Pulled from this forum, so you know… I’m sure it’s mostly true.
“Ok so in 1976 Arnold was in Birmingham filming the movie “Stay Hungry”. While he was here, he was working out for his movie and was given a UAB shirt, which at the time had no athletic program. Then when Arnold went back to LA/Hollywood, he frequently worked out at UCLA’s gym. There Coach Bartow who was the men’s basketball coach saw the shirt and was interested about this so called “UAB”, then in 1977 Coach Bartow leaves UCLA where he had a cush job and starts an athletic program at UAB. So Arnold is the reason we have UAB sports.”
