Hoover legislator to introduce bill mandating restoration of UAB football

State Rep. Jack Williams of House District 47, which covers the cities of Vestavia Hills and Hoover, has plans to introduce a bill in Montgomery that would restore UAB football.

Williams believes the bill would have a positive impact on communities such as Hoover and Vestavia Hills. He said he knows of multiple students from Spain Park and Hoover High Schools that have gone on to play football at UAB. He also mentioned Vestavia Hills High School graduate Dan Burks who went to UAB and eventually played in the NFL.

“The UAB roster is littered with our kids from our over the mountain communities,” Williams said. “This has a direct impact on them.”

Furthermore, Williams said UAB’s growing enrollment plays a large role in the property value of surrounding real estate. He believes the removal of the football program would hinder economic development in the midtown area.

“Reestablishing the program would be a very positive thing,” Williams said. “We have the opportunity to do some healthy things for our community.”

Williams said legislative intervention in football has happened before, citing a resolution passed in 1948 asking The University of Alabama and Auburn University to resume playing each other in football after a feud ended the series.

 “Heritage in our state is richer because they play each other,’’ he said.

Williams also plans to introduce two bills concerning the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. One bill would mandate annual SAC’s training for any public university or College Board member and would create a mechanism that would remove anyone from the board that does not follow the appropriate guidelines. The second bill would add members to the board.

“The board is very Tuscaloosa –centric right now,” Williams said. “We need to put enough voices on the board so that when issues are raised, there is fair representation.”