The “University of Alabama at Auburn”

This is somewhat of an old story, and I’m not sure it got much press in the storied Iron Bowl rivalry media coverage. But while conducting some research on potential seismic zones that could threaten dams, levees and other important infrastructure projects west of the Mississippi, I ran across this piece on Discovery.com regarding what’s known as the New York – Alabama Lineament.

A little background—I do a lot of disaster planning and disaster response consulting and I have been in this business for about 25 years. I knew there were some areas of seismic risk in the eastern US, including the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) and the New York – Alabama Lineament (NYAL). The NYAL is an ancient magnetic anomaly discovered in 1978, and runs in a nearly straight line from northern Alabama to the mountains of upstate New York. While it’s never been determined to be an active fault, it bears striking geological similarities to the much younger and much more active San Andreas Fault in California.

Anyway, one of the most engaged researchers on the NYAL is Dr. Mark Steltenpohl. However, the Discovery.com story thinks there is only one major research university in the state of Alabama [Emphasis mine]:

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A more recent aerial magnetic survey of the Alabama end of the line suggests that it's probably a 500-million-year-old San Andreas-style fault that appears to have slipped 137 miles (220 kilometers) to the right in the distant past.

If so, it's no surprise that the most dangerous part of the eastern Tennessee seismic zone is right next to part of this magnetic line and has the second-highest earthquake frequency in the eastern United States.

"It's most likely a strike-slip fault," said Mark Steltenpohl of the University of Alabama at Auburn. "But it's all buried."

The fault is invisible from the surface and there is very little information about it because no one has actually drilled down through it to investigate, Steltenpohl told Discovery News.

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Whoops. The dude is the Chair of the Department of Geology and Geography at Auburn University.

Steltenpohl really is a respected researcher and a recognized expert on NYAL. Whether NYAL ever results in a devastating earthquake that threatens the numerous dams that populate the region along the Appalachians remains to be seen. Most researchers, including Steltenpohl, have the risk as quite low.

The real temblor comes at the fact that a national media organization has, as often happens, shown that there really is only ONE University of Alabama.

Of the NYAL, "It's almost a needle in a haystack," said Steltenpohl.

Apparently, so is the number of journalists who can find the “University of Auburn” on a map.

Chortle.

This article made me LOL. I hope it makes you do the same. Go mash the link if you’ve never heard of NYAL.  

Quotables: Commentary on Mal Moore from around the web

Moore’s legacy “will be somewhat (tied to Saban), but there’s so much more than that,” Espy said. “We were going through a down time and (Moore) was able to go out and raise millions of dollars to improve the facilities. Those facilities probably had a lot to do with us being able to land coaches like Saban and (men’s basketball coach Anthony) Grant. He supported Sarah Patterson and the gymnastics program and look what it became. He raised up the entire athletic department and deserves a lot of credit for the success that’s taking place now. I think we won four national championships last year, another football championship this year.”

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Moore deserves praise for the recent run of football championships, for the three women's NCAA titles that UA programs won in the spring of 2012. He deserves respect for being a gentleman, a classy representative of Alabama, a calm but strong voice in the Southeastern Conference. Moore's tenure wasn't perfect - no AD has a perfect tenure, because no athletic department wins all of the championships in all of the sports all of the time - but he leaves Alabama a stronger program than the one he inherited. There will be an outpouring of honors and accolades forthcoming that recognizes that progress, an outpouring that has already started. Anyone can see why respect is merited.

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"Mal Moore has left an indelible mark on the University of Alabama," Arkansas AD Jeff Long said, "much like Frank Broyles has done here. The Crimson Tide athletic program has achieved tremendous success under Mal's leadership."

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The crowning achievement of Moore's tenure might just be the hiring of Saban, who has led Alabama to three national championships over the past four years, but Saban was quick to deflect that place of prominence on Moore's highlight-filled timeline.

"I think most things that you would stand here and look around here and see, he’s had some hand in making all the athletic facilities what they are, I think first class in so many ways," Saban said. "More than that he’s a class gentleman, probably as fine as you’ll ever meet, and he’s certainly been a good friend, and his support has certainly been appreciated."

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Moore serves as the strongest sinew connecting Alabama football today with the Bear Bryant Era. For 46 of the past 55 years, Moore has served as a student-athlete, assistant coach or administrator at Alabama.

Think of it -- Moore has won 10 national championship rings as a player (1961), assistant coach (1964, '65, '73, '78, '79 ,'92) and boss (2009, '11, '12). That takes care of his fingers. When Moore recovers from his lung ailment and begins his tenure as special assistant to the university president, Dr. Judy Bonner, he can begin on his toes.

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He doesn't have too much Bama in him. He has just the right amount, and he never felt the need to draw attention to the mutual respect and affection shared by the man and his school. You spend part of six decades of your life at a place, from the start of your journey to adulthood into the later years of your career, that place becomes more than your alma mater and your employer.

