Expansion: UAB to reunite with Marquette and DePaul in NBE?

[FlyJays]

I honestly thought this thread was a joke at first, but apparently it's not.

UAB isn't even remotely close to being considered for a potential fifth-string spot on the "We might potentially be considered for Big East expansion" roster. They will never, ever be part of this league.

1. Their hoops program registers zero interest from anybody outside of Birmingham, and probably limited interest from many in Birmingham.
2. They are the third-tier basketball program in a state that does not care about basketball.
2a. Birmingham is a media market that the BE couldn't care less about acquiring.
3. They are an average public university.
4. They are a geographical outlier.
5. Their mascot is a dragon.

There are probably 50 schools the Big East would consider before UAB.

[FormulaX]

I honestly thought this thread was a joke at first, but apparently it's not.

UAB isn't even remotely close to being considered for a potential fifth-string spot on the "We might potentially be considered for Big East expansion" roster. They will never, ever be part of this league.

1. Their hoops program registers zero interest from anybody outside of Birmingham, and probably limited interest from many in Birmingham.
2. They are the third-tier basketball program in a state that does not care about basketball.
2a. Birmingham is a media market that the BE couldn't care less about acquiring.
3. They are an average public university.
4. They are a geographical outlier.
5. Their mascot is a dragon.

There are probably 50 schools the Big East would consider before UAB.

It has to be a joke! I just laughed through all three pages.

[Bluejay]

I think UAB without football would be a perfect fit for the Missouri Valley Conference.

I am interested to see if any other schools follow UAB and dump football due to the high costs associated with autonomy. Things could get real interesting...

[WaitingPatiently]

I took the previous shelter comment to be referring to some of the 7 and not the 3 newbies.

[GoldenWarrior11]

It may be time to start a new realignment-only thread, just so all the individuals with tin-foil hats have a place to hand their coats while here.

UAB being in the Big East is the most ridiculous thing I've heard since "AAC Football is closer to being in the P5 than the Big East is to being considered an elite basketball conference."

[notkirkcameron]

The word on the street is that UAB may be forced to drop football and subsequently their CUSA membership card.
For the former CUSA programs in the NBE, it's unsettling. Especially that it may happen to a proud basketball program like UAB, who has better recent basketball excellence than some programs we gave shelter to in the NBE. The Dragons deserve better.
If it were up to me, I'd add onto our CUSA wing and bring in St Louis and UAB, and call it a day at an optimal 12 teams.
That gives the NBE great markets in St. Louis and Birmingham.
I have great respect for what Bartow did down there. Mike Anderson was Shaka Smart before Shaka Smart was Shaka Smart. For the college basketball purists out there, this move would be a good coming home for a program that is fighting the same war the NBE is with football. Since we can't get Memphis (or UCONN), I think our old CUSA brothers at UAB are a good realistic option.

Hell of a first post, there stranger. Rest of the board, don't feed the...

[NJRedman]

I honestly thought this thread was a joke at first, but apparently it's not.

UAB isn't even remotely close to being considered for a potential fifth-string spot on the "We might potentially be considered for Big East expansion" roster. They will never, ever be part of this league.

1. Their hoops program registers zero interest from anybody outside of Birmingham, and probably limited interest from many in Birmingham.
2. They are the third-tier basketball program in a state that does not care about basketball.
2a. Birmingham is a media market that the BE couldn't care less about acquiring.
3. They are an average public university.
4. They are a geographical outlier.
5. Their mascot is a dragon.

There are probably 50 schools the Big East would consider before UAB.

I wish our mascot was the Dragons. Beats the hell out of the Red Storm and Johnny the Thunderbird.

Now that I think of it, I WANT us to be the St. John's Red Dragons! How cool would that be?!?! We can rename Carnessca the Dragons Lair!

[robinreed]

I honestly thought this thread was a joke at first, but apparently it's not.

UAB isn't even remotely close to being considered for a potential fifth-string spot on the "We might potentially be considered for Big East expansion" roster. They will never, ever be part of this league.

1. Their hoops program registers zero interest from anybody outside of Birmingham, and probably limited interest from many in Birmingham.
2. They are the third-tier basketball program in a state that does not care about basketball.
2a. Birmingham is a media market that the BE couldn't care less about acquiring.
3. They are an average public university.
4. They are a geographical outlier.
5. Their mascot is a dragon.

There are probably 50 schools the Big East would consider before UAB.

I wish our mascot was the Dragons. Beats the hell out of the Red Storm and Johnny the Thunderbird.

Now that I think of it, I WANT us to be the St. John's Red Dragons! How cool would that be?!?! We can rename Carnessca the Dragons Lair!

Red Dragons sounds good. UAB Dragons not so good.

[gosports1]

MIKO? Miko is that you? Have you finally found us hear on this board?

[butlerguy03]

Red Dragons sounds good. UAB Dragons not so good.

...except "Red Dragon" is KKK terminology.