The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-22-2014 12:35 AM)BlazerPhil Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 12:26 AM)imjustafatkid Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 09:26 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  They have the better rodeo team.

UAB has a rodeo team?

Of course not. We have a bowling team.

Ah. I guess my sarcasm detector is broken.

(09-21-2014 09:26 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  They have the better rodeo team.

sometimes the sheep just won't consent.

I don't think that's a big deal in Pike County.

Troy has the best sheep humping team in the country.

Troy has a football program that is almost 100 years old and has won National Championships at lower levels before rising to D1. At one time they had their own private multimillionaire on their own BOT to sponsor their program (at one time the renovated stadium was named for him). Have they ever been able to replace him? I stated a few years ago that Troy was then as good as it is likely to get - in its FB team and its FB program. The 21st century is exhibiting a shift away from the remote small school rural programs (like Troy) toward the modern urban programs (like USA, GSU and UAB) It is not Troy's fault that they may be behind a cultural curve. A lot of economic and social factors are part of the mix, and it appears to be national (UTSA, Boise State, San Diego State, FIU, FAU, USF, etc.), not just in Alabama.

Troy's FBHC Blakeney can retire with a large pension whenever he chooses. He was the only working "teacher" on the much discussed list of "DROP millionaires" that led to the program's demise at the hands of the state legislature (ALL others on that list were senior school administrators). Senior experienced classroom teachers were sacrificed to save the state a little money.

(09-20-2014 05:06 PM)uabbean Wrote:  Larry is now zero for four. Just got humiliated 66 to nothing by UGA
Watching on and off the game looked like his players have quit on him.
Rivals UAB and even USA are building better programs. Most teams would be looking for new coach.

However Larry is for Troy equal (not nationally) to Bartow - program founder has stadium named after him etc. I am not sure Troy will have the heart.

I think we broke him

and Bolt.

They were so excited when Bolt came back. We tried to tell them.

Since the return of Bolt to Pike County, we've hung 79 points on his D.

(09-21-2014 03:14 PM)Smaug Wrote:  You didn't quote the part of Matt's post that explains why we are the better program.

My response was to Matt's reasons as to why he believes UAB Athletic Dept is head and shoulders above Troy's and why I disagree with him. I could argue Troy's location is about as bad as Auburn's location but then we start comparing apples to oranges.

I just didn't agree with his reasons but that's just my opinion.

So, which of Matt's reasons do you disagree with? Conference? Exposure? Budgets? Bowl access? Academics?

(09-22-2014 10:50 AM)Smaug Wrote:  Since the return of Bolt to Pike County, we've hung 79 points on his D.

I think Blazer fans were excited when they hired Bolt........

(09-21-2014 11:13 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:03 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 10:49 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  The only way that Troy gets an invite into CUSA is if UAB is no longer in CUSA. ~142miles
The only way that USA gets an invite into CUSA is if USM is no longer in CUSA. ~95 miles

That's even assuming, like you said, that either USA or Troy are top on the list to move up. They're too close to the recruiting areas of schools already established in this conference.

Trust me - or ask others on this board who know - Troy's proximity to UAB or any other CUSA school is NOT why they have never been close to a CUSA invitation. There was discussion about them before the first CUSA realignment (Louisville, Cincy, etc.), but after an exploratory trip to their campus by CUSA officials and some school presidents their name has not come up again.

I remember when that happened. Plane flight to Birmingham followed by a long drive to Troy. Once they arrived there was nothing to do and back then Troy's version of haute cuisine was Sonic

If the above is true, how the hell did LaTech get an invite to CUSA? The towns of Troy, AL and Rushton, LA are sister cities. Ugly, twin sister cities.

Troy's athletic facilities are all better than anything at LaTech. Troy has better fan support than Tech in most sports. Did CUSA want to capture that all important # 84 television market of Shreveport?

(09-22-2014 11:11 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 03:14 PM)Smaug Wrote:  You didn't quote the part of Matt's post that explains why we are the better program.

My response was to Matt's reasons as to why he believes UAB Athletic Dept is head and shoulders above Troy's and why I disagree with him. I could argue Troy's location is about as bad as Auburn's location but then we start comparing apples to oranges.

I just didn't agree with his reasons but that's just my opinion.

They sure have a nice OCS and a brand new basketball arena.

I'll grant you their football stadium, but their basketball arena is tiny.

I bet at first Larry was afraid, he was petrified.

(09-22-2014 03:09 PM)backyardblazer Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:13 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 11:03 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-21-2014 10:49 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  The only way that Troy gets an invite into CUSA is if UAB is no longer in CUSA. ~142miles
The only way that USA gets an invite into CUSA is if USM is no longer in CUSA. ~95 miles

That's even assuming, like you said, that either USA or Troy are top on the list to move up. They're too close to the recruiting areas of schools already established in this conference.

Trust me - or ask others on this board who know - Troy's proximity to UAB or any other CUSA school is NOT why they have never been close to a CUSA invitation. There was discussion about them before the first CUSA realignment (Louisville, Cincy, etc.), but after an exploratory trip to their campus by CUSA officials and some school presidents their name has not come up again.

I remember when that happened. Plane flight to Birmingham followed by a long drive to Troy. Once they arrived there was nothing to do and back then Troy's version of haute cuisine was Sonic

If the above is true, how the hell did LaTech get an invite to CUSA? The towns of Troy, AL and Rushton, LA are sister cities. Ugly, twin sister cities.

Troy's athletic facilities are all better than anything at LaTech. Troy has better fan support than Tech in most sports. Did CUSA want to capture that all important # 84 television market of Shreveport?

I don't know. I know LaTech was on the short-list, like WKU and MTSU, so those responsible for the decision (everyone knows who that is: CUSA officials and Presidents of member institutions) viewed them positively overall...at least enough to have consensus. I also know, as I said, that Troy State was viewed highly enough to merit an exploratory visit. I know roughly when this visit took place and I know they have never been seriously considered since. Not even presently. You tell me what that indicates. Unless the Troy State President and AD collectively mooned those representatives, or Larry Blakeney teabagged a napping CUSA rep, I think it's clear what factor changed the equation.

I see the LaT vs Troy as LaT has had a little more success in their athletics as a whole (men's & women's) than Troy so got the nod

(09-22-2014 05:51 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  I see the LaT vs Troy as LaT has had a little more success in their athletics as a whole (men's & women's) than Troy so got the nod

Those things aren't as important as most people think. Also, those are things that can be seen at a glance by looking at media guides, or ESPiN. CUSA obviously sent an exploratory committee to Ruston just as they did to Troy. That didn't derail LaTech's track for consideration.

(09-22-2014 05:57 PM)blazr Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 05:51 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  I see the LaT vs Troy as LaT has had a little more success in their athletics as a whole (men's & women's) than Troy so got the nod

Those things aren't as important as most people think. Also, those are things that can be seen at a glance by looking at media guides, or ESPiN. CUSA obviously sent an exploratory committee to Ruston just as they did to Troy. That didn't derail LaTech's track for consideration.

LaTech must have gotten a limo to take them all to the casinos in Bossier City and Shreveport. They are actually pretty nice, with a couple of them having good restauarants. Guess that bested the Bingo and Fish Fry at the Trot VFW.