In a moment I’m going to disclose some shocking numbers that tell the perverted story of UAB and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
If you think about these numbers, they make sense, but no one seems to have put them together.
The University of Alabama was founded in 1831. UAB and UAH—afterthoughts—were created many years later. It’s easy to understand that since UA is the father—and UAB and UAH are the children, why the father would want to maintain his parental control. Continue reading Shocking numbers UA & UAB—THE TAIL’S WAGGING THE DOG→
Charles Ball, Executive Director Regional Planning Commission
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Charles Ball. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
Recent news that Mercedes may be moving its U.S. headquarters to Atlanta or North Carolina should unnerve us. Why- Because it is just the most recent reminder of conversations we are not having, and opportunities we continue to miss.
Foreign Auto HQs. In 2006, Nashville lured Nissan’s U.S. headquarters from California. And they accomplished this without an international airport or even one daily flight to Japan. What they did have was a business community with an audacious, “can do” spirit and a Nissan plant down the road. Japanese-owned Bridgestone Tire moved there in 1991. So, why aren’t we talking about courting the headquarters of Mercedes, or Honda or Hyundai? Georgia may be willing to offer up to $50 million for Mercedes. We probably don’t have $50 million to offer, and we don’t have any flights to Germany. But Atlanta doesn’t have a Mercedes plant 30 miles from downtown. What do we have to lose?* Continue reading Our region’s future and the conversations we do not have→
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Jerry Carter. It appears it’s not just young folks thrilled with Birmingham’s comeback. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
I spent a number of my childhood years in the Norwood section of Birmingham in the ’40’s and early ’50’s. Those years provide the basis for my long-distance passion for the city.
I recall the old street rails for the trolleys, and buying Krystal hamburgers for 12 cents on the downtown corner of 2nd Avenue North. The animated Christmas displays each year in the windows of Pizitz and Loveman’s department stores were awesome. The Alabama Theatre was the absolute mecca for movie viewing. I still recall my amazement when the Wurlitzer organ would rise up to stage level and music would fill the large hall. Continue reading Birmingham: The city of my youth makes a comeback→
Nick Saban, Head Football Coach at the University of Alabama
Yes, it’s true.
On September 23, 2000 the UAB Blazers beat LSU 13 to 10 and spoiled LSU’s homecoming. Nick Saban was the LSU Coach and Jimbo Fisher, now head coach at FSU, was an assistant.
I also learned…
It wasn’t just the termination of the UAB program that made folks angry, but how it was executed. There are a lot of good people who were hurt by the decision, but more importantly, there was a great deal of resentment because of the way it was handled (or not handled). Rumors swirled weeks before–then after the final game of the season the historic announcement was made. UAB students, employees, and donors felt they were lied to and betrayed. Continue reading UAB beat Saban & 5 other things I learned from writing about the UAB football fiasco→
I am dumbfounded by the unfair personal attacks against Dr. Ray Watts and UAB’s decision to shut down football.
We say we want brave leaders who are willing to make unpopular decisions when it’s for the greater good—but that certainly is not how we are responding.
It appears almost everyone—student, public, and media—are unanimously dumping on Dr. Watts. These are the same folks who had the opportunity for years to support Blazer football, but were missing in action.
The above title is not my quote because I would be one of the “croakers,” but it’s something I hear from the younger generation regularly. Okay, they may not use the word, “croak,” but they say it’s time for our old leadership to step aside.
The next generation of Birmingham leaders does not understand our racial divide. They grew up in a different time and they see the possibilities and advantages of a common vision.
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington with Commission President Jimmie Stephens
I wrote most of this piece about Commissioner Carrington a few months ago, but did not publish it for fear it would appear too political.
Now that the Jefferson County Commission election is over, I feel more comfortable making my comments. Commissioner Carrington has been reelected and Commissioner Jimmie Stephens has been elected President.
I’m not saying Commissioner Carrington is better or worse than any other commissioner–I just happen to know David better. I do feel strongly that our County Commission–though not perfect–did a credible job with the hand it was dealt. Continue reading David Carrington: “I don’t care!”→
There is continuous and mounting public pressure for the University of Alabama System’s Board of Trustees to offer greater resources and attention to UAB. UAB is not the commuter school that it once was. About 18,700 students are enrolled at UAB, more than half as many as UAT has. If UAB’s student population was a city, it would be the 34th largest city in Alabama. Also, while only 40% of students at UAT are from the state of Alabama, nearly 80% of UAB’s students are in-state. These are students whose families have paid taxes to support the system. Their voice matters. If football really matters to UAB students (and it should), then they will fight for their program. Regardless of football, they should fight for their school. UAB Football may take a hit, but given time the Board will inevitably come to realize that greater athletic offerings can only help UAB, the System, and the State. #FreeUAB Continue reading 5 reasons David Sher Is Wrong About UAB Football→
In a moment I’m going to disclose some shocking numbers that tell the perverted story of UAB and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.
