After disbanding its costly football program six months ago, the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) announced on Monday the reinstatement of the program along with women's rifle and bowling.

According to Yahoo Sports, UAB president Ray Watts made the announcement and noted that he has been coordinating with the NCAA and Conference USA "to keep the program's conference and FBS standing."

"Given the broad base of support never before seen, as of today, we are taking steps to reinstate the football, rifle and bowling programs. I am forwarding documents to Conference USA and the NCAA notifying them that UAB plans to remain an FBS program and a full member of C-USA," Watts said.

AL.com wrote that the decision came six months after the UAB president disbanded the three programs in the educational institution saying they had financial concerns on sustaining them.

Remembering the decision the university made last December, Watts said in an ABC News report that he made a very difficult decision in scrapping the programs.

"It broke our hearts to make that decision, and we are sorry for any consequences of that. But we are excited today that our community and supporters have come together. Had we not made that decision, which was based on sound information, that we wouldn't be where we are today. We have never seen this level of support. It has been a painful process at times but it has been a process that has brought us to a new day," he added.

Meanwhile, AL.com noted that the university still has monetary concerns, but this is being solved with the help of donations from outside sources like Justin Craft and the UAB Football Foundation pledging $17.2 million for the operational costs of football.

"There is still substantial work to be done," Watts claimed.

He also mentioned that the money they raised will be added to the $20 million the school is allocating for its athletics programs. The goal of the university is "to make UAB a profitable model within the next five years" with Watts saying that the institution will not pledge more than what is allotted for the program anymore.

"To do otherwise would require us to take additional funds from our academic and health care missions, which we will not do," Watts said.

In its effort to reinstate the program, Watts told Fox Sports that the university dropped an indoor practice facility to help them realise 10 percent of the $12.5-14.5 million they need to have a turf practice field and new fieldhouse.

Certainly, Watts considered the well-being of the entire university prior to making a decision to scrap the program earlier, but their cause has certainly been heard by generous people who want to support the football offering.