Jimbo Fisher and UAB: One Year Later

The state of Alabama had two Division 1 coaching job openings following the 2006 season. Everyone knows that Nick Saban filled one of these, with much fanfare. However, the University of Alabama at Birmingham also made a coaching change, and the fall out from that switch makes for a potentially more interesting story.

For nearly all of UAB’s coaching search, Jimbo Fisher was the prohibitive favorite. Fisher had built an impressive resume at LSU, and was a hot name on the coaching front. However, in the end UAB decided to hire Neil Callaway, a lifetime assistant who was a mediocre hire at best. So why did UAB pass on Fisher? For many, the answer lies in its affiliation with the University of Alabama. Both schools are a part of the state college system, so both hires were approved by the same board. When the board reviewed the potential Fisher hire, they concluded that his price tag was too steep, even though UAB supposedly had boosters willing to foot the bill. This news was somewhat underreported, but was a disturbing tidbit in a wild offseason.

The Fisher fiasco is over, and in the end he ended up at Florida State, where he currently is in line to succeed Bobby Bowden. However, did the original conflict affect UAB, and if so, in what way? Needless to say, the Callaway hire has not worked out thus far. Last season UAB went 2-10. However, the more alarming statistic is the schools point differential. UAB’s offense was consistent from 2006 to 2007, as they actually scored ten more points, with 235, this past season. However, the defense went from shaky to a disaster. In 2006, UAB allowed 297 points, which was over 100 points less than 2007’s total of 421. In addition to poor on field results, UAB’s recruiting has taken a downturn as well. According to Rivals.com, UAB’s 2008 class is outside the top 100, while as recently as 2006 the class was rated #65.

The mishandling of the Jimbo Fisher situation by the University of Alabama system has dealt a severe blow to the UAB program. Rather than ending up with one of coaching’s brightest young stars, even if only for a couple of seasons, they took on an afterthought who does not appear to be up to the job. If this particular situation serves as a precedent for any future ones, then it doesn’t pay to be the little brother in college football.