After making what was described by UAB president Ray Watts as an agonizing decision to terminate the football program in December, he and the university reversed field and announced Monday that they would reinstate the program, along with bowling and rifle. Watts, who originally disbanded the three programs based largely on a reported lack of financial solvency, said recent changes in private support through individuals and the business community made the reinstatement possible. An estimated $27 million has been raised through the UAB Football Foundation, the city of Birmingham and the UAB Undergraduate Student Government Association. "The biggest single difference is we now have tangible commitments for additional support that we have never had before," Watts told reporters. "Without that additional support, we could not have maintained a balanced budget moving forward." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12991674/uab-blazers-football-return
