“The Athletic Department faces many challenges given the rapidly evolving NCAA landscape and soaring operating costs, which place extreme pressure and a growing financial burden on programs like UAB’s. Costs are continuously spiraling upwards driven by cost-of-attendance payments to players, meals, equipment, facilities, coaches, travel and more,” the university’s statement read.
The university estimated that over the next five years, it would have had to invest nearly $50 million over the next five years to keep its FBS program going. President Ray Watts said the university just wasn’t willing to make that happen.
The question we’re asking ourselves: If UAB can’t afford to keep its football program, what does the future hold for HBCUs?
While cutting football may be a stretch for the majority of HBCUs, many have expressed the need for them to re-examine their priorities when it comes to spending in athletics.
A few schools are financially solvent enough to stay where they are, while others might find themselves better off moving down a level in competition a la Winston-Salem State. That includes Division II HBCUs as well as Division I.
The reality is no one-size-fits-all cure exists. Still, the UAB football program should serve as a caution flag for administrators at many schools.