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

(03-11-2022 01:32 PM)BlazeOn Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 01:11 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I don't think there is another program that had the success UAB had in their first 10 years of existence as a Div 1 b-ball program. UAB made the NIT in their 3rd season as a program and then proceeded to make 7 straight NCAA appearances from 81 to 87. The Sweet 16 in their 4th year and Elite 8 in their 5th year of existence. At that time 48 teams made the field for the Dance.

UAB actually made the NIT in its 2nd season (1979-80) losing to what was then known as Southwestern Louisiana and Birmingham native Andrew Toney by 2 points in the first round. The Blazers made the NCAA in the 3rd season (1980-81) defeating Western Kentucky and Kentucky before losing to eventual national champion Indiana in the Sweet 16.

The Elite 8 was the 4th season (1981-82). The Blazers defeated Indiana and a Ralph Sampson led Virginia before losing to Louisville. The Louisville game included what I still consider a bad call that was important to the outcome of the game. There was a loose ball near mid court, Oliver Robinson and one of the McCray brothers (Louisville had two brothers, Rodney and Scooter McCray) - I can't remember which - dove for the ball, McCray ended up diving on top of Robinson but somehow Robinson was called for the foul.

I don’t expect to ever have a sports experience equal to being at the BJCC for that Mideast Regional against Virginia and Louisville. After watching the Blazers oust 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson — the three-time national player of the year — my ears rang for a couple of hours later because the BJCC was so incredibly loud for the Blazers. And, yes, I remember that horrible call against Robinson with McCray on top of him. Man, that gargantuan roar of disapproval from 17,000 people was incredible. It’s a wonder the ref didn’t just melt into the floor.
The Blazers were within a few minutes of reaching the Final Four in only their fourth year of existence. What Gene Bartow accomplished at UAB in such a short time was unprecedented and has not been equaled since. I’m so glad I was there to witness it. Damn, what a time to be alive.

(03-12-2022 01:25 PM)1BLZR1 Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 01:32 PM)BlazeOn Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 01:11 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I don't think there is another program that had the success UAB had in their first 10 years of existence as a Div 1 b-ball program. UAB made the NIT in their 3rd season as a program and then proceeded to make 7 straight NCAA appearances from 81 to 87. The Sweet 16 in their 4th year and Elite 8 in their 5th year of existence. At that time 48 teams made the field for the Dance.

UAB actually made the NIT in its 2nd season (1979-80) losing to what was then known as Southwestern Louisiana and Birmingham native Andrew Toney by 2 points in the first round. The Blazers made the NCAA in the 3rd season (1980-81) defeating Western Kentucky and Kentucky before losing to eventual national champion Indiana in the Sweet 16.

The Elite 8 was the 4th season (1981-82). The Blazers defeated Indiana and a Ralph Sampson led Virginia before losing to Louisville. The Louisville game included what I still consider a bad call that was important to the outcome of the game. There was a loose ball near mid court, Oliver Robinson and one of the McCray brothers (Louisville had two brothers, Rodney and Scooter McCray) - I can't remember which - dove for the ball, McCray ended up diving on top of Robinson but somehow Robinson was called for the foul.

I don’t expect to ever have a sports experience equal to being at the BJCC for that Mideast Regional against Virginia and Louisville. After watching the Blazers oust 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson — the three-time national player of the year — my ears rang for a couple of hours later because the BJCC was so incredibly loud for the Blazers. And, yes, I remember that horrible call against Robinson with McCray on top of him. Man, that gargantuan roar of disapproval from 17,000 people was incredible. It’s a wonder the ref didn’t just melt into the floor.
The Blazers were within a few minutes of reaching the Final Four in only their fourth year of existence. What Gene Bartow accomplished at UAB in such a short time was unprecedented and has not been equaled since. I’m so glad I was there to witness it. Damn, what a time to be alive.

Amen brother. Damn we are old.

(03-11-2022 05:25 PM)bftb Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 04:04 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. So it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

Actually, 7 NCAA’s and 1 NIT in our first 9 years….and post season every year we were eligible.

Well I said first 10 years of existence, not eligibility which would be 7 NCAAs and 2 NITs.

(03-12-2022 03:47 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 05:25 PM)bftb Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 04:04 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. So it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

Actually, 7 NCAA’s and 1 NIT in our first 9 years….and post season every year we were eligible.

Well I said first 10 years of existence, not eligibility which would be 7 NCAAs and 2 NITs.

Okay, I see what you meant there now--including the NIT appearance AFTER the run of NCAA teams. That was such a big letdown at that point, I wasn't counting it.

Been a Blazer for about 25 years now, but I envy those who were around for those early days. Good stuff.

Just reading an article about the LSU fiasco, and saw this:

Quote:Associate men's basketball head coach Bill Armstrong is also accused of one Level I violation and one Level II violation. In a statement, LSU said it also terminated Armstrong's contract.

Man, I remember when Bill played for us, I was a student. Hate to see that one of our guys got involved this this sh!t.

(03-12-2022 05:34 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  Just reading an article about the LSU fiasco, and saw this:

Quote:Associate men's basketball head coach Bill Armstrong is also accused of one Level I violation and one Level II violation. In a statement, LSU said it also terminated Armstrong's contract.

Man, I remember when Bill played for us, I was a student. Hate to see that one of our guys got involved this this sh!t.

