For the record, I am a fan of Bob Bowlsby’s.
When he took over as the Big 12’s commissioner in 2012, it was one of the single worst jobs in sports. What. A. Mess.
Still, for a decade-plus, Bowlsby steadied the waters, keeping the league relevant and leading it to all new financial heights.
Never perfect, but everything was smooth until last summer when Texas and Oklahoma stabbed him and the rest of the league in the back. Then, the name, image and likeness hit. Who knows what’s in store for the future of the NCAA.
One gets the feeling that the 70-year old had simply had enough.
“Everyone at the administrator level is dealing with the uncertain future of college athletics — a world which now includes name, image and likeness; the transfer portal and player empowerment, all while the authority of the NCAA is slowly but surely diminishing,” wrote Dennis Dodd from CBS. “This is not the version of college athletics Bowlsby — or any of his peers — signed up to lead.”
Correct. And that’s precisely why this is probably a good move for everybody involved.
Bowlsby can comfortably retire and enjoy what I’m sure is a beautiful, growing family. Meanwhile, the Big 12 can move forward in a more progressive direction.
That’s what I believe it needs to do, at least.
… … …
A year or so late, I finally watched Ted Lasso a few weeks ago on the tournament trail. In the last episode of season one, Lasso’s underdog AFC Richmond squad was facing off against Manchester City to avoid relegation.
His game plan was to “create chaos” in an attempt to pull off an unthinkable upset.
They damn-near won the game.
Of course, the future of college athletics isn’t a fictional show on Apple+, but like Ted Lasso’s squad, the Big 12 is a massive underdog going forward.
That’s not much different than how things have stood over the past decade, even on the backs of Texas and Oklahoma. But now, those pillars are gone, and the rest of the league is free of the shackles that came with them (notably the mightily unsuccessful Longhorn Network).
I won’t sit here on my high horse and claim to know who is best for the Big 12’s leadership in regards to specifics. I honestly have no idea.
I do know it needs to be somebody at a different spot in life than a guy like Bowlsby, who served admirably but was understandably beaten down by the grind.
Bowlsby doesn’t like the way things are heading, and you know what? I can’t say that I blame him. But there are still a lot of innings left in this game.
The Big 12 institutions need to be aggressive with this hire. Find somebody to push career academics outside of their comfort zones.
Embrace name, image and likeness. Embrace big tech when it comes to television contracts. When your competition zigs, consider a zag.
For too long (often for reasons it couldn’t control), the Big 12 has been reactionary to the atmosphere around it.
With a new television deal coming up in 2025 that will ultimately set the table for the league’s future, finding a visionary with this hire is critical.
