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The enrollment at UAB in 2012 was 17,999 students, up from 16,149 in 2008. If school officials want to see that trend continue, dropping football was probably not the brightest idea.
According to an article by John Talty for AL.com, UAB does not see football as part of a long term solution. In the article, Dr. Maurice Hobson, a former UAB football player, disagrees; "There is nothing for students to engage to have some pride in," he said.
Wichita State University had an enrollment of 16,902 students in 1985 before dropping football the following year. In 1996, enrollment at Wichita had dropped to 14,264. A decade of decline is probably not what UAB officials really want to look forward to.
Cal State Fullerton dropped football in 1991. The school had seen solid growth, reporting an enrollment of 24,413 in 1988. In 1995, their enrollment was 22,604. Again, dropping football had a negative effect on the student population.
Most of the country has realized that adding football can do wonders for your student population. Down the road in Mobile, South Alabama had an enrollment of 13,090 students in 2006. Since then, USA has added football and their enrollment was up to 15,311 in 2013.
Not enough for you? Look at Lamar University over in Texas. In 2006, Lamar had an enrollment of 9,906 students. In 2013, that number was up to 14,035. Think football had something to do with that?