Bowlsby Stepping Down Later This Year

[theshadow]

Bob Bowlsby to Step Away from Role as Big 12 Conference Commissioner Later this Year

Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced today that he will step away from the Commissioner’s chair later this year after a decade of leading the league and securing its long-term future as one of the five major collegiate athletics conferences. Bowlsby, a steady, influential voice...

big12sports.com

[EXCERPT:]
Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced today that he will step away from the Commissioner’s chair later this year after a decade of leading the league and securing its long-term future as one of the five major collegiate athletics conferences. Bowlsby, a steady, influential voice for intercollegiate athletics, will remain Commissioner of the Big 12 until the appointment of a new Commissioner and will then, at the request of the Conference, transition to a new interim role with the Conference, subject to the mutual agreement of Bowlsby and the new Commissioner.

“After more than 40 years of serving in leadership roles in intercollegiate athletics, including the last 10 with the Big 12, and given the major issues that college sports in general and the Big 12 specifically will address in the next several years, I have reached a natural transition point in my tenure as Commissioner, as well as in my career,” said Bowlsby.

“The Big 12 will soon bring in our four new members and negotiate a new grant of rights and media rights agreements. I truly believe the Big 12 and our member institutions are in a strong position now and as we look into the future. As such, this is an appropriate time for me to step away from the Commissioner’s role so that the next leader of the Conference can take the reins on these significant matters that will come to the forefront before the end of the term of my employment agreement in 2025 to set the stage for the Big 12’s future ongoing success.”

 

[enisthemenace]

First reaction? Nope…don’t like that.

 

[JRE1975]

Most important hire in the history of the big 12 coming up!

Other than not knowing about OUT traitor move, I have always thought he did a good job.

 

[BCClone]

Securing the big XII long term position? Think he wrote what he wanted to happen.

 

[DSM4Cy]

First reaction? Nope…don’t like that.

The big reason I don't like it is that there feels like a fairly obvious candidate for the job that would create a chasm in the ISU athletic department, and we know CMC has a clause in his contract about this very thing.

 

[JM4CY]

The big reason I don't like it is that there feels like a fairly obvious candidate for the job that would create a chasm in the ISU athletic department, and we know CMC has a clause in his contract about this very thing.

Jamie has a few tendencies that don't make him a candidate, IMO.

 

[CoachHines3]

making way for Oliver Luck..

When he was brought on last August as a consultant this was my thought..

Now I could be way off base but maybe this is what's happening.

 

[Trice]

The big reason I don't like it is that there feels like a fairly obvious candidate for the job that would create a chasm in the ISU athletic department, and we know CMC has a clause in his contract about this very thing.

I'm guessing Oliver Luck is in line before Pollard. He's already working as a "consultant" for the league and has higher-level executive experience.

 

[JP4CY]

making way for Oliver Luck..

When he was brought on last August as a consultant this was my thought..

Now I could be way off base but maybe this is what's happening.

Would make sense.

 

[Al_4_State]

I was never terribly impressed by Bowlsby, but how was he supposed to know about OU/UT? They lied to his face, and there were even SEC members (Aggy) that didn't know.

If someone wants to be really ******* sneaky, and straight up lies to you, it's not that hard to do.

 

[loyalsons4evertrue]

Other H8FUL8 members at least on reddit are celebrating this....but like what could've Bowlsby done to keep OUT? All other 8 schools tried to keep mainly Texas happy to the best of our ability...and when the Big 12 looked at expanding a few years ago, everyone said it would be a bad idea. So I feel like OUT leaving was always inevitable at some point.

 

[cyclones500]

.... how was he supposed to know about OU/UT? They lied to his face, and there were even SEC members (Aggy) that didn't know.

If someone wants to be really ******* sneaky, and straight up lies to you, it's not that hard to do.

I won't claim to know in-depth about the situation, but my gut feeling: (1) Bowlsby knew OU/UT might bolt when GOR expired, but (2) beans were spilled much sooner, so it appeared there was no preparation for it, initiating more of a scramble mode.

Reiterating: That's a guess and I have no inside knowledge, just the way I interpret it.

 

[everyyard]

Never saw him as transformational or visionary. I’m good with him going.

 

[Acylum]

People who shouldn’t bother applying:
Kevin Warren
Larry Scott
Dan Beebe

 

[DSM4Cy]

I'm guessing Oliver Luck is in line before Pollard. He's already working as a "consultant" for the league and has higher-level executive experience.

You're probably right, and I think he would do fine.

 

[NWICY]

Whatever, the conference will hire someone and hopefully they will negotiate a good contract once the traitors decide to leave. I think the new additions will make for a entertaining conference. Hopefully the money allows use to maintain where we are or possibly grow some.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

People who shouldn’t bother applying:
Kevin Warren
Larry Scott
Dan Beebe

Gary Barta is rumored to be interested

 

[heitclone]

Bowlsby talking about the TV contracts makes it seem like Luck will be next. He's got experience and is connected. I feel like he's got a rep that the non traditional media (Amazon) people will trust.

 

[Cyrocks]

Gary Barta is rumored to be interested

 

[Trice]

I was never terribly impressed by Bowlsby, but how was he supposed to know about OU/UT? They lied to his face, and there were even SEC members (Aggy) that didn't know.

If someone wants to be really ******* sneaky, and straight up lies to you, it's not that hard to do.

Yup, and more than that...there's been speculation about OU and UT leaving for years, and it's been pretty universally agreed that the best thing we could do was to strengthen the league to make it more enticing for them to stay. Bowlsby did that, probably about as well as it could have been done.

Had all the NIL stuff, collapse of the NCAA, and TV contract talks not all hit around the same time, there's a chance OU and UT might not have panicked and jumped like they did.