UAB Announces 2017 Return

It's official....and Bryant Jr. should get his ass kicked. What a fucking dick!


http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/21/uab-announces-a-2017-return-for-football/


Nearly two months after UAB announced it would revive its shuttered football program, we now have a return timetable.



The university sent out a press release Tuesday announcing that the Blazers will resume playing football for the 2017 season. In the initial stages of the resurrection of the football program it was thought that the sport would return for the 2016 season, although that expedited timeline proved to be too daunting.



Additionally, the NCAA has informed UAB that, when the football Blazers take the field again, they’ll do so as an FBS member. They will also be immediately eligible for a bowl game as well as the Conference USA championship game.



That league has already stated it will hold a spot in the conference for UAB.



“I am so excited that UAB Football will return to FBS competition in 2017,” Bill Clark, who will remain as UAB’s head coach as long as a contract can be worked out, said in a statement. “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 guess that is big news in the Birmingham area and beyond. It will be interesting to see how many State of Alabama recruits they will syphon away from the Crimson Tide & the War Eagles ......

Mack Donald said:

I guess that is big news in the Birmingham area and beyond. It will be interesting to see how many State of Alabama recruits they will syphon away from the Crimson Tide & the War Eagles ......

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...ummm, zero.

I'm not sure if you read last year how the whole thing went down. Basically, this was a personal vendetta by Paul Bryant Jr. So, he single-handily gets the program closed down....now they are restarting it one year later. Imagine the number of lives that were/are impacted by that decision (to shut it down).

If they are going to let UAB back into CUSA they might as well bring Army with them. Then force Notre Dame and BYU to join the Big12, then it would be Mormons vs. Catholics vs. Texans, wouldn't that be a real hoot?

sendacash said:

If they are going to let UAB back into CUSA they might as well bring Army with them. Then force Notre Dame and BYU to join the Big12, then it would be Mormons vs. Catholics vs. Texans, wouldn't that be a real hoot?

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Army was in cusa several years ago , i doubt the school or conference either one have any interest in the other.

Mack Donald said:

I guess that is big news in the Birmingham area and beyond. It will be interesting to see how many State of Alabama recruits they will syphon away from the Crimson Tide & the War Eagles ......

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I dont think it will be any different than before when it comes to bama and auburn , but they may not lose as many "under the radar locals" to troy st or jax state like they used to since both of those schools have had long time "local legendary" coachs recently retire.

The question is , can they draw 30k consistantly ? ....They've supposedly got new sponsorship but does that mean "papered" ticket sales , or will the asses actually be in the seats ?

So CUSA becomes a 14 team conference, and the Big 12-2 can't find two teams to become a 12 team conference.

Mack Donald said:

see how many State of Alabama recruits they will syphon away from the Crimson Tide & the War Eagles ......

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same as Akron and Kent St take away from Ohio State....

BigdaddyQH said:

So CUSA becomes a 14 team conference, and the Big 12-2 can't find two teams to become a 12 team conference.

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There is a difference between can't and won't...

rolltide said:

same as Akron and Kent St take away from Ohio State....

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Great analogy....

GoSooners said:

There is a difference between can't and won't...

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There is also a difference between Chicken Livers and Chicken s**t. We KNOW where the Big 12-2 falls.

The FIRST thing UAB needs to do is sign Bill Clark (coach) to a contract. Clark was a very successful Alabama HS coach and has ties to all the high school coaches in the state. He can and will bring a better type player to UAB than previous coaches.

Getting the money commitment was one thing...getting a coach who want's to be there with the confidence he can compete is another. I have full confidence in coach Clark....sign the guy so he can go to work.

cloverleaf said:

The FIRST thing UAB needs to do is sign Bill Clark (coach) to a contract. Clark was a very successful Alabama HS coach and has ties to all the high school coaches in the state. He can and will bring a better type player to UAB than previous coaches.

Getting the money commitment was one thing...getting a coach who want's to be there with the confidence he can compete is another. I have full confidence in coach Clark....sign the guy so he can go to work.

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CL, I thought he was under contract (which is why he didn't leave to pursue other jobs after they shut down the program). I agree w/ you, he's the right man for the job. Hopefully they'll sign him to a longer term deal.

It would be nice to see them get a small on-campus stadium as well.

CoachCB said:

CL, I thought he was under contract (which is why he didn't leave to pursue other jobs after they shut down the program). I agree w/ you, he's the right man for the job. Hopefully they'll sign him to a longer term deal.

It would be nice to see them get a small on-campus stadium as well.

