By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — A room normally dominated by light blue chairs was overcome by a sea of green.
The Trussville City Council, in front of more than a dozen UAB graduates and supporters, approved a resolution in support of the university and its athletic programs.
“UAB believes in one thing, and that’s family,” said Tim Alexander, a UAB football player who was injured in a car accident.
The group of UAB supporters cheered after the city council approved the resolution, which in part states that Trussville “recognizes the economic impact of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and that this impact benefits, in a positive way, municipalities in the Birmingham area, including the City of Trussville.”
UAB supporters listen as Trussville resident Justin Rodgers, far right, speaks about the UAB situation.
photo by Gary Lloyd
The resolution goes on to state that Trussville’s elected officials “believe in the values and sense of community which athletics provides to the college environment and experience.”
It was announced in early December that UAB was cutting the football, bowling and rifle programs. CarrSports Consulting conducted a yearlong strategic planning study to evaluate the feasibility of the athletics programs with and without football. It was determined that “investments in football were unlikely to provide a sustainable return relative to the required investment,” according to a statement from UAB President Ray Watts.
The Pinson City Council, in the wake of the news, approved a resolution supporting the continued operation of the UAB football program. The resolution states that the city of Pinson “urges the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and the University of Alabama at Birmingham President to ensure uninterrupted continuation and/or reestablishment of the University of Alabama at Birmingham football program.”
In a press conference held earlier this month, 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. The statement lays out plans to have a report be fashioned within 90 days once the committee selects which firm to move forward with.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
