Jack Williams calls Watts’ decision a ‘win’ for the community
Alabama State Rep. Jack Williams was doing his best to stem his emotions as he stood on the sidewalk in front of the UAB Administration Building.
But his voice cracked more than a little with joy as he spoke.
“This is a win for Birmingham, for Jefferson County and for this community,” the Vestavia Hills legislator said, as word filtered out that UAB President Ray Watts would be holding a press conference to announce he would reinstate the Blazers football, rifle and bowing programs after dropping the ax on them almost exactly six months ago.
“This community needed an opportunity to be great, this community refused to lose,” said Williams, a staunch UAB supporter. “We stepped up and said we’re going to win and nobody could stop it. I’m so grateful to be a part of this community. This is a win for our community that’s been maligned nationally. We put our best foot forward, and we demonstrated what being from Birmingham and Jefferson County means. And we’ve shown folks how you can get it done and get it done the right way.”
Watts had cited financial reasons in December for shutting down the football program — and the other two women’s sports, which were basically cut since without football, Title IX would allow them to be.
At the June 2 press conference, Watts said he was “taking steps” to reinstate all three sports. Athletics Director Mark Ingram said UAB would play football as soon as possible, hopefully 2016, but possibly 2017.
Watts said Bill Clark will remain the Blazers coach as the program makes the transition back to active status.
Watts, who said he had not made the decision until that morning, has discussed with city and business leaders in Birmingham the possibility of building a new stadium.
The president said $17.2 million had been pledged as of June 2. “The biggest single difference is that we now have tangible support that we never had before,” he said.
Williams said he thought the tipping point came on a crucial weekend, when rumors were flying that Watts would announce on a Friday night that the programs would not be coming back.
“When we got through and avoided the loss of the team on Memorial Day weekend, and the business community stepped up,” Williams said. “I’ve never been so proud to be a part of a community like I am today because the community leaders and grassroots individuals joined hands and they made this city great.”
There has been criticism that Williams was spending too much time focusing on bills he, Vestavia Hills Sen. Jabo Waggoner and others were trying to push through regarding a perceived lack of UAB representation on the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and related pro-UAB bills.
Williams responded to that question by saying the legislature would be passing human trafficking legislation, that he passed innovator liability legislation for the Business Council of Alabama, as well as bills for the National Federation of Businessmen. He had sponsored 23 bills, among the most of any member of the Alabama House of Representatives. Six have passed, including one establishing an entertainment district and regulating the sale of alcoholic beverages in it.
“I think I’ve had a very successful legislative session,” he said. “And today’s win is the exclamation point on hundreds of hours of hard work by thousands of people.”
Social media, particularly Facebook, spurred grassroots support. Additionally, 56 municipalities passed resolutions supporting UAB football, rifle and bowling.
From the city of Vestavia Hills resolution:
“The Mayor and City Council of Vestavia and many of its citizens urge the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees (‘Trustees’) and The University of Alabama at Birmingham President (‘President’) to reconsider the discontinuation of the athletic programs that were recently cancelled; and The Mayor and City Council also encourage the Trustees to be more transparent in their decision making that not only affects the University, but the municipalities that support athletics and academics at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.”
Furthermore, 54 Alabama high school football coaches had signed a letter urging Watts to restore the program. Among the signees was Vestavia Hills Rebels coach Buddy Anderson, the state’s winningest coach; Hoover’s Josh Niblett; Oak Mountain’s Cris Bell; and Spain Park’s Shawn Raney. Every coach of a school south of Red Mountain signed the letter.
Ironically, Watts’ actions, while setting the program back, has now galvanized UAB athletics support like never before, Williams said.
“I think what we’re seeing today is the rebirth of what will be the dominant mid-major program in college athletics.”
UAB had suffered through some difficult seasons on the field and, not coincidentally, at the gate until last season, when Clark led the Blazers to a 6-6 record and the attendance jumped to about 21,000 per game, including 28,355 for the Blazers’ final home game of the season.