INTERVIEW: Big-Picture Perspective On Colleges Ending Football Programs

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/12/WattsCarAgain.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:450;s:4:"file";s:25:"2014/12/WattsCarAgain.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"WattsCarAgain-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"WattsCarAgain-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:98:"Unknown error occurred (100 - Operation timed out after 45000 milliseconds with 0 bytes received) ";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

)
1649871507 
1417564800
UAB police officers guide President Ray Watts through a crowd of protesters outside the football offices after Watts informed players and coaching staff that the program would be discontinued. Watts and other administrators were jostled as shouting police officers stepped between them and the crowd. Some protesters screamed, cursed, and banged on UAB and police vehicles. Photo by Dan Carsen.

On December 2, the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced it is cutting its football, bowling and rifle teams after the 2014-2015 season, triggering intense emotions from students and the community. UAB President Dr. Ray L. Watts cited the high cost of keeping the programs competitive, especially football, as a factor in the decision. According to university officials, $20 million of the $30 million athletic department’s budget is subsidized. This is the first time in two decades a school of UAB’s size ended its football program.

While the reason for the cuts is the subject of some dispute, nationally, colleges and universities are struggling with the growing costs of maintaining competitive athletic programs. Some experts think UAB is at the forefront of a new trend. Malcolm Moran, the director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University, has reported on college athletics for more than 30 years. He tells WBHM’s Dan Carsen why schools — especially those outside the five largest athletic conferences — might start scaling back costly collegiate athletic programs:

 

White House doctor says Trump is ‘fully fit’ in medical report

President Trump lost 20 pounds, lowered "bad" cholesterol and has "diverticulosis and a benign polyp," according to a medical report released by the White House.

Can’t stop scrolling? Here’s how to retrain your brain to crave movement more

If you're finding yourself glued to your phone these days, scrolling the news, here's how to change your habits and get moving instead.

The biggest trial in Meta’s history starts today. Here’s what to know

The government plans to call Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg to the witness stand. The trial is expected to run nearly two months in a federal courtroom in Washington.

Soccer-loving ‘grannies’ go for the GOOOOAAAALLLL in their version of the World Cup

The players are women over 50. The oldest this year is 87. They took the field in South Africa for their "World Cup." One team was crowned the winner but all the players consider themselves champions.

Convalescing Pope Francis opens Holy Week with greeting in St. Peter’s Square

A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, in yet another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia.

More than 30 people killed in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city of Sumy

More than 30 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said.

More Education Coverage