Reports: UAB heading toward shutting down football

| November 30, 2014 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:572;s:6:"height";i:420;s:4:"file";s:27:"2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-336x247.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:247;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-140x140.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:25:"UAB_helmet_2014-80x80.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:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-424x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:424;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-361x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:361;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:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-572x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:572;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"UAB_helmet_2014-125x125.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_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:409901;s:14:"optimized_size";i:194728;s:7:"percent";d:52.490000000000002;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:227488;s:14:"optimized_size";i:59966;s:7:"percent";d:73.640000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-336x247.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:28300;s:14:"optimized_size";i:21288;s:7:"percent";d:24.780000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4365;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4363;s:7:"percent";d:0.050000000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-572x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:51783;s:14:"optimized_size";i:35674;s:7:"percent";d:31.109999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27782;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20785;s:7:"percent";d:25.190000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-424x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:38716;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28992;s:7:"percent";d:25.120000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:63:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/11/UAB_helmet_2014-361x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31467;s:14:"optimized_size";i:23660;s:7:"percent";d:24.809999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

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

)
1664224466 
1417305600

The University of Alabama-Birmingham appears close to dropping football.

Coach Bill Clark told ESPN.com on Sunday he expects the school to end a program that has struggled financially and on the field for years.

Clark told ESPN.com: “Unless something changes before the weekend ends, I think it’s over. I think the odds are very high it ends this week.”

Sports Illustrated and USA Today, citing unidentified sources, reported UAB was taking steps to disband the program this week, including letting go athletic director Brian Mackin.

Clark later tweeted: “Contrary to news, We haven’t heard any decision about our program. We are still fighting!”

In its first season under Clark, UAB (6-6) is eligible for bowl game for the first time since 2004.

Additional reporting:

UAB football program can’t outrun past, escape shadow of Alabama — from ESPN.com

With UAB football team threatened, hundreds rally on campus — from AL.com

 

Random act of kindness: Mariners fan gifts historic ball to young stranger

A fan caught Cal Raleigh's history-making 60th home run ball. He promptly turned the valuable memento over to 12-year-old Marcus Ruelos.

RFK Jr. ‘rejects’ a U.N. declaration on non-communicable diseases

Global health leaders expressed dismay at Kennedy's objection but vowed to move forward without the support of the U.S.

At U.N., amid jeers and cheers, Netanyahu says Israel ‘must finish the job’ in Gaza

The Israeli prime minister's speech was defiant, despite his growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war to eradicate Hamas.

Gulf South pharmacies make their own rules amid confusing COVID guidance: ‘It’s clear as mud’

Unclear rules and inconsistent interpretations of federal and state COVID-19 vaccination rules leave families confused and vulnerable patients unprotected.

Asheville hopes for a big fall tourist season to boost its post Helene economy

As October brings vivid mountain colors, the post Helene hospitality industry in Asheville, North Carolina hopes for a big return of tourists.

There was no rapture this week, so the quiz returns. Can you score a perfect 11?

This week, Jimmy Kimmel returned, a weird statue vanished and no one (to our knowledge) got snatched up to heaven.

More Education Coverage