UAB announced to its athletes Tuesday that they will be dropping their football, rifle and bowling programs after the academic year. Unsurprisingly, many of the school’s football players had an emotional reaction to the news.
Below are some photos from the scene where the players were told about the program shutting down. You can see many athletes crying:
UAB football players leave in tears after meeting with president. pic.twitter.com/FSQXI99db5
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) December 2, 2014
Sad day. Players showing lots of emotion. #FreeUAB pic.twitter.com/HbfWx6yhOa
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) December 2, 2014
#UAB players leaving meeting #FreeUAB pic.twitter.com/8OLzfT9YmM
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) December 2, 2014
The fans were taking it tough, too:
Lots of UAB supporters in tears outside football building as band plays and students chant. pic.twitter.com/J11ObtIg8w
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) December 2, 2014
Lots of tears at #UAB .. #freeuab pic.twitter.com/rzBV8zvRHP
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) December 2, 2014
It’s easy to see why the athletes would have such a tough time handling this news. Nobody goes to a school on an athletic scholarship thinking that their program is eventually going to be shut down. That doesn’t even enter the realm of possibility; it’s just not even a consideration. But some of the people in charge did not think it was financially viable to sustain the program, which is why they’re shutting it down. It’s also believed that Bear Bryant’s son has wanted to kill the UAB program and finally succeeded.
At least many of the athletes should be able to transfer and play immediately.
H/T College Spun
