It is being felt as far away as Mexico if you can believe it.
From the Sound Off section of The Birmingham News Sunday October 23, 2005:
The time has come for UAB to make a decision. We are either going to continue with mediocrity, or we are going to step it up to the next level. We need to get serious about our football program. While UAB fans appreciate what Watson Brown has done at UAB, the time has come for change. I plead with him or President Garrison to find a good coach with a winning record who can take UAB to the next level. I plead with Brown to do what is best for UAB and either resign or fire himself. I believe that Brown has taken us as far as he can.
This is by far the best team UAB has ever fielded, but we are losing games. In a season in which some people predicted us to go 10-1 or at least 9-2, we will have to win out just to have a chance to go to a bowl game. The blame for these losses should be placed squarely upon the shoulders of the coaching staff.
Good coaches have their teams ready for the good games as well as those games that should be easy wins. Our coaches do not have our team ready for any of our games. Good coaches have winning records. Watson Brown does not. Good coaches win the games they are supposed to win and even some of those they are not supposed to win. No comment needed on this one. Donald Barger — UAB Class of 1993 — Puebla, Mexico –
Watson Brown’s record:
CAREER (Head Coach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89-140-1, 20.5 seasons
At UAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57-63-0, 10.5 seasons
Watson Brown has NEVER won more than 8 games in a single season, and he’s only had 5 winning seasons (50% or better W/L percentage) in 20.5 seasons as a head coach.
To Watson Brown the AD:
Fire Watson Brown the head coach.
October 24th, 2005 at 6:56 pm
Yep, I’d have to agree with that.
October 25th, 2005 at 2:13 am
No arguments here.
Who do y’all think UAB should go after?
October 25th, 2005 at 8:41 pm
Just about anyone would be an improvement I think. Except maybe the current Head Coach at Kentucky!
October 26th, 2005 at 1:11 am
Some of the names that have been tossed around:
Bob Davey
Frank Solich (sp) currently at Ohio
Pat Sullivan
Probst (Hoover High’s Coach)
I honestly don’t know of any good options because I don’t follow other College teams close enough to know enough about any other coaches to recommend them.
This seemed very interesting though (Look at Tuesday’s rumors, Watson to step down as either coach or AD after this year.)
November 13th, 2005 at 9:08 pm
Jimbo Fisher
Tyrone Nix
Larry Crowe
Patrick Nix
November 13th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Lary Crowe????
You mean the same guy that dog cussed several fans after the Southern Miss game? (I was standing right next to the fan when it happened)
I think I’ll pass…
November 30th, 2005 at 10:22 pm
UAB will never make it as a football school. If UAB wants to excel in athletics it needs to quit trying to steal some of the football pie between Auburn and Alabama and focus on becoming the best basketball school in the state.
When are they going to paint 6th man on all of the campus cars? I am getting sick of them saying 12th man all year long.
What people fail to realize is that the board that governs UAB Athletics is filled with people from the University of Alabama. The Governing body that appropriates funds at this university actually resides at our in-state rival Tuscaloosa. As long as the Crimson Tide pull the strings at UAB, we will never achieve athletic excellence.
This post is coming from someone with a close direct connection within the UAB athletic department.
December 1st, 2005 at 10:07 am
I have to disagree with your statement that UAB will never make it as a football school. The progress we’ve made in only 10 years of playing at the Div-1 level is proof of that.
Will we ever have a fan base like that of UA or AU? Maybe after we’ve been playing football for 100+ years, yes.
Also keep in mind that UAB has less than 90,000 Alumni. That’s not 90,000 members of the alumni society, that’s total Alumni. UA had over 26,000 contributors to their Alumni Society. We probably don’t even have that many members of our Alumni Society!
If 15% of UA graduates follow Alabama football
and go to every game, etc. you have a sell-out crowd at every game. If 15% of UAB alumni go to every game you have 13,500 fans at every game. Numbers plain and simple.
It takes time to build a football team, and 10 years in not enough.
And I fully understand that several of our overlords in Tuscaloosa refer to UAB as “that other school.” I know that Paul Bryant Jr. wants nothing more than to shut down our football program. Well, to him I say: “We have it and we’re keeping it.”
November 1st, 2006 at 9:33 pm
I have followed UAB football from the very beginning (the Division III years) and I think Watson Brown has done a great job at UAB. He will never get the credit he deserves but I put him right up there with Gene Bartow for his ability to build our program. However, I believe that Watson has taken this program as far as he can as a coach. Hopefully he can transition to the Atheletic Department and step aside as coach at the end of the year.
As far as a replacement…… I have no idea who would want the job. Anyone we get is very likely to jump ship for a more lucrative position if he has any success. We need someone who is not only a solid coach but a great recruiter, and someone who can stir up the fan base and generate some excitement. I would love to see a head coach who isn’t afraid to throw the ball around a lot but has the ability to hire a top notch defensive coordinator.
Go Blazers!