Rep. Jack Williams

State Rep. Jack Williams laid out his plans to restructure the University of Alabama's Board of Trustees at a press conference today in front of Bartow Arena. (Nick Birdsong/AL.com)

State Rep. Jack Williams (R-Vestavia Hills) unveiled his plan to restructure the University of Alabama's Board of Trustees today, saying it's not all about UAB football, but it could benefit the Blazers' program, the future of which has been under question for weeks.

Standing behind a lectern and flanked by supporters on the plaza in front of Bartow Arena, Williams laid out the specifics of a proposed constitutional amendment to restructure the BOT, which also oversees UAH.

Williams said he plans introduce legislation in the 2015 session that would eliminate one of the three BOT members from the congressional district where the University of Alabama is located. Constitutional amendments must be approved by a statewide vote.

The governor and the state superintendent of education would remain on the BOT as well as the 14 members (two from each congressional district selected by the BOT and senate).

Williams' plan also called for the addition of 11 members to the board.

His plan

would add the mayors of Huntsville, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, as well as the county manager or the president of the county commission in Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and Madison counties to the BOT. His plan also calls for each alumni board (Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham) to submit five names to the governor, who will select one member from each alumni group to the BOT.

The plan also calls for two at-large in-state members, one selected by the Speaker of the House and another by the president pro temp of the Senate.

"What we're doing is bringing greater transparency to the selection of trustees for the UA board," Williams said. "We're involving a wider, more divergent population, getting greater diversity on the board, getting greater representation and giving a voice to every community and student and every voter in the state of Alabama in the state's largest higher ed(ucation) system."

State Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) was also on hand to show her support for Williams' efforts.

"The way that this university has been treated is not fair," Todd said. "I was the director of alumni affairs here for many years. I have a master's degree from UAB. Part of the UAB campus sits in my district and it's time that we rise up and say, 'We will no longer be treated like a step child.' UAB is an economic engine in this region and in many parts of the state. It's time that everybody recognizes that."

In order to come to fruition, the amendment would require 62 votes in the house of representatives and 21 votes in the state senate to be added to the 2016 primary ballot. Then, a majority of voters must approve it to be implemented.

"I do not fear the will of the voters, neither should the board of trustees," Williams said. "I urge them to join me and support the passage of this constitutional amendment in the Alabama legislature. We let the voters have the final say."

Williams, a longtime supporter of UAB athletics, has been vocal since the long-term viability of the program became a hot-button issue when former players and supporters first expressed their concern that the football team could be eliminated, following a university-wide strategic planning initiative.

The Blazers have not scheduled any non-conference games beyond 2016.

Williams said he believes football drives enrollment, citing the University of Central Florida, which has tripled its enrollment from just above 20,000 to 60,000-plus since it began playing FCS football in 1990, a year before UAB began playing as a Division III independent.

He also cited a recent study that stated the that $5 million of economic impact is generated for every 1,000 students at the University of Alabama.