Fact and Fiction about UAB's Football and Athletic program

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UAB loses buckets full of money on sports every year.

True. UAB athletics was subsidized by about $18 million last year, according to the USA Today Sports college athletics financial database. Subsidies, which often obscure the bottom-line at schools across the country, include student fees and state or school contributions.





UAB is losing far more on athletics than other schools.


False. According to an AL.com analysis of the USA Today data, 125 schools have athletic programs subsidized at a higher percentage than UAB. UAB's subsidy is about the same as Colorado State, Ohio, Virginia Commonwealth or New Hampshire. Some 33 schools are subsidized at higher dollar figures, including Cincinnati, Kent State, James Madison and Houston. Rutgers and UNLV actually posted double the subsidy as UAB.

If you take the subsidies out of the mix and look simply at the bottom line, 36 schools across the country are hemorrhaging more than UAB. Rutgers and UNLV are bleeding money at twice the rate of UAB.





UAB Football is the big culprit.


False. Kristi Dosh of Campus Insiders reports that UAB's $7.2 million in football revenue last year ranked 98th overall in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Troy University pulled in less revenue, with $6.7 million, and South Alabama earned only $5.8 million.





UAB is unfit to compete financially with the schools in its own conference.

False. In Conference USA, UAB is a middle of the pack financially. Throw out all the subsidies and its athletic losses are sixth worst, behind Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee State, Florida International, North Carolina Charlotte and North Texas.





Compared to other schools in Alabama, UAB is a gaping financial wound.


False. Athletics simply ain't cheap. Fact is, in the state of Alabama last year, only the University of Alabama made money on its athletic programs. UAB, South Alabama, Troy and Alabama State all lost sums in 8 figures last year - when the subsidies are taken out of the equation -- and Alabama A&M lost $5 million. Auburn even came down on the crimson side of the ledge, losing $3.7 million. Alabama made $21 million.

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UAB's football program brought in $8,980,301 in revenue and reported $8,956,079 in expenses in 2013, according to federal Equity in Athletics Data.

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