[dfwgator]

I think a lot of smaller schools will be dropping football, they just can’t compete with the big guys.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Way more to this story than the AP article. UAB President reciting the company line.

Who do you like to replace Coach Boom?

[Always A Marine]

I believe a lot of smaller schools make money on football in the right circumstances, which include location, fan base and competing against similar schools. While UAB is a large school, it is urban (by location, not race) and is still predominantly a commuter school with an alumni and fan base that will always will be more interested in Alabama and/or Auburn football. But away from Birmingham, smaller programs at Troy and several of Alabama's "directional" universities thrive in relatively isolated locations and smaller leagues.

I believe Georgia State's new football program faces the same impossible odds in downtown Atlanta, where it competes with strong loyalties to UGA, Georgia Tech and the Falcons. But away from Atlanta, Georgia Southern and Valdosta State thrive in smaller ponds - as does the even smaller and newer football program at Mercer University in Macon.

[chrisinoc]

“I think a lot of smaller schools will be dropping football, they just can’t compete with the big guys.”

My school, Long Beach State, dropped football in 1991. They could not compete with USC and UCLA 25 miles up the freeway.

LB State had to play body bag games against Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Miami,in the last few years just to survive. Not even the legendary George Allen could revive the program.