Could Banowsky be next Big12 Commish?

[ponyinNC]

BERRY TRAMEL > BIG 12 FOOTBALL: BRITTON BANOWSKY FOR COMMISSIONER?
Posted by berrytramel on Sep 23, 2011 at 10:41 PM

http://m.newsok.com/blogs/berrytramel/6993

During his kickoff teleconference Friday, interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas dropped the name of Britton Banowsky, using the Conference USA commissioner as an example of quality leadership.

Sudden thought: Is Banowsky the next permanent commissioner of the embattled Big 12?

Some around the league have mentioned Banowsky as the likely successor to Neinas, or Dan Beebe, depending on how you look at it. Big 12 presidents jettisoned Beebe on Thursday, a sacrifice to those upset that the Big 12 is about to lose another school. The Big 12 will be down to nine members from its original dozen, when Texas A&M departs.

Banowsky, 51, holds degrees in business and law from OU. His father, Bill, was OU’s president from 1978 through 1984.

Neinas brought up Banowsky’s name when asked if the Big 12 would consider expansion targets from Conference USA or the Mountain West, leagues with which Neinas is working on an alliance project. Neinas said under that scenario, he would talk with the commissioners of those leagues.

Neinas talked about how Banowsky handled the mass defection of schools from Conference USA in 2005 (Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, South Florida, North Carolina-Charlotte, Saint Louis and TCU). “He handled it in an unbelievable manner,” Neinas said. “He provided opportunity for them to leave without disrupting the operation.”

Banowsky has been Conference USA commissioner for nine years. He replaced Mike Slive, who became commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

Banowsky was an assistant commissioner of the old Southwest Conference. He then became commissioner of the Southland Conference. Banowsky joined the Big 12 during its formation in 1995, as legal counsel and associate commissioner.

[smupony94]

He hasn't done much for CUSA

[ponyinNC]

and a more important question - What is this alliance project that Neinas is working on with CUSA and MWC? Is he talking about the football only merger? Or maybe a scheduling alliance?

Or the rebel alliance? Neinas does kind of look like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars...

[Dutch]

and a more important question - What is this alliance project that Neinas is working on with CUSA and MWC? Is he talking about the football only merger? Or maybe a scheduling alliance?

Or the rebel alliance? Neinas does kind of look like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars...

http://nooooooooooooooo.com/

[ponyinNC]

haha, nice one Dutch!

[smupony94]

and a more important question - What is this alliance project that Neinas is working on with CUSA and MWC? Is he talking about the football only merger? Or maybe a scheduling alliance?

Or the rebel alliance? Neinas does kind of look like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars...

scheduling alliance.

[ponyinNC]

Neinas brought up Banowsky’s name when asked if the Big 12 would consider expansion targets from Conference USA or the Mountain West...hmmmm, sounds like he thinks CUSA or MWC will be okay with Big 12 poaching a team or two, since Banowsky made it work in the past. Could be talking about AFA, Boise, UH or us. Or maybe I am reading too far into the tea leaves...

[smupony94]

Neinas brought up Banowsky’s name when asked if the Big 12 would consider expansion targets from Conference USA or the Mountain West...hmmmm, sounds like he thinks CUSA or MWC will be okay with Big 12 poaching a team or two, since Banowsky made it work in the past. Could be talking about AFA, Boise, UH or us. Or maybe I am reading too far into the tea leaves...

chicken bones are more effective than tea leaves

[ponyinNC]

thanks...i"ll get a bucket of KFC like they did in Major League for Jobu.

Question - if he is the commish in waiting, could that be a plus for current CUSA schools loking to move up? I don't think anyone sees Neinas as the long-term solution. I mean, Slive was once CUSA commish and now he may be the most powerful person in college football.

[smupony94]

Neinas has repeatedly stated this is a short term gig

[EastStang]

Umm, this could be good for us. Banowsky moved CUSA headquarters from somewhere else to Dallas. He is closely aligned with SMU. He helped get SMU into CUSA when the Frogs wanted nothing to do with us. In other words he's probably an ally, and he's OU centric, not UT centric. He might be strong enough to tell DeLoss Dodds and Baylor either take SMU, TCU and UH or take a hike.

[StallionsModelT]

Yeah I'm sure he loves us since we went public saying we wanted out of CUSA and into a BCS conference on his watch.

[Junior]

we'll see

[PonyKai]

Yeah I'm sure he loves us since we went public saying we wanted out of CUSA and into a BCS conference on his watch.

...and I'm sure we called him first to let him know we were. Banowsky isn't naive, right now CUSA is a stop-gap...UCF openly whines for the Big East and ECU has applied 27 times. I'm sure he's fine with us.