Watson Brown era (1995–2006) Watson Brown came to UAB from Oklahoma, where he served as offensive coordinator. On November 9, 1995, UAB was officially informed by the NCAA that the school had met all requirements for reclassification, and as such the Blazers would enter the 1996 season as an I-A Independent.
When did UAB become d1?
Beginning with the first NCAA sanctioned Division III football team in 1991, UAB joined Division I-AA in 1993 and moved to Division I-A in 1996, joining Conference USA in 1999.
How did UAB get its mascot?
In January 1978, a campuswide vote bestowed the nickname "Blazers" on the team, hoping that the teams would "blaze" a new trail in college athletics. Originally, there was no official mascot, but that changed in 1995, when a European dragon was chosen as the mascot.
Why did UAB lose their football program?
Back in December 2014, after a 6–6 season, university president Ray Watts announced that the football program would close down. It wasn't that there was something wrong with Blazer football, exactly. There just wasn't nearly enough right with it. The team played in decaying, cavernous Legion Field before small crowds.
When did UAB drop football?
In June 2015, after lots of public pressure, the team's return was announced. UAB had been the first FBS program to shut down in two decades, which was an embarrassing look for the school.
