MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Gov. Robert Bentley said today he wanted to learn more about concerns over the future of UAB football and said this season was cause for optimism for the program.

Bentley is president of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees because he is governor.

He said UAB has struggled establishing the program and fan support but said this year has been encouraging.

"We have a very good coach this year," Bentley said. "He's done a fantastic job. The team has improved."

"I'm very optimistic, actually, about the team this year compared to what I've seen in the past.

The Blazers defeated Southern Mississippi on Saturday to finish the regular season 6-6, earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2004.

Average attendance at home games more than doubled under first-year head coach Bill Clark, to about 22,000, fifth best among 13 teams in Conference USA.

But Clark has said he is concerned the program could be shut down and that he has not received word about the future from the UAB administration.

Students and alumni have staged rallies to save the program.

"Hopefully it's going to survive, and I'm going to find out some more information about the situation over the next day or two," Bentley said.

Asked if he planned to get actively involved in deciding the program's future, Bentley said he had not decided.

"But that is a decision that the Board of Trustees makes, and I am the chairman of the Board of Trustees and I always want people to remember that," the governor said.