PopeLando

July 26th, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^

Jim Hackett please. The man has proven that he can lead, that he can accomplish exactly what he wants to, that he is on the side of his stakeholders, and that the fans are an integral part of his decision-making process. This is a pipe dream, but it's a damn good one.

Joined: 08/01/2015

MGoPoints: 68764

LSAClassOf2000

July 26th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^

"I have a lot of energy, and I have a lot of interest in what's going on in the college space today from the operational issues, reform issues, and the existential threat," Delany said Tuesday during his annual address at Big Ten media days in Chicago. "So I will be around for a bit. Whether I'm around here for six years is probably a little bit beyond how I see it."

I mean, he'd be 74 in six years so I would be shocked if he hung around that long, particularly in this sort of position. As much as we joke about Delany essentially having the charisma of a cadaver and all the charm of one to boot, being the conference commissioner is probably one of those roles where you've seen some shit, and 27 years is a long time to hold it too. 

I wonder who they would get or if they would tap someone already employed in the conference.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130679

Yooper

July 26th, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^

Last time I checked he worked for the BIG10, not the other way around.  They get to decide when he goes.  

This is very typical of people who have been in top jobs for too long-it is kind of a preemptive strike to avoid immediate succession talk.  By saying he is going to leave sometime in the future it delays the timing of the actual change. 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 11291

1VaBlue1

July 26th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

I'm all for PHB fading away into retirement.  Like Chris Cater only caught TD's, Delany only makes TV deals (and expansion, but that ruins the comparison!).  It's time for someone else to take over, someone fair to all conference teams - not just a select few.  (Well, a select one, says the Sugar Bowl...)

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127444

umbig11

July 26th, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^

One candidate jumps to the top of succession list:

Brad Traviolia- Northwestern Graduate and current Deputy Commissioner and COO.

"Traviolia begins serving as Deputy Commissioner after holding four positions with the conference over a 10-year span.  The Syracuse, Ind., native joined the Big Ten in 1997 as the Assistant Director of Sports Management & Human Resource Manager and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 1999.  Following a two-year stint, he was elevated to Associate Commissioner in 2001 and has been serving in his most recent role as the conference's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer since 2003, handling the day-to-day operations, as well as legal and human resource duties for the office.  A graduate of Northwestern, Traviolia was an All-Conference honoree and Big Ten wrestling champion in 1990."

The ACC also has him on their short list.

"Brad Traviola, Big 10 Deputy Commissioner – Brad Traviola is the Deputy Commissioner of the Big 10 Conference.  His defacto roles include Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/Chief Operating Officer (COO).  Traviolia begins serving as Deputy Commissioner in 2006 after holding four positions with the conference over a 10-year span.  Traviola joined the Big Ten in 1997 as the Assistant Director of Sports Management and Human Resource Manager and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 1999.  Following that two-year period, he was elevated to Associate Commissioner in 2001 and has been serving in his most recent role as the conference’s CFO and COO since 2003, handling the day-to-day operations, as well as legal and human resource duties for the office.  A graduate of Northwestern, Traviolia was an All-Conference honoree and Big Ten wrestling champion in 1990.  Here – you have someone who can step in on day one as the ACC Commissioner, has in-depth knowledge of a conference’s front office operations, and someone who is familiar with the operation of a conference television network (the Big 10 Network has been very successful by all accounts).  And Traviola isn’t even 50 yet. Again, another non-ACC candidate – but someone with valuable experience.  Many think, though, that he is being groomed for Jim Delaney’s commissioner position – and is the odds on favorite for that job."

Joined: 07/21/2010

MGoPoints: 115573

Mr. Yost

July 26th, 2016 at 4:09 PM ^

Don't play with my emotions!!!

He should've rode off into the sunset the day he launched BTN. He did a fantatic job and every move since has been fucking terrible.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

ABOUBENADHEM

July 26th, 2016 at 4:12 PM ^

I love his 2004 reply to ESPN's Shapiro, "Consider them rolled."  That took some balls.  Look no further than the Big 12's current plight to see what the Big 10 could have become without Delaney's leadership during a cruscial time.  I'll take Rutgers, Nebraska and Maryland over the dregs that the Big 12 is considering for invitation into their conference in a last ditch effort to try to remain relevant.

Joined: 11/17/2015

MGoPoints: 2768