In an Aug. 28 interview with C&P, newly hired UAB athletic director Mark Ingram described the challenges faced as a result of football’s reinstatement on June 1. Ingram said the obstacles for UAB football were “100 percent funding related” (C&P winter 2015/2016). C&P prophesized Ingram’s presence at UAB as the “right man, right place, right time.”
Since then, Ingram has combined his vision for UAB football with major fundraising expertise to correct the deficiencies, efforts that are paying off with financial commitments from multiple sources who believe in UAB and its importance to the greater Birmingham community.
Senior Leadership showing up in the weight room this morning as the head man looks on. #theReturn pic.twitter.com/00WsVvGRQE
— UAB Football (@UAB_Football) April 14, 2016
Recent developments include:
April 25: “Medical Properties Trust, Inc., has announced a $500,000 commitment to the UAB Athletic Foundation’s campaign to raise $15 million in support of the proposed Football Operations Building expected to house office space, meeting and film rooms, athletic training facilities, locker rooms and a weight room.”
April 13: “The Alabama Power Foundation has committed $500,000 to the UAB Athletic Foundation’s campaign to raise $15 million in support of the proposed Football Operations Building. “
“We join with the many organizations getting behind this project because it has broad implications in expanding UAB’s growing economic and cultural contributions to our region,” said Myla Calhoun, Alabama Power’s vice president for Charitable Giving. “UAB has been central to Birmingham’s resurgence, and UAB Athletics is seizing an opportunity to build excellence across its programs that will be felt in very positive ways across our city.”
Congrats to former @UAB_Football SA Jordan Howard on being drafted today by the NFL’s Chicago Bears! Good luck! pic.twitter.com/x1JxdOWdzS
— Mark Ingram (@UAB_AD) April 30, 2016
March 25: “Birmingham-based Protective Life announced a commitment of $500,000, the campaign’s first corporate contribution, and the UAB Athletic Foundation fundraising committee is finalizing other major corporate and individual gifts.”
UAB has additionally scheduled two games with SEC opponents: at Florida Nov. 18, 2017, and at Texas A&M Sept. 2, 2018, and a possible game with Auburn has been discussed by Ingram and his good friend, Auburn AD Jay Jacobs.
UAB’s Mark Ingram is demonstrating that he is: “right man, right place, right time.”
