Dear UA Board of Trustees,
Why now? Why would you choose now to shut down UAB’s football program? Now that we’ve had the best season in 10 years, and we’ve become bowl eligible for the second time in UAB history. Are you afraid? Afraid that UAB will overshadow your precious Roll Tide? What about all the players that committed to the program? What about all the lives and communities affected? WHat about all the jobs lost? But as long as it doesn’t affect UA and Tuscaloosa it doesn’t matter, does it? Getting rid of a program that is bowl eligible for the first time since 2004 is selfish and shows a complete lack of compassion for the student body, and especially the players who’ve played their hearts out on the field this season. All of the hard work our team and coaches have put in this year is being depreciated. UAB football isn’t just a sport to those players. They don’t play for a check and fame like NFL players. College football is all about pride, dignity, respect, and a true love for the game. If you can honestly say that you are ok with taking a scholarship away from a player who has no other means of attending school, taking away the biggest UAB tradition of homecoming, and taking away the sport that these students truly love, then you are a sick and twisted group of people who don’t deserve any say so in the future of our athletic program. Football is not just a part of UAB, we are a part of Birmingham. We should not be forced to lose our football program because you see us as a threat to UA. We have and will continue to fight for what we believe is right. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion except for you. Yours is f*cking stupid.
Sincerely,
Jakeya Johnson