to start by building a new, stronger foundation. We need to take our time to do it right, then we can compete for conference and bowl championships.
“I want to thank our conference, the UAB administration, and the NCAA for working with us to make this possible,” Clark said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the Blazer Nation. The love and support from UAB fans has been incredible. Please don't stop. We still have a lot to do and we need all of you. Go Blazers!”
Conversations with the NCAA and Conference USA centered on recruiting, building a roster and maintaining FBS status.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to C-USA and the NCAA for assisting us through the reinstatement process,” Ingram said. “They have worked with our athletics team to get us the answers we needed in a timely manner so that our coaches can begin recruiting.
“It has been our intent to resume competition as soon as possible,” Ingram said. “As our coaches and administrative staff looked at multiple scenarios, we wanted to make sure that the welfare of our student-athletes, which is always a top priority, was at the center of the conversation. This, along with our ability to maintain our FBS Status, compete for conference championships and eligible for bowl participation were extremely important to us. We are pleased that this outcome satisfies all of those desires. Now that this plan is in place, each of these three teams can begin rebuilding, and can prepare to resume competition.”
Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said, “We have been working with UAB on their plan to restore football.
“We particularly appreciate the role the NCAA has played in helping ensure that UAB will be able to maintain its status as an FBS institution,” Banowsky said. “Regarding their timeline, we have said all along we want them to restore football but to do it the right way and be fully committed.
“We truly hope UAB is aspirational and that their plan intends to realize the wonderful opportunity they have going forward,” Banowsky added. “If playing a conference schedule in 2017 makes the most sense for the ultimate long term success, then we will continue to work with them toward that goal.”
UAB head bowling coach Michelle Crews was pleased with the outcome of the process. “I am very excited for the reinstatement of the women’s bowling program,” she said. “Building the program at UAB four years ago was an honor. I am so thankful for the support of everyone at UAB and the administration for giving me the opportunity to continue building what I started. I also appreciate the chance to provide my input on the best way to get back to competing.
Head rifle coach Lori Goodwin is also looking forward to getting back to competition. “The rifle team and I would like to thank everyone — the fans, alumni and administration for their support of our return,” Goodwin said. “We are very excited about returning to competition this fall and also about the addition of male shooters to our squad. We are fortunate to have eight out of 10 of our current shooters returning this fall. I am thrilled to start competition right away, and we are ready to take aim for the Blazers once again.”
