UAB football was all about the City Council of Birmingham trying to get around the voters who kept voting down “the Dome” stadium project.
After losing $80 million per year running a program in a way that made it look like a Big Time team (without wins)...enough to have built the Dome without the bonds that kept getting voted down for so many years, the school finally stood up to the City Council and stopped the bleeding.
It was never about the fans (all ten of them), the team, the students, or anything else.
I understand that. But, a program will not win, and will not be sustained, without fans, without boosters putting their bucks into the program, etc. That is why I say a basketball program will do better. Not as much is required to field a team. Not as many players on scholarships, the cost of equipment for a football team is astronomical as compared to a few basketballs, some sneakers to wear and some nice unnies. About one or two completely outfitted football players would pay the basketball for a year!!! :-) UAB had a very good basketball program under Coach Bartow. That can be brought back again.