UAB linebacker Derek Slaughter wore his helmet to graduation (Photos)
UAB’s football program may have been shut down by president Ray Watts, but former Blazers linebacker Derek Slaughter made sure to represent the program at his graduation ceremony on Saturday.
How did Slaughter do that? He brought his football helmet with him as he walked across the stage to shake Watts’ hand.
While he didn’t wear the helmet, Slaughter still brought the helmet up on stage and drew cheers from the crowd at Bartow Arena.
Another angle makes it seem like Slaughter did not shake Watts’ hand, though it’s hard to tell for sure.
According to Al.com, there were “other reports of students refusing to shake Watts’ hand as they crossed the stage.”
That’s a strong statement from Slaughter, who registered 75 tackles in three seasons with the program after transferring from Nebraska.
The decision to shut down the football program has been met with plenty of scrutiny. On Thursday, a study published by an economic analysis firm said that the school’s decision to terminate football (along with rifle and bowling) was “ill-advised from a net cash-flow perspective.” The study also said that the program actually made money and was not a financial burden.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
