i was in Birmingham this spring and drove through campus because i had time before a flight. i remember seeing the football facilities and they were absolutely pathetic. this does not surprise me.
UAB fought hard to get an on campus stadium for years, but the board of trustees (run by Bama) shut them down time and time again.
The fun, tall tale reason is that the old UAB AD, Gene Bartow and Bear Bryant's son (a member of the trustees) had a feud because Bartow once called Bear Bryant a cheat or something.
Anyway, good, old fashioned stupid fun right there.