UAB task force says it's raised nearly $6 million to bring back football
The UAB Athletics Assessment Task Force has secured nearly $6 million in pledges in the effort to bring back UAB football, bowling and women’s rifle, the group announced Thursday night.
According to Al.com, Justin Craft, the head of the task force’s fundraising subcommittee, made the announcement at the UAB Football Foundation open forum at Bartow Arena. Craft said the group received 154 pledges.
“I’m overwhelmed at the support,” Craft told Al.com. “This is really something people want. I think Birmingham want this program to return.”
At the open forum, Craft expressed gratitude to interim athletic director Shannon Ealy, who received a standing ovation from the crowd on hand.
From Al.com:
It was a festive, optimistic mood at the task force's open forum at Bartow Arena. There were multiple standing ovations for Craft and task force members Shannon Ealy, the school's interim athletic director, and major booster Don Hire for their efforts to this point. Craft thanked Ealy for guiding the athletic department "through an unprecedented situation; one of the darkest times in the history of the university." Later, a "U-A-B" chant broke out during the forum. The announcement of the pledge progress energized the crowd.
Next in the process of reviving UAB football, Craft said, is “converting the pledge agreements into official UAB gift agreements.” He expects to do so in the next week.
The next step is converting the UAB Football Foundation pledge agreements into official UAB gift agreements. Craft plans to pass along the pledges he's received to UAB fundraisers, and allow them to follow up on securing the funds through the school's official forms.
The Task Force’s aim is to turn in many of the gift agreements submitted before Collegiate Sports Solutions submits its review of UAB Athletics’ budget and economic standing on May 15.
The university made the decision to cut the three sports in November due to financial reasons. The issue will be revisited after College Sports Solutions’ review is completed.
An independent study released by an economic analysis firm in April said that the university’s decision to terminate the three sports was “ill-advised from a net cash-flow perspective.” After that study was released, UAB spokesman Jim Bakken said in a statement that the decision would be revisited “with community input after the completion of the College Sports Solutions review.”
Craft hopes the influx of pledges will play a part in the school revisiting the issue.
“It’d be a double standard if they truly are sincere about wanting to gauge interest,” Craft said.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
