By Kyle Parmley
BIRMINGHAM – UAB president Ray Watts announced the reinstatement of the school’s football, rifle and bowling programs on Monday.
In a press conference held at the university, Watts read from prepared statement. He discussed the steps followed to reach the decision to resuscitate the three sports, after each program was cut on December 2, 2014, nearly six months to the day.
“I would like to offer my sincerest appreciation to all who have worked constructively to bring us to a new place regarding our strategic plan in athletics and across UAB,” Watts said.
Watts commended the fundraising efforts in support of football in the past six months, but noted that the university will not increase its support of athletics to bridge the financial shortfall that was claimed to be the reason behind the ending of the programs.
“The institution will continue to subsidize Athletics at $20 million annually, but UAB’s subsidy cannot expand at the expense of educational programs, research and our health care missions,” he said.
New athletics director Mark Ingram will oversee the reinstatement of football, bowling and rifle, as he has experience reinstating similar athletics program in his previous role at Temple University.
Ingram and National Alumni Society president Wes Smith also read from prepared statements, before opening the room to questions for Watts and Ingram.
Watts divulged a limited number of details in his answers, including that Bill Clark would reprise his role as head football coach. Watts also announced plans to build a new field house, dedicated to football, and the installation of artificial turf at the sport’s practice field.
Watts has also been in discussions with Birmingham mayor William Bell about the possibility of the city building a stadium that could be suitable for the school to play its football games. He did not expand further on the matter.
It is unclear when UAB will field a football team once again, but it appears that its status in Conference USA is now safe, after worries that the conference would remove the school without football.
“We are very pleased with the decision to bring back the football program at UAB,” Conference USA said in a statement. “As a conference we are committed to football, and we welcome the good news that the UAB football program has been given another chance.”