(08-02-2013 10:10 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  Ha! We are definitely in Nostradamus territory, JR. I certainly see how the coordination between the P5 commissioners is likely the cog in this wheel. No one will allow the demise of his conference, but I do see a strategy that could make sense for all parties in the long term.

The Big 12 is the most at risk for now for a variety of reasons, and I think that is generally agreed. The only entity more at risk is the NCAA itself as currently constituted. If/when Mark Emmert is replaced, it will need to be with someone who is well qualified, speaks and acts boldly, and would instantly have the seal of approval from the power conference commissioners. As luck would have it, I think the most qualified candidate is the commissioner of the most at risk power conference. I am only suggesting a strategy and certainly not saying that it has been rumored or bandied about in any way, but do you all see such a move as incredibly beneficial to the whole structure? Bowlsby would be an incredible NCAA commissioner, and the transition period would allow the Big 12 to reconfigure (or be reconfigured) without the issue of a respected, sitting commissioner getting the Dan Beebe treatment. Thoughts? As I see it, the four most valuable properties in the Big 12 are Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Bowlsby.

What you suggest has interesting possibilities. I would certainly think that Big 12 members would be more at ease with their placement if Bowlsby had a hand in it from a leadership perspective. Remember also that Slive will be retiring once he's seen the SEC through this phase so someone like Bowlsby could possibly slide into that position as well. Swofford won't have many more years. Delany has been rumored already to be a candidate to replace Emmert. Big egos, for big money, but it will take some fairly strong qualities of leadership to clean up the mess and morass that is the NCAA.