Birmingham businessman Don Hire, and his wife, Marsha Hoke Hire, have been a major, long-time contributors to UAB's academic and athletics programs.

In 2008, the Student-Athlete Academic Center was named for them. This spring, they were recognized for a significant donation to the School of Optometry.

"Our parents taught us if you do well you're supposed to give back to others, and this is a portion of our doing what we were taught to do," he was quoted as saying at the time.

In an ESPN College GameDay segment that aired Saturday morning, Hire said that Tuesday's announcement of the death of UAB football by school president Ray Watts was a low point for the university.

"I've never been more ashamed, more embarrassed in my whole life of a group of administrative people who had the ability to do something better than what we did that day," Hire said. "I feel so sorry for those players."

The segment noted that Watts said a strategic report on the athletics department prepared by CarrSports noted that it would require $49 million to sustain football over the next five years, money Watts said the school did not have "in the bank."

"Nobody has come forward with a commitment of any additional resources -- we've asked," Watts said. "If the checks were in the bank, it would be one thing. We cannot lead this university on promises."

Former UAB letterman club president Justin Craft told ESPN that Watts never approached top donors or former players about possibly donating additional funds.

Hire echoed that sentiment. "I was never given the opportunity to say I would contribute or not contribute," Hire said. "I sure would have."

Watts has been the focal point of ire from UAB players, fans and others in college football for his seemingly cold attitude over the decision, with viral videos of players' emotional reactions to the news fueling the sentiment against the president. Watts said in the ESPN piece he could have handled the process better.

"If I had that to do over again," Watts said, "I would give anything for the opportunity to really share heart-to-heart what this means to both of us, to share our disappointment with one another."

With a 6-6 record, UAB is bowl-eligible, but it appears unlikely any postseason game will extend an invitation to a program that has been terminated. Nevertheless, the Blazers players reiterated to ESPN what they told AL.com earlier this week, that they are holding out hope for one more game.

"In my heart I still think we can fix this program, and maybe that bowl game could help," defensive lineman Diaheem Watkins said. "The world seeing UAB play football one more time? Well, give us a chance."

Said tight end Kennard Backman, "One more time being able to play, that would be my Christmas."

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