UAB Football Packs in the Fans, But Can it Continue?

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Football returned at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as the Blazers kicked off at Legion Field for the first time in more than two years. In front of record breaking fan support - the same support that brought the football program back after it was cut from the budget in 2014 - UAB defeated Alabama A & M 38-7. So many positives surrounded the return of UAB football, but many are wondering if this support and enthusiasm can and will continue.

A crowd of 45,212 came to the game Saturday, which is what those who had doubted success of the program said UAB has needed all along. Blazer head coach Bill Clark stayed around for two years waiting to start the program back up again, even after he could have left for another job - he was coming off a season during which he was named Coach of the Year in Conference USA. The business community and sports fans throughout Birmingham rallied to get the program reinstated, so the numbers at the end of the season will need to add up as proposals for a downtown stadium are moving forward. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

The University of Alabama System Chancellor Ray Hays was in attendance, showing support from the very organization that cancelled the program in December of 2014. The continued support of the program is what city officials say will be necessary to move forward with plans to build a stadium downtown for the team - a proposal that has been placed on hold until after the municipal elections Oct. 3. The proposal involves an open-air stadium north of Uptown District with 45,000 fixed seats programmed to be expandable to 55,000 with a pre-designed temporary seating plan. Interviews and program requirements were conducted with stakeholders and potential users of the stadium, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham and ESPN.

City leaders have said the support for the program will determine the need for the stadium, while many of those who want to support the program have said they will if the stadium is built. One aspect of the situation most Birmingham sports fans agree on is that if the support for UAB the rest of the season is similar to the support it received opening game, the program will flourish.

The next home game for UAB is Sept 16 against Coastal Carolina.

(Photo of UAB Head Coach Bill Clark by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)