UAB BLAZERS SHUT DOWN FOOTBALL PROGRAM
University of Alabama at Birmingham is shutting down the schools football program. Eliminating football jeopardizes UAB's membership in Conference USA and associated programs including the school's marching band, though the school said it hopes to remain in the league and Division I. UAB is also cutting its bowling and rifle programs. UAB made the decision after a campus-wide study conducted by a consulting firm over the past year.
UAB is the first major college football program since Pacific in 1995 to shut down.UAB will have to pay $2.425 million for canceling future games with Tennessee, Kentucky, Troy, South Alabama and Georgia State. UAB was scheduled to play Tennessee in Nashville in 2015 and at Kentucky in 2016. UAB must pay Tennessee $925,000 and Kentucky $500,000 to get out of those games. The Blazers also must pay for canceling future home-and-home series in 2015 and 2016 with Troy ($400,000), South Alabama ($300,000) and Georgia State ($300,000).
UAB said in a release that it subsidizes $20 million of the athletic department's operating budget of some $30 million annually, and said both those numbers rank fifth in Conference USA. The university said the difference over the next five years would be an extra $49 million with football, including a projected $22 million needed for football facilities and upgrades.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11967626/uab-blazers-shut-football-program …
Arrest made in shooting death of Auburn player Jakell Mitchell
Red shirted freshman football player Jakell Lenard Mitchell, 18, died after being shot in the chest early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment complex. It was the same apartment complex where two former football players and a third man were shot to death outside a 2012 pool party. Auburn police arrested 22-year-old Markale Deandra Hart of Camp Hill, Alabama, on murder charges on Sunday afternoon. Hart was being held at the Lee County Jail on $150,000 bond. Police have not released a motive for the crime, but said they don't expect additional arrests.
Mitchell red shirted this season for the Auburn Tigers out of nearby Opelika High School. Able to play both back and tight end, he was expected to contend for a starting spot next season. Mitchell missed his senior season at Opelika as he recovered from an ACL injury. He had rushed for 392 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2013 as a high school junior.
Jakells father said his son also dreamed about becoming an FBI agent after finishing school.
http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/auburn-redshirt-freshman-jakell-mitchell-shot-killed-sunday-morning-121414?cmpid=tsmtw:fscom:foxsports …
Marcus Mariota's Heisman Trophy win adds to Oregon's stunning success
The Ducks couldn’t ask for a better star to lead the charge. Mariota compiled a season for the ages this fall. His 53 total touchdowns tied the Heisman record set by 2008 winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and finished the regular season as the nation’s leader in passing efficiency (183.6) thanks to a remarkable 38 touchdown passes against only two interceptions. The Pac-12 champions, the Oregon Ducks finished 12-1 and secured a Rose Bowl berth where they will play unbeaten Florida State.
Now the program has its first Heisman Trophy. Mariota is one of the biggest reasons why. Mariota has led Oregon to a 35-4 record in those three seasons..
Oregon needs two more wins to earn the championship that has eluded them for so long. That task starts Jan. 1 in Pasadena against the Seminoles and last season’s Heisman winner, quarterback Jameis Winston. With a win, Oregon will play for a national championship for the first time since 2010.
That’s the goal for Mariota and the Ducks going forward. Asked on Saturday to reflect on the Heisman’s significance for the Oregon program, the quarterback said he’d trade the trophy in a second if it meant bringing a championship to Eugene. The Ducks finally need a championship to complete their growth.
No comments:
Post a Comment