The NCAA alleges that Armstrong, with Wade's knowledge, provided impermissible recruiting inducements between February 2020 and June 2020 "in the form of cash payments, a job offer, lodging, impermissible academic assistance, a scholarship, and assistance securing visas" to a then-prospect and/or his family members to secure his commitment to LSU.

"Specifically, Armstrong offered to provide [the recruit] and/or his family members or associates with $300,000 cash (paid in installments of $50,000)," the notice of allegations says. "Armstrong also offered to do various favors for [the prospect's] friends and relatives as a further inducement to secure [the prospect's] commitment to LSU, including: a job within the institution's men's basketball program, an apartment, and a car for [the prospect's] cousin; a promise of a scholarship for a friend of the [prospect]; and assistance securing visas for other basketball players to the United States."

(03-12-2022 04:00 PM)bftb Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 03:47 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 05:25 PM)bftb Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 04:04 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  And I knew this and still typed it wrong...lol. So it was 7 NCAA and 2 NIT appearances in the first 10 yrs of UAB Basketball.

Actually, 7 NCAA’s and 1 NIT in our first 9 years….and post season every year we were eligible.

Well I said first 10 years of existence, not eligibility which would be 7 NCAAs and 2 NITs.

Okay, I see what you meant there now--including the NIT appearance AFTER the run of NCAA teams. That was such a big letdown at that point, I wasn't counting it.

I understand because it was a huge letdown.

Armstrong was an assistant coach for AK at Ole Miss.

Armstrong graduated from UAB in 2001 with a degree in justice sciences. He was also the recipient of the Barbara Hallerman Scholarship for Leadership.

(03-12-2022 05:28 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  Been a Blazer for about 25 years now, but I envy those who were around for those early days. Good stuff.

And some of the players those G Bartow teams went up against are now NBA HOFs like Isiah Thomas and Ralph Sampson to name a few.

(03-12-2022 05:43 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  Armstrong was an assistant coach for AK at Ole Miss.

Armstrong graduated from UAB in 2001 with a degree in justice sciences. He was also the recipient of the Barbara Hallerman Scholarship for Leadership.

He was also well-involved in the infamous Cincinnati taxicab incident.

(03-12-2022 05:40 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 05:34 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  Just reading an article about the LSU fiasco, and saw this:

Quote:Associate men's basketball head coach Bill Armstrong is also accused of one Level I violation and one Level II violation. In a statement, LSU said it also terminated Armstrong's contract.

Man, I remember when Bill played for us, I was a student. Hate to see that one of our guys got involved this this sh!t.

The NCAA alleges that Armstrong, with Wade's knowledge, provided impermissible recruiting inducements between February 2020 and June 2020 "in the form of cash payments, a job offer, lodging, impermissible academic assistance, a scholarship, and assistance securing visas" to a then-prospect and/or his family members to secure his commitment to LSU.

"Specifically, Armstrong offered to provide [the recruit] and/or his family members or associates with $300,000 cash (paid in installments of $50,000)," the notice of allegations says. "Armstrong also offered to do various favors for [the prospect's] friends and relatives as a further inducement to secure [the prospect's] commitment to LSU, including: a job within the institution's men's basketball program, an apartment, and a car for [the prospect's] cousin; a promise of a scholarship for a friend of the [prospect]; and assistance securing visas for other basketball players to the United States."

this practice will never end until the players who receive the money need to paid back theirs scholarship plus interest and be banned to any sport related to the ncaa ,,,
the cheater never get punished ,,,,why stop cheating ??/

Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

(03-12-2022 08:14 PM)CyberBlazer Wrote:  Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

Damn. I could see that happening.

(03-12-2022 08:16 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:14 PM)CyberBlazer Wrote:  Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

Damn. I could see that happening.

thing is they'll probably have some sort of post season bans and scholarship restrictions

(03-12-2022 08:16 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:14 PM)CyberBlazer Wrote:  Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

Damn. I could see that happening.

Not with the penalties they got coming.

(03-12-2022 08:24 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:16 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:14 PM)CyberBlazer Wrote:  Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

Damn. I could see that happening.

Not with the penalties they got coming.

This! Level 1 penalties for BB and FB...

(03-12-2022 08:24 PM)Blazer4Life14 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:16 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(03-12-2022 08:14 PM)CyberBlazer Wrote:  Add LSU to the list.

Per CBS Sports:

"Andy Kennedy, UAB coach: A former mainstay of the SEC as the Ole Miss coach from 2006-2018, Kennedy could find a nice title bump with LSU after a career revival leading UAB the last two seasons. Kennedy is 48-14 with the Blazers and he left the Rebels with a winning record (245-156). He can coach, and combined with LSU's resources he'd likely find a lot of success."

Damn. I could see that happening.

Not with the penalties they got coming.

True. Didn't think about that.

Andy Kennedy is not going anywhere soon. My opinion and belief is AK will retire at UAB.


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(03-11-2022 04:33 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Yes. There is no requirement to start at a lower level. But conference membership means something very different today

I don’t know what the rules were in 1977, but now you have to sponsor 14 sports (16 for FBS) to be Division I. Getting that many going at one time would be a lot of work.

It would also be difficult to find a D1 conference willing to take in a completely new program unless they were desperate for a warm body. I’m sure having Bartow helped, but UAB was fortunate to get into the Sun Belt.