In 1976, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazer’s athletics program was in its infancy and nonexistent. Despite the absence of a program, UAB took a puzzling next step. The university aimed to establish a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I basketball program from scratch, bypassing all lower divisions. Remarkably, it succeeded. To transition from nonexistent to Division I, the university needed to hire an all-time great coach and athletic director. Somehow, UAB did just that with the hire of former University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) coach Gene Bartow just a year later.
For nearly eighty years, the twin oaks of Toomer’s Corner stood as a loving testament to our city’s roots and our state’s natural beauty.
Charles Barkley, otherwise known as "Sir Charles" or "Chuck," is a retired American basketball star who created a legacy in the game. Born February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama, Barkley emerged as an outstanding player while studying at Auburn University. He then got the nickname "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his outstanding gameplay.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, there are four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Football. At the University of Alabama, each home football game is treated like a holiday. Laughter, chanting, and the smell of barbecue fill the “Quad” as fans prepare to cheer the Tide to victory. Today, we know Tuscaloosa as “Title Town” because of its many victories in various sports, but before all the crystal balls and national championships arrived, there was a driven, hard-working football team that started it all—and the history of championships at the University of Alabama is a long one. |
Alabama Heritage BLOG
At Alabama Heritage, we owe many of our successes and smooth operations to our fabulous student interns. We hope that with this blog--written mostly by our interns as well as history students from UAB and a few from our own editors--our readers will have an opportunity to get to know the students who bring so much to the table with their enthusiasm, hard work, and expertise! If you're interested in our internship program, check out the details here. Archives
May 2024
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