FB: Southern Athletic Association

[jknezek]

From this AL.com article it seems more likely that the dude was dead set against the entire program from the get go, lobbied against it, and had to be forced to even make the program available by the state AG.

Expedited court hearing set for this afternoon.

The news reports makes it sound like this guy has an ax to grind for some reason and isn't working in the best interest of the state. But also that the school already has a loan from a private bank for $16.5 mil that is holding it up. Comes down to who is the first lender and gets priority in being paid back if the school defaults. I'm just ready for this financial nightmare to end.

Last weekend was homecoming and was supposed to be the launch of the next phase of fundraising and that got hijacked by this decision of the treasurer, further hindering the schools efforts and momentum. The treasurer is from BHM, wonder if he got jilted by a girlfriend when he was a kid and she choose a kid going to BSC???

The Treasurer has been against this plan from the start. So when they gave him the ultimate final say, something that I think was added late in the process at his request, it always made this sketchy. He also has an axe to grind against ServisFirst for some reason, probably because the bank big wigs donated to his opponent in a previous election though I'm too lazy to go check that, so he wants to put the state funds ahead of a loan that already claims first priority. Basically, B-SC is in big trouble. Which, honestly, has always been the case.

[BSCpanthers]

On a personal note, I need BSC to exist until the end of spring semester, get my child graduated.  We will continue to support their efforts, but it won't have the same drastic result for us after that.  Hopefully there is a result from the hearing today, but I'm not expecting anything immediate, unfortunately.  Hard to believe that the future of this school is being held up by one person who is letting his emotion get involved over what the state has already agreed to. 

[Pat Coleman]

The treasurer is from BHM, wonder if he got jilted by a girlfriend when he was a kid and she choose a kid going to BSC???

Really?

[Etchglow]

Not sure if any of y'all Southwestern or Trinity folks are interested in Photography.  Precision Camera (Austin camera store) is doing a sports photography class with field level access for the game this weekend for only $99.  Since I'm NOT driving to Sherman this weekend for the UMHB game, I figured I'd sign up.  I've done it before and it is a ton of fun.  Here is the link to the class if anyone is interested:


https://www.precision-camera.com/sports-with-robert-backman-shoot-like-a-pro/

[BSCpanthers]

The treasurer is from BHM, wonder if he got jilted by a girlfriend when he was a kid and she choose a kid going to BSC???

Really?

Sarcasm, not everything posted is serious.

[Pat Coleman]

The treasurer is from BHM, wonder if he got jilted by a girlfriend when he was a kid and she choose a kid going to BSC???

Really?

Sarcasm, not everything posted is serious.

Obviously, but even as sarcasm, it's a pretty ridiculous suggestion in this day and age.

[BSCpanthers]

The treasurer is from BHM, wonder if he got jilted by a girlfriend when he was a kid and she choose a kid going to BSC???

Really?

Sarcasm, not everything posted is serious.

Obviously, but even as sarcasm, it's a pretty ridiculous suggestion in this day and age.

You seem to disagree with most of my post a lot, so it doesn't suppose me that you are picking apart this one as well.

[Pat Coleman]

Pretty sure it's only the posts where you clung to the weird flex that somehow Trinity should be fifth in the region.

[BSCpanthers]

Pretty sure it's only the posts where you clung to the weird flex that somehow Trinity should be fifth in the region.

And like I said, for the first half of the Berry game I looked like a freaking genius.    

[cush]

I'll go with the best thing that could happen to the BSC campus would be a merger or takeover by Highlands College, they have $ behind them and a strong following. Obviously, they would have to want too bite off more than just running a bible college but I got to believe running a 4 year liberal arts college would suit the church of the highlands  well, I'd rebrand it Birmingham Highlands College, BHC. Unless BSC can actually collect the money it has pledged which doesn't seem to be the case nor has that figure grown in awhile things look dire for them. Clearly, the state treasurer has screwed BSC and the state legislature over with his actions, pretty vile on his part but having a court rule for BSC seems like a long shot but who knows.

[Ron Boerger]

No resolution in today's hearing (BSC v. Boozer).  "The judge did not announce a decision but said he would move the case quickly and scheduled another hearing for next week," which turns out to be Wednesday.  However:

[Judge] Anderson said he was sympathetic to Birmingham-Southern's position and the urgency of its request. But the judge raised the question of whether the Legislature gave the state treasurer discretion over whether to approve loans.

"The State Treasurer may. in his or her judgment, award a loan to any eligible institution that meets the requirements provided in this section," the law says.

Anderson noted the Legislature's language, "may, in his or her judgment, award a loan." He said lawmakers could have used the word "shall" award a loan if their intent was to limit the treasurer's discretion and require the treasurer to issue loans to colleges that met the criteria.

B-SC lawyers stated a decision needs to be rendered by Oct 30th to allow Trustees time to make the call regarding the school's  survival after this semester. 

[BSCpanthers]

As much confidence I had in the spring that this would get done, I'm struggling right now. We don't have months to get past this guy, we have days. If this guy decides to go on vacation we're screwed.

As far as Highlands College, it's a possibility, but not sure if they are quite ready for that. It's not the answer I want for BSC.

[D3Navy]

No resolution in today's hearing (BSC v. Boozer).  "The judge did not announce a decision but said he would move the case quickly and scheduled another hearing for next week," which turns out to be Wednesday.  However:

[Judge] Anderson said he was sympathetic to Birmingham-Southern's position and the urgency of its request. But the judge raised the question of whether the Legislature gave the state treasurer discretion over whether to approve loans.

"The State Treasurer may. in his or her judgment, award a loan to any eligible institution that meets the requirements provided in this section," the law says.

Anderson noted the Legislature's language, "may, in his or her judgment, award a loan." He said lawmakers could have used the word "shall" award a loan if their intent was to limit the treasurer's discretion and require the treasurer to issue loans to colleges that met the criteria.

B-SC lawyers stated a decision needs to be rendered by Oct 30th to allow Trustees time to make the call regarding the school's  survival after this semester.

That "may" instead of "shall" is quite ominous for BSC's future. 

[crufootball]

I don't know the parties of any of these politicians so I feel free to say this but this is why no one like, trust or believes in government anymore. If one dude was going to be given the power to pretty much decide the fate of the loan for BSC then that should have happened before the semester started.

Reminds me of the situation with the delayed FAFSA where I am sure there are good intentions but the execution is not going well. "The 2024–25 FAFSA will be delayed until December 2023 due to changes the US Department of Education is implementing to make the application more streamlined for students and families." Only in government could you say a delay in a process is so that it can be streamlined.

[jknezek]

I don't know the parties of any of these politicians so I feel free to say this but this is why no one like, trust or believes in government anymore. If one dude was going to be given the power to pretty much decide the fate of the loan for BSC then that should have happened before the semester started.

Reminds me of the situation with the delayed FAFSA where I am sure there are good intentions but the execution is not going well. "The 2024–25 FAFSA will be delayed until December 2023 due to changes the US Department of Education is implementing to make the application more streamlined for students and families." Only in government could you say a delay in a process is so that it can be streamlined.

This is Alabama. If it is a statewide office, there is only one party it can be. As for the rest, it has been abundantly clear the Treasurer has been against this since the beginning and has done everything possible to shut it down. It's possible giving him the final approval was the legislature's plan all along to cover their own rear while not having to disburse the money.... It was never a popular proposal, but it passed because there was enough opposition to things like spending more money on the Montgomery Whitewater Waterpark that it looked ridiculous to deny an educational institution. This way they get to say they did their jobs and it's not their fault the loan was not approved.