Watts' lack of leadership was on full display today

Today, hundreds of UAB supporters marched on the UAB Administration Building, demanding that UAB President Ray Watts make an appearance to answer questions about UAB football and the future of the University itself. Rather than doing what a real leader would do, make an appearance, engage in dialogue, and actually provide information, explanation and demonstrate leadership, it appears Watts was wherever Paul Bryant Jr. was, cowering under his desk.

UAB Media Relations was no better. When asked for a statement about today's demonstration, all it did was re-issue a month-old press release.

UAB, your ship is sinking, and your leader is hiding, with his hands over his ears and eyes, denying anything is happening. If I were a high school senior trying to decide where to go to college next year, there's no way I would select UAB after today's demonstration of utter buffoonery by the administration.

Just to sum up today: 

While Ray Watts was hiding, former UAB President Charles "Scotty" McCallum, the president who started UAB football, was making his opinion of the Board of Trustees, and Ray Watts, known:
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2014/12/former_uab_president_founder_o.html

While Ray Watts was hiding, the head coach at Alabama, Nick Saban, was making a statement on UAB football:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/12/alabama_head_coach_nick_saban_1.html

While Ray Watts was hiding, UAB football players were asking him for the common decency to address them face-to-face about their future:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/12/uab_seniors_to_president_ray_w.html

While Ray Watts was hiding, the Alabama governor issued a statement:
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/gov_robert_bentley_says_hell_l.html

Oh, and this blog was getting media attention:
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2014/12/uab_football_controversy_uab_a.html

Ray Watts silence through all of this speaks volumes to his ability to lead: It is nonexistent.

Ray Watts, it's time for you to leave. You've done enough damage.

Steven E. Chappell
B.A., 1991; M.P.A., 1997