FB: Southern Athletic Association

BSCpanthers · April 16, 2024, 11:36:37 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on April 13, 2024, 03:53:24 PMBSC, you have been one of the most consistent and valuable posters in Region 3. I have enjoyed your comments and perspectives. Now that you do not have a proverbial dog in the hunt, I hope that you will stay active on the boards. Your "neutral" perspective will be well received.

I plan on being around, this level of football is just to fun not to be. I will miss having a school to root for, but I'll still be watching and cheering on the SAA.

Hawks88 · April 17, 2024, 10:59:27 AM

I drove over to Montgomery last night for the BSC-Huntingdon baseball game. Though it's possible, but unlikely, that both baseball or both softball teams could make the post-season and be grouped together, this would be the final contest ever between to the two schools. There was no fanfare or ceremony. I'm not sure how many people even realized it. Unfortunately the bad guys won 15-7 so BSC gets to say they won the last one.

BSCpanthers · April 17, 2024, 11:47:19 AM

Quote from: Hawks88 on April 17, 2024, 10:59:27 AMI drove over to Montgomery last night for the BSC-Huntingdon baseball game. Though it's possible, but unlikely, that both baseball or both softball teams could make the post-season and be grouped together, this would be the final contest ever between to the two schools. There was no fanfare or ceremony. I'm not sure how many people even realized it. Unfortunately the bad guys won 15-7 so BSC gets to say they won the last one.

I'm not sure how it is done in other areas, but in Alabama the D3 schools get absolute minimum attention. Athletics in D3 are the same as D1, they were meant to be a way to attract students and market the school. But with Huntingdon and BSC being in the shadows of bigger programs in the same city, it's hard to get any attention. Maybe had BSC had hired a marketing director we wouldn't be in the situation we are in. Only way people know what is going on is by telling them about it, and no one has been telling them about our two D3 programs. BSC has had some great success over the years in athletics, none better than our baseball program. Just another shameful loss.

Pat Coleman · April 17, 2024, 12:08:13 PM

Quote from: BSCpanthers on April 17, 2024, 11:47:19 AM
Quote from: Hawks88 on April 17, 2024, 10:59:27 AMI drove over to Montgomery last night for the BSC-Huntingdon baseball game. Though it's possible, but unlikely, that both baseball or both softball teams could make the post-season and be grouped together, this would be the final contest ever between to the two schools. There was no fanfare or ceremony. I'm not sure how many people even realized it. Unfortunately the bad guys won 15-7 so BSC gets to say they won the last one.

I'm not sure how it is done in other areas, but in Alabama the D3 schools get absolute minimum attention. Athletics in D3 are the same as D1, they were meant to be a way to attract students and market the school. But with Huntingdon and BSC being in the shadows of bigger programs in the same city, it's hard to get any attention. Maybe had BSC had hired a marketing director we wouldn't be in the situation we are in. Only way people know what is going on is by telling them about it, and no one has been telling them about our two D3 programs. BSC has had some great success over the years in athletics, none better than our baseball program. Just another shameful loss.

Yeah. That's something that a school has to be willing to invest in. The SID position has changed over quite a bit and that's usually a sign of poor resources, someone being overworked and underpaid.

Ron Boerger · April 25, 2024, 10:46:56 AM

AL.com published a story about the comp sci prof who uncovered the financial discrepancies that led to then-president David Pollick's departure in 2010, despite the board tabling the report and refusing to take any direct action. What has been reported since as 'overspending due to miscalculation of student financial aid' was way more than that.

It probably wasn't a coincidence that shortly thereafter the BSC comp sci department was disbanded in a "cost savings" move and the prof (now Dean of Natural Sciences at UNC-Asheville) found herself out of a job.

cush · April 25, 2024, 12:06:49 PM

Seems like she would have been a good President of BSC. Hopefully, the campus gets taken over by another school soon

BSCpanthers · April 29, 2024, 06:59:59 PM

Looks like Alabama A&M is going to make a run at the campus. I'm just glad it will stay a school.

https://www.al.com/news/2024/04/alabama-am-wants-to-buy-birmingham-southern-college-for-new-hbcu-campus.html

awadelewis · April 29, 2024, 08:19:09 PM

Purchasing the B-SC campus would be a good move on AA&M's part as there isn't a public HBCU in that area. Will be interesting to see what the reaction will be from other schools around Birmingham, particularly UAB, Samford, and Miles. The purchase would have to be approved by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE, the most aptly named state agency) and then accredited by SACSCOC.

The news reports from here in Huntsville report that AA&M would run the campus as a separate independent branch campus. I wonder what they will do with athletics and if they would be a D3 school or join one of the HBCU-oriented D2 conferences in the region.

Ralph Turner · April 30, 2024, 01:34:02 AM

I predict there would be formal acceptance of AA&M Birmingham by Samford & UAB. Miles might be hurt, and school would likely go NAIA and be rivals with Stillman and Talladega.

jknezek · April 30, 2024, 08:53:01 AM

I think UAB and Miles will fight it tooth and nail. UAB will be the stumbling block. If they choose to fight this, I don't think it will happen. But I think in order to fight it, UAB will need a plan to deal with the property. And I'm hoping this is the impetus for UAB, and the board that governs the UA system, to stop being stupid and add it as an honors college or something.

I know they don't want to step on Tuscaloosa's toes, with their own honor college, but it will be better than having a second state school within a few miles. And it will be cheaper than UAB's constant attempt to convert buildings, which the UA Board constantly complains about since it diverts money from the Roll Tide campus they prefer spending money on, and Birmingham complains about because it lowers the tax base. The B-SC campus is already tax exempt so there is no revenue loss as compared to converting an office or residential property.

Overall, I know there is a difference between HBCU and traditional college experiences for students and faculty, especially here in AL, and I find it valuable, but I just don't think having 2 public schools within spitting distance, even with different cultures, is a great idea.

Ralph Turner · April 30, 2024, 10:16:53 AM

Thanks jknezek.
Yours is logical; mine is illogical. I think that mine wins in the minds of the political types. LOL.
(Seriously, thanks for the perspective.)

cush · April 30, 2024, 11:45:34 AM

Would it be crazy for Alabama A&M to just move to Birmingham and for University of Alabama at Huntsville take over the current Alabama A&M campus ?

BSCpanthers · April 30, 2024, 11:51:19 AM

Quote from: cush on April 30, 2024, 11:45:34 AMWould it be crazy for Alabama A&M to just move to Birmingham and for University of Alabama at Huntsville take over the current Alabama A&M campus ?

I don't think A&M is going to give up their 880 acres for BSC's less then 200 acres.

Ron Boerger · April 30, 2024, 12:00:08 PM

Not to mention that Alabama A&M's enrollment last fall was over 6,600 - no way they could fit into the facilities at the former B-SC campus.

awadelewis · April 30, 2024, 04:09:21 PM

Quote from: cush on April 30, 2024, 11:45:34 AMWould it be crazy for Alabama A&M to just move to Birmingham and for University of Alabama at Huntsville take over the current Alabama A&M campus ?

Not something they would do... this is an expansion play on AA&M's part. Wouldn't surprise me to hear them start describing themselves as Alabama's flagship HBCU with campuses in Huntsville and Birmingham. Would be another tweak at their friends at Alabama State down in Montgomery.

I'll admit to some surprise hearing they would like to buy B-SC's campus... working in higher education in the HSV region, I would have never thought their administration was the sort willing to take on that kind of risk. Good on them, and hope they are able to pull it off.