UAB shuts down football program

Almost 20-years after they celebrated their first-ever win over an NCAA Division I-A opponent, UAB announced Tuesday that it be will shutting down its football program. 

UAB said in a statement on its official website that 2014-15 will be the last season for football, bowling, and rifling at the school.

The future of UAB football has been uncertain since school officials said they were evaluating the financial viability of the program in early November. President Ray L. Watts said in his statement that football investments were not likely to produce a sustainable return. 

Watts further stated: 

I have met with impacted student-athletes and coaches, and will meet with others affected. It is my top priority to make this transition as easy as possible. We will honor scholarships for those who choose to stay at UAB beyond this season, and we will honor coaches’ contracts. When a program is discontinued, per NCAA bylaws, players who decide to leave UAB to play elsewhere will not be required to sit out of competition the following season.

Watts met with UAB football players before releasing his statement, and many left the meeting in tears. 

UAB improved dramatically under head coach Bill Clark, with the average attendance doubling to more than 20,000 fans per game this year. The Blazers finished this season with a 6-6 record.  

The last FBS school to eliminate a football program was Pacific in 1995.