By Kyle Parmley
BIRMINGHAM — UAB President Ray Watts has decided to review the numbers that he used to disband the school’s football, rifle and bowling programs.
In a press conference held Friday afternoon, Watts read directly from a statement to announce the formation of a committee, whose task will be to select a consulting firm to review the initial report constructed by CarrSports Consulting.
“I have listened, and I agree that if an independent financial review is needed to verify the credibility of our numbers, then that is what we should do,” Watts’ statement reads.
The seven-member committee includes several people with ties to UAB’s football program and athletic department. Among those are interim athletic director Shannon Ealy, booster Don Hire and former basketball star Steve Mitchell.
The statement lays out plans to have a report be fashioned within 90 days once the committee selects which firm to move forward with.
Chad Epps, president of the UAB Faculty Senate, is also on the newly formed committee. Last month, the Senate drafted a no-confidence resolution of Watts. The resolution will be voted on Jan. 15.
“I’m sure a question is: Are you bringing back football?” Watts said. “Only after an independent review of the numbers will we have the ability to have a…dialogue about moving forward.”
Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, called the day’s events a “glimmer of hope” for the return of UAB’s football program.
However, Watts went on to say that there would be no UAB football team assembled in 2015, and “further comment at this time would be premature.”
Six players from The Trussville Tribune coverage area were members of the UAB football team this past year. Senior running back D.J. Vinson, redshirt freshman safety T.J. McCollum, sophomore running back Marcus Reaves and redshirt freshman linebacker Brandon Fuller all played at Clay-Chalkville High School. Junior wide receiver Jamal Hundley and freshman linebacker Joseph Roberts played at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Roberts recently announced his intention to transfer to Jacksonville State, and will be a sophomore next season. Vinson has decided to finish his career at South Alabama, and Hundley is headed to Arkansas at Pine Bluff.