It becomes your family. Your home.

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He led a building boom during a recession, twice expanding Bryant-Denny Stadium and transforming the 74-year-old facility into a 101,821-seat palace, one of the jewels of college football.

In the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility, a building that was renamed in his honor on March 28, 2007, he worked in a corner office that overlooks the football practice facilities and the newest addition to the kingdom: a $9 million, 37,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art weight room that opened in February.

"He'll leave a legacy of accomplishment on the facilities, in getting the university through some difficult times," Steve Townsend, a former associate athletic director, said in a 2009 interview.

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Without Moore’s dogged support of all things Saban and the program (have you seen the new football facilities?), the Tide isn’t nearly as successful. There’s a reason Saban hasn’t looked back at the NFL since arriving in Tuscaloosa.

Everything he wants is in the college game. And he can thank Moore.

Now the university can thank Moore, too – with a bronze statue in the Walk of Champions. For a true champion of Alabama athletics.

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Roll Mal Roll!

Per a University of Alabama release today:

The University of Alabama announced today that Coach Mal Moore will step down as athletics director, effective March 20, 2013, to become special assistant to President Judy Bonner.

“Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports,” said Bonner. “During his tenure as athletics director, our student athletes have experienced unprecedented success in every aspect of their careers at UA, on the field of play and in the classroom. His contributions to UA athletics on every level are unsurpassed. And, while he will no longer be in charge of day-to-day operations, I am so pleased that we will continue to be able to rely on his wisdom and expertise going forward.”

“As many of you may know, due to factors related to my health, I am at a point that I can no longer fulfill my duties as athletics director in the true championship manner the position requires,” said Moore. “While I have to focus on my health issue, I look forward to maintaining an ongoing working relationship with this great University as special assistant to Dr. Bonner. I know I can count on each of you to continue your unequaled support for me and The University of Alabama.

“I cannot adequately express what the University means to me. It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the University administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special.”

A 1963 graduate of The University of Alabama, Moore earned both an undergraduate degree in Sociology and a 1964 master’s degree in Secondary Education from the Capstone. The University of Alabama’s director of Athletics since 1999, Moore was a football player under legendary Crimson Tide head coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant from 1958-62 and went on to serve as an assistant football coach on Bryant’s staff. Moore has the distinction of being a part of 10 national championship football teams as a player, coach and athletics director.

In 2011, he was elected to the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a coach and an administrator. After the completion of the 2011-12 academic and athletic seasons, Moore was named the winner of the John L. Toner Award, given by the National Football Foundation and the Hall of Fame to the nation’s best athletics director.

In addition to making his mark on Alabama, Moore also had a national impact as a key member of several prestigious NCAA and college football committees. He has served on the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee, the SEC Athletics Directors Bowl Advisory Committee and the Big Six Conferences Minority Coaches Forum.

Moore’s successor as athletics director will be named as quickly as possible.

Absolutely no one loves Alabama like Mal Moore loves Alabama.

During the athletic departments darkest days; during its nearly 15 year wandering of the wilderness, Moore put together one of the finest staffs in the country, and became the university’s most prolific advocate, cheerleader and fundraising.

Because of his leadership, Alabama athletics stands at the top of the world. Its football team, gymnastics team and softball team are the class of the country. No one has better athletic facilities or better academic support organizations.

Alabama is a greater academic and athletic institution today because Coach Moore was named Athletic Director in 1999, and his five decades of service, love and dedication to this great University will leave an indelible impact.

We have been blessed.

Roll Mal Roll.

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Fall of Rose Towers in Tuscaloosa - Videos

Fireworks? What fireworks?

Via RollBamaRoll.com, video footage of the implosion of the Rose Towers dormitory structure at the University of Alabama.

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Here’s another view of the scene from @BSBHVR2

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Alabama trustee explains board’s stadium decision

The University of Alabama - Birmingham is closing in on hiring a new head coach to resurrect its floundering football program. As that process wraps up (likely this weekend), most Birmingham and some national media types will attempt to remind people that the big, bad Paul W. Bryant Jr. and his merry band of puppets on the Alabama board of trustees are still working hard to screw the “little brother” program and keep it down.

Don’t buy that spin anymore, please. What follows is the full text of a letter sent from Alabama trustee Finis St. John to UAB Alumni Association President Janice Ward, explaining the rationale behind the board’s decision to withdraw support for a new on-campus football stadium. Rosy projections, poor planning, wishful thinking and political grandstanding aside…

UAB isn’t being denied a new stadium because Alabama wants to keep them irrelevant. UAB isn’t getting a stadium because its proponents haven’t done their jobs.

Janice B. Ward
UAB National Alumni President
1301 10th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-4555

Dear Ms. Ward:

Many questions have been asked about the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees' regarding the proposal to build an on campus stadium at UAB. The many people we have heard from, both in favor of and opposed to the proposal, are entitled to know the facts and factors we considered.

