BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The University of Alabama at Birmingham announced Tuesday it is working on plans to resume rifle competition this year, bowling in 2016 and football in 2017.
UAB currently is working with donors who committed enough financial support earlier in the year to enable the programs’ return without impacting the school’s budget beyond its current subsidy. Pledges are being processed and fundraising activities are well underway.
Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said bowling will return to competition for the 2016-17 academic year, while rifle will resume competing with the upcoming 2015-16 season and become a mixed rifle squad with coed participation. Also, Ingram said that NCAA informed UAB that football play can resume beginning with the 2017 season, and the team can compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
The NCAA informed UAB that the Blazers’ football program will not be subject to FBS requirements for a period of three academic years, beginning with 2015-16, and that it would be counted as an FBS opponent once it begins participating in outside competition. UAB would be eligible for postseason bowl competition should it meet qualifying standards and also would be eligible for Conference USA championships.
“I am so excited that UAB Football will return to FBS competition in 2017,” head football coach Bill Clark said. “Like our fans, I wanted to light the scoreboard much sooner, but doing it right is more important than doing it fast, and this was our best option. We want a program that is here to stay. We have to start by building a new, stronger foundation. We need to take our time to do it right, then we can compete for conference and bowl championships.
http://www.uabsports.com/genrel/072115aaa.html
UAB currently is working with donors who committed enough financial support earlier in the year to enable the programs’ return without impacting the school’s budget beyond its current subsidy. Pledges are being processed and fundraising activities are well underway.
Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said bowling will return to competition for the 2016-17 academic year, while rifle will resume competing with the upcoming 2015-16 season and become a mixed rifle squad with coed participation. Also, Ingram said that NCAA informed UAB that football play can resume beginning with the 2017 season, and the team can compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.
The NCAA informed UAB that the Blazers’ football program will not be subject to FBS requirements for a period of three academic years, beginning with 2015-16, and that it would be counted as an FBS opponent once it begins participating in outside competition. UAB would be eligible for postseason bowl competition should it meet qualifying standards and also would be eligible for Conference USA championships.
“I am so excited that UAB Football will return to FBS competition in 2017,” head football coach Bill Clark said. “Like our fans, I wanted to light the scoreboard much sooner, but doing it right is more important than doing it fast, and this was our best option. We want a program that is here to stay. We have to start by building a new, stronger foundation. We need to take our time to do it right, then we can compete for conference and bowl championships.
http://www.uabsports.com/genrel/072115aaa.html