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no, they're still in negotiations and his absence was certainly noted when they held a press conference reinstating football and the coach wasn't present

Story on Bill Clark:

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...g-pitch-future-plans-as-UAB-football-restarts


Bill Clark has a unique recruiting pitch, that’s for sure.



On Tuesday, UAB officially announced the return of the football program in 2017, with Clark remaining as head coach. On Wednesday, Clark made the media rounds as part of Conference USA Media Day, and he detailed the challenge ahead for the program.



Clark said there are about five players still on campus. A senior class graduated in the spring, and more than 60 players transferred out, with help from Clark.



“Let’s find them a great home,” Clark said of the spring while on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday. “I think we had every coach in America, it seemed like, on our campus right after the announcement. It was what was needed for those guys, to give them a chance to keep playing football.”
But now Clark needs players, and a coaching staff. CBS Sports reports the remaining assistant coaches’ contracts expired in June.



With regards to players, UAB has begun signing some players. What is Clark going to do in the fall? August through November is a quiet period, with the exception of 42 days from September through November for evaluation. Don't be surprised to see an influx of JUCO players.



“That’s a good question,” he said. “We’re going to do a lot of recruiting. Obviously, in August, we’re going to try to visit some other schools. We’ve got to sell UAB. I’ve got to fill out a roster. Maybe I was a good recruiter before. I’ve got to be a great recruiter now and get this roster filled out.”



The good news is playing time is, well, quite available. That’s a big part of his recruiting pitch.



“One is hopefully they got to see who we are and what we’re about. And obviously playing time is going to be a great sell. That’s always important,” he said. “We found last year, the school, we’re the No. 1 job engine in our state, Birmingham is such a well-known football town. We were starting to get some guys based on that. I think people know our story, and that will help us get in the door to get some really good guys in here.”



The UAB story was so big Clark says the school now has a national footprint in recruiting. That won’t get them players own its own, but it can get Clark and his future assistant coaches in the door.



Clark is hoping to have enough players for spring practice in 2016, but it’s summer 2016 when things can really start going as a team, getting ready for the next season. Clark was part of the building of the South Alabama program, but UAB restarting as an FBS program within two years is unprecedented.



“We’ll play in ’17, but I would love to have a group ready to practice in the spring (of 2016),” he said. “We’ll have some guys. We’re signing some guys now. If these facilities start coming, it’ll help us in recruiting. We actually have a national footprint now, based on what people saw us do last year and the fight to bring it back. Hopefully, we’re going to have a chance to bring in some really good guys. Next summer will be huge, going into 2016, where we can try to practice with as many guys that will play in ’17, and then we’re full FBS. That’s a big task in front of us.”

although the JUCO route is not a sustainable pipeline, IMO, i think it's in UAB's best interest (clark, or otherwise) to snag as many 2-year players as possible to go along with massive classes in 16 and 17. whatever momentum they might have would be pretty well washed away by a pair of 1-11 seasons...

I imagine they take as many transfers as they can get their hands on as well....especially from Power 5 schools.

Bill Clark - possibly - Hires Les Koenning as OC:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsport...t-have-hired-an-offensive-coordinator-at-uab/


On Thursday it was reported by UAB intends to hire Les Koenning to be the program’s new offensive coordinator. However, as this report first published by Football Scoopspread, the message being sent had evolved to rumors suggesting the hire has already been made. UAB head coach Bill Clark said Friday morning there have been no additions with the coaching staff just yet.


“The only people that we have on staff are the three guys that have been here,”Clark said to Al.com. The three staff members Clark was referring to were defensive coordinator Duwan Walker, defensive line coach David Reeves and offensive line coach Mike Bennefield. “They never quit working.”



This sort of stuff tends to happen all the time though. If the intent to hire Koenning is there, Clark may feel it is not right to comment on such news until the contract is officially signed.


Koenning was the wide receivers coach for Texas in 2014 and he has previous offensive coordinator experience at Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

am i allowed to hope reports are wrong?

he's more than qualified but i was hoping for a young guy with a lot of energy. koenning nice TX and AL relationships but can't forgive an OC for putting up 7 points at home vs the barn when we were #8 and they were unranked. luckily i don't hold a grudge

Agree RT. I was a little surprised with the report Koenning would lead the offense. Energy, excitement and someone who can sell recruits is what UAB needs right now. Guessing Les is pushing 60 and would have been nice to bring a young gun in. Ole Les hasn't been in too much demand as an offensive coordinator lately. Hope it works out!