The Big Ten Commissioner Search

[derrick6]

To be fair...
It's an OSU opinion piece.

Was about to say the same. All that just to suggest Gene Smith

 

[RedRocksIllini]

Opinion: If Kevin Warren Leaves, Big Ten Should Name Gene Smith Next Commissioner - Sports Illustrated Ohio State Buckeyes News, Analysis and More

Nobody candidate would have a more complete resume or understanding of the current state of college athletics than Ohio State's current AD.

www.si.com

heaven help us

Assume there is a "Warde Manuel is the obvious choice" op-ed out there as well. Have to believe either idea would be nixed by the other school in the Big Two, er Ten-ish.

 

[redwingillini11]

I’m sure Gene Smith or Warde Manuel wouldn’t go into the job sight the intent to screw the other school over, but it would be impossible to believe that they, especially Smith, could set aside almost 20 years of being one of OSU’s chief advocates to suddenly suppress obvious biases to fairly represent all B1G schools. I’d trust Phillips for sure, but no way would I trust Gene Smith.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

I’m sure Gene Smith or Warde Manuel wouldn’t go into the job sight the intent to screw the other school over, but it would be impossible to believe that they, especially Smith, could set aside almost 20 years of being one of OSU’s chief advocates to suddenly suppress obvious biases to fairly represent all B1G schools. I’d trust Phillips for sure, but no way would I trust Gene Smith.

Yeah, like @ChiefGritty mentioned earlier, there's a bit of "the medium is the message" thing going on with the role of the commissioner - and someone going straight from OSU to Rosemont would not be able to successfully execute that portion of the job even if they did literally every single thing perfectly.

 

[Eternal Optimist]

Am I the only one that is watching the Kevin Warren rumors of going to the Bears with a very bittersweet approach? Would love someone different to be the B10 Commissioner, but don’t want to risk losing our stud of an AD (not even sure if he would be interested) who would be awesome to take that role.

Big Ten's Kevin Warren up for Bears CEO job

The Bears started their search for a president/CEO after Ted Phillips announced in September he will retire at the end of the 2022 season.

theathletic.com

 

[NJJ871]

Am I the only one that is watching the Kevin Warren rumors of going to the Bears with a very bittersweet approach? Would love someone different to be the B10 Commissioner, but don’t want to risk losing our stud of an AD (not even sure if he would be interested) who would be awesome to take that role.

Big Ten's Kevin Warren up for Bears CEO job

The Bears started their search for a president/CEO after Ted Phillips announced in September he will retire at the end of the 2022 season.

theathletic.com

Based on my personal opinion of both Kevin Warren and the Bears capacity to hire the inept, I think this is a match made in heaven. Unless KW is not willing to do it for 25+% below the going rate for an NFL CEO, then it's no dice from the Bears standpoint. Incompetent is not a problem for the Bears (KW checks that box), but NFL grade salary demands are a deal breaker.

 

[Eternal Optimist]

Based on my personal opinion of both Kevin Warren and the Bears capacity to hire the inept, I think this is a match made in heaven. Unless KW is not willing to do it for 25+% below the going rate for an NFL CEO, then it's no dice from the Bears standpoint. Incompetent is not a problem for the Bears (KW checks that box), but NFL grade salary demands are a deal breaker.

Couldn’t agree more about Kevin Warren and the Bears being a match made in heaven, unfortunately.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

I highly doubt the B1G poaches a current AD from any existing member institution to be new commissioner .

 

[TheChief4Life]

Can I ask what we all hate about Kevin Warren? I am not defending him or anything, but do we feel tue Big Ten or a worse off than when he started? Because personally, I don’t.

I’d rather be a Big Ten team right now more than any other conference team in the country.

 

[Bbuck21]

I would love it to be Jim Phillips. That would be so much fun pointing out his "stepping up" to my ACC family fans.

 

[spotter]

Can I ask what we all hate about Kevin Warren? I am not defending him or anything, but do we feel tue Big Ten or a worse off than when he started? Because personally, I don’t.

I’d rather be a Big Ten team right now more than any other conference team in the country.

Got off to a ham-handed start with Covid and the 2020 football schedule. IllinoiS. Awarding UM the B1G hoops championship when they played fewer games than UI. Those are the criticisms I've heard over the years.

 

[Oldskoolkoach]

I think (hope, pray) that Whitman is considered "too young" for the job. I hope another commissioner takes the job for 10-15 years and Whitman becomes commissioner after helping oversee Illinois into becoming a national powerhouse that everyone hates like Alabama in football and Duke in basketball.

Typically, these jobs go to former school Presidents and/or Provosts, not Athletic Directors. Also, I would think as mad as JW has been with the B10 over some questionable scenarios recently, other schools would not want a conference sitting AD in charge.

 

[Eternal Optimist]

I highly doubt the B1G poaches a current AD from any existing member institution to be new commissioner .

Good point. You cured my thoughts of losing Whitman. Thanks! Happy New Year!

 

[TheChief4Life]

Got off to a ham-handed start with Covid and the 2020 football schedule. IllinoiS. Awarding UM the B1G hoops championship when they played fewer games than UI. Those are the criticisms I've heard over the years.

That’s all I’ve ever heard too. Seems more like bad luck (timing with COViD) and Illini fans whining.

 

[IlliniReb]

That’s all I’ve ever heard too. Seems more like bad luck (timing with COViD) and Illini fans whining.

It’s not Illini fans whining. Objectively, the Michigan basketball was a fiasco. The MI women’s team played even though they have the same issues as the men’s team. Juwhine Howard said he didn’t want to risk injury to his players. It was a horse spit excuse and Warren went for it

 

[DReq]

So is Warren waiting to be sure Harbaugh doesn't need him any more in the B1G or is Harbaugh waiting to take the Indy job until he sees that he doesn't have Warren to help out in the B1G? Its just all such a sticky web.

 

[spotter]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1613551287747887107

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

yea, that story would not have been leaked by the Bears 3 weeks ago if it wasnt a done deal

 

[spotter]

So, who has next?

 

[redwingillini11]

Go get Phillips. No doubt we can pay more than the ACC...

 

[eas23]

So devil's advocate, what has Phillips actually done as a conference commissioner that still makes him an ideal fit? Besides being a guy people thought should've gotten the job once upon a time.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Jim Phillips, come on down!!! (er, up)

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

I think its Phillip's job if he wants it. Former UI basketball manager and student asst from later 1980's.
For various reasons, is Condi Rice a candidate ?

 

[WeWillWhen]

Sources: Warren bolts Big Ten for Bears CEO job

The Chicago Bears are expected to hire Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren as their new president and CEO, multiple sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[mattcoldagelli]

So devil's advocate, what has Phillips actually done as a conference commissioner that still makes him an ideal fit? Besides being a guy people thought should've gotten the job once upon a time.

I'm not pretending to be an expert on the day-to-day of the ACC, but of the non-Big Two conferences, it seems they have maintained the surest footing. Don't know how much of that would be directly attributable to Phillips, but it's not nothing.