As a member of the board, chairman of the Athletics Committees and former President Pro Tem, I ask that you pass along my response to the issues which have been raised. While I believe that a large majority of our board agrees with these statements, some may differ on parts, so please accept this statement as my own. As members of the board, it is our responsibility to exercise our judgment in allocating resources to best serve the taxpayers of the State and students of our universities. We must set priorities and make choices.

To be clear, the proposal from UAB was to borrow $75 million to build an on campus stadium. (The original proposal was for a $30 to $40 million stadium. I have heard no explanation for doubling the cost.) While there has been discussion that $15 million has been raised, to my knowledge no such amount is in hand. The $15 million in up front money in UAB's plan is a projection - as are all of the figures in the business plan circulated by UAB.

Unlike the recent expansion of the stadium in Tuscaloosa for which there were firm commitments for season tickets and boxes sufficient to fully fund that project, UAB's financing plan is based on the hope that the new stadium will generate sufficient support to pay for itself. In other words, we were asked to spend $75 million in the hope that adequate financial support would follow, support which, to date, has never existed for football at UAB. If the projections are wrong, the stadium will be paid for from student tuition and by the taxpayers. One of the stadiums UAB points to as a model is Central Florida's Bright Field House Networks Stadium.

But according to UCF's official website:
"Construction and operation of Bright House Networks Stadium was funded through naming rights, revenues from suites and club seat leases, ticket and concessions sales, donations corporate sponsorships and advertising. No public money or tuition fees were used to build or run the stadium."

UAB's proposal is very different and obligates the University to pay using public funds. This kind of speculative funding is unprecedented in our system and raises great concerns. To be sure, in recent years there has been severe pressure on funding for all aspects of higher education. State support for our system has dropped by over 30% in the last few years. Just last year, UAB was forced to eliminate 300 faculty and staff positions. State revenues continue to suffer and unemployment is at extremely high levels. Tuition has been raised significantly. Our students and their parents work harder than ever to pay for college education. In the current financial environment, we must constantly be concerned about the overall debt load of our universities, their bond ratings and their financial integrity.

As a result, part of our job is to set priorities. UAB has to set priorities too. and they do so by formulating what is called a "FiveYear Facilities Development Plan." The five year plan allows time to carefully study proposals and prioritize spending. Projects on UAB's five year plan include a new College of Arts & Science building, renovations to numerous on-campus buildings, a new Bio-medical research building and new residence halls. We recently approved $40 million for construction of the new Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital - one of the leaders in this field in the Southeast. However, at the time UAB first announced plans to request approval for a stadium, the new stadium was not even in UAB's five year plan. So we were asked to decide on short notice whether we should bypass these other worthy projects which affect the health of our citizens and the well being of all UAB students, for a stadium which will be used only a few days each year.

There is also uncertainty about the future of other facilities in Birmingham. For years there has been talk of a dome. Legion Field's future is unclear. But to my knowledge, there have been no talks between UAB and city officials about cooperating to meet future needs. As taxpayers and citizens, shouldn't all interested parties discuss ways to work together toward a facility available to high schools, special events, bowl games and UAB football? Under UAB's plan, the stadium will be locked over 350 days a year. UAB is a national and world leader in many fields. The hospital and medical school are points of pride for everyone in our state. But in the last 10 years UAB has faced increasing challenges. In health research funding, UAB's national ranking has declined significantly over the last 10 years. The cancer and cardiology programs are no longer nationally ranked.

Changes in health care funding will require intense focus and leadership to maintain the excellence we expect from UAB. I would hope that everyone who cares about UAB and the people it serves will encourage UAB to make these matters of crucial importance to its students and the State of Alabama its highest priority. It has also been argued by political and business interests in Birmingham that the stadium should be built for the impact it would have on economic development in the city. Our universities are integral partners with the cities in which they operate. However, our first obligation is to manage the system to provide responsive, progressive and superior institutions of higher learning. We should be concerned about the impact our decisions have on their communities, but our highest loyalty is to the higher education of our students. With all due respect to the city leadership, we should not ask parents, students and taxpayers in Dothan, Decatur or Cullman to underwrite expensive projects for Birmingham's economic development. To those who do not believe that we support the sport programs at UAB, it should be noted that UAB already spends considerable resources on Division I athletics. In the last 10 years alone, with the board's approval, UAB's Division I men's and women's sports have cost the university over $100 million. But this spending has not produced the financial, fan and student support UAB projected, and the expenditures have consistently gone up. We simply could not justify taking even more money from research, teaching and service to support the plan as presented.

These opinions should not be seen as anything more than the exercise of our best judgment for the good of UAB, the University System and the State. And while we understand that a stadium would be good for the football program, we have the responsibility to look at all issues and the university as a whole. We can't build everything we want and we must focus on what is most important.

Our board appreciate your service to UAB and the interest and loyalty of your members. We look forward to working together for an even greater university.

Sincerely,

Finis